India's first genetically engineered (GE) drought-resistant rice variety has been developed in the eastern Indian city of Kolkata.

Not to accept such crops from this month

The Kerala Roller Flour Millers Association and the All Kerala Bread Manufacturers Association have called for an immediate ban on open air releases of genetically modified (GM) food crops.

The call comes in the wake of reports that the controversial Biotechnology Regulatory Authority of India (BRAI) Bill will be tabled in the coming winter session of Parliament.

The field trial of a genetically modified rice variety has been deferred till an expert committee formed to look into the food security aspect submits its report.

The West Bengal Environment Minister, Mr Sudarshan Ghosh Dastidar, said here that the three-member committee would file its report on October 30 after which a final decision would be taken.

Mr Ghosh told PTI that the trial, scheduled to be held at the Chinsurah Rice Research Station, was stopped following concern expressed by agricultural experts.

A senior farmers' leader and former Agriculture Minister, Mr Vadde Sobhanadreeswara Rao, has asked the ICAR (Indian Council of Agricultural Research) to ban research on genetically modified (GM) paddy.

GM in paddy might impact business prospects for Indian rice in global markets. Voicing concern that GM paddy traits could contaminate natural varieties, he sought a ban on GM paddy research as imposed in basmati areas in the North.

New Delhi With the Genetic Engineering Approval Committee (GEAC) making it mandatory for the agri bio-tech companies to get no-objection certificate (NOC) from the states prior to the launch of any trial of GM crops has been termed as ‘regressive’ by a consortium Association of Bio-tech Led Enterprises - Agriculture Group (ABLE-AG) consisting of 12 companies has also said that getting nod from the states has put back research in genetically modified (GM) crops by many years.

If you think genetically-modified rice is a modern-day practice, think again

Trial plans for biotech version of crops like rice, cotton, corn, castor, sorghum and potato could be delayed since a crucial meeting of the Genetic Engineering Approval Committee (GEAC) was postponed by a month from scheduled date of June 8.

The meeting was expected to discuss permission of field trials and research for some biotech crops during the coming kharif season.

Biotech industry re

Hundreds of farmers on Wednesday sent out a strong warning to the multinational seed corporations trying to take control over the country

Sandip Das

New Delhi: India