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May 23, 2008
Source:
CropBiotech Update
India's apex biotech regulatory
body, the Genetic Engineering Approval Committee (GEAC), has
approved the commercial release of an indigenous cotton variety
called Bikaneri Narma (BN) Bt expressing Bt Cry 1Ac protein in
the North, Central and South Cotton Growing Zones in India.
This Bt cotton variety is the first public sector genetically
modified (GM) crop in India developed by the Central Institute
of Cotton Research (CICR), with the University of Agricultural
Sciences, Dharward, Karnataka. While reviewing its earlier
decision directing the CICR to conduct large scale trials (LST)
of Bt BN variety in North Zone, the committee decided to approve
the commercial cultivation of Bt BN variety because the farmers
can save the seeds for planting the following season if it was
allowed for LST.
The Crop Biotech Update published GEAC's earlier decision to
approve the LST of publicly-bred Bt BN variety at
http://www.isaaa.org/kc/cropbiotechupdate/online/default.asp?Date=4/25/2008#2428
Interestingly, farmers in India have planted 131 different Bt
cotton hybrids over 6.2 million hectares in 2007 with the first
Bt cotton hybrids approved in 2002. In 2008, the GEAC also
released an additional 31 new Bt cotton hybrids for North Zone,
45 new Bt cotton hybrids for Central Zone and 18 new Bt cotton
hybrids for South Zone which are derivatives of four different
events, to be cultivated along with other approved Bt cotton
hybrids.
For more information download
http://www.envfor.nic.in/divisions/csurv/geac/decision-may-84.pdf
Contact
b.choudhary@isaaa.org for news on biotech developments in
India. |
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