Latin America News Digest via Checkbiotech

The Government of Paraguay will approve the genetic modification of cotton crops in the country with the aim to raise Paraguayan agriculture competitiveness.

The Minister of Agriculture and Livestock of Paraguay, Gustavo Ruiz Diaz, said that the Government plans to approve a joint transgenic cotton project with U.S. agricultural products group Monsanto.

The genetically modified (GM) cotton will have a gene resistant to insects with the usage of the Bacillus thuringiensis (BT) bacteria, Ruiz Diaz added.

The test production of GM cotton will be carried out by the National Service of Plants Health (SENAVE) and will last for two years.

Paraguay signed another agreement with Monsanto in October 2004 to start using GM soy crops in the country.

Paraguay is the sixth largest cotton producer worldwide.

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