India Bars Monsanto Gene-Modified Cotton In North
AP 25apr03
BANGALORE, India—Ahead of a new cotton season, India on Friday barred Monsanto Co.'s (MON) genetically modified cotton variety from cultivation in the northern farmlands.
The Genetic Engineering Approval Committee rejected the application of Monsanto's Indian partner after a meeting in New Delhi, saying the variety was prone to be attacked by leaf curl virus, widely prevalent in the region. The new season begins in June.
The decision, however, won't affect the sale of transgenic cotton seeds in other parts of India. Monsanto's partner, Maharashtra Hybrid Seeds Co., or Mahyco, already has approvals for selling three other varieties in the south.
Monsanto has licensed several companies to develop varieties of its BT cotton, which contains a gene from a bacterium called bacillus thuringiensis and is resistant to bollworm attack.
However, only the application from Mahyco, Monsanto's main partner, was under serious consideration this season. The seeds developed by other companies are in different stages of field trials.
The committee also deferred a decision on allowing genetically modified mustard, saying further study was needed to ascertain its safety.
It asked the state-run Indian Council for Agricultural Research to conduct field trials of the genetically modified mustard seeds, developed by ProAgro Seeds, an Indian company.
The ban on gene-modified cotton in northern India means it can be grown legally in only six states, all of them in the south or west. Cotton is the only genetically modified crop allowed in India so far.
"Mahyco is disappointed that (its) application didn't receive clearance. (We) will continue to work within the government's regulatory system to bring the benefits of this technology to the cotton growers of northern India," Ranjana Smatecek, Mahyco's spokeswoman, told The Associated Press by telephone from Bombay.
Friday's decision means that BT cotton won't be available to farmers of northern India for at least one more year.
Greenpeace, which has been spearheading a campaign in India against BT cotton, welcomed GEAC's decision.
"The rejection of this variety has proved the unsuitability of genetically modified crops, cotton and others, for the Indian environment and agricultural sector," said Ashesh Tayal, scientific adviser to Greenpeace India.
"BT cotton has been rejected and kept out of northern states...this crop cannot be safely tested, it can never be safely used," he said.
India is the third-largest cotton producer in the world, though it has the largest mass of land under the crop. Its yield is one of the lowest.
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