Kampala, Uganda
May 21, 2007
Source:
The Monitor via The Meridian
Institute's Food Security and Ag-Biotech News
Uganda's National Agricultural
Research Organization (NARO) plans to conduct field trials of
genetically modified (GM) insect resistant cotton, with
US$160,000 in support from the
U.S. Agency for International Development's (USAID's)
Agricultural Productivity Enhancement Program (APEP).
APEP Managing Director Clive Drew
commented on May 7 that the trials are expected to begin by the
end of May. At that time, he said USAID was still awaiting
approval from the National Biosafety Committee of the Ugandan
National Council of Science and Technology.
Drew explained that the field
trials will be conducted "to test the effects of Bt [cotton] on
bollworms compared to controlled cotton." "The trial sites are
guarded," Drew said, and, "All materials used will be completely
destroyed. So there is no chance of productive materials
leaking."
The article indicates that USAID
is also supporting field trials of herbicide resistant GM cotton
in Uganda.
The article can be viewed online
at
http://allafrica.com/stories/200705210041.html
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