US firm Monsanto to launch improved Bt cotton variety

Monday, 10/09/2012

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2012/20120910/punjab.htm#2

Boone (Iowa, US) : Even as the Maharashtra Government has banned Bt cotton, Monsanto, the company behind this seed technology, is hopeful of replacing the present bollgard 11 variety with its latest bollgard 111 variety in India next year.

Bollgard 11 has two genes of soil bacterium bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) which produce two proteins toxic to the main pest of cotton bollworm, helicoverpa. Bollgard 111, which will have three Bt genes, will also cover a host of lepidopteran insects, including caterpillars.

During an interaction at the Farm Progress Show here recently, Dr Robb Fraley, chief technology officer, Monsanto, who is regarded as one of the founding fathers of agriculture biotechnology, termed bollgard 111 as an exciting new technology for cotton farmers. He said this variety would give Indian cotton growers an enhanced spectrum of caterpillar control.

However, Monsanto’s claim that it is getting ready to launch bollgard 111 in India next year depends on the regulatory nod. Frelay said the company was aware that there were a few changes in the regulatory approach in India.

The company claims Bt cotton has resulted in a 37 per cent increase in yield and a 41 per cent decrease in insecticide application.

Frelay said he disagreed with the view that biotech seeds affected germ plasm. “We are breeding seeds around the world and seen the advantage of biotech traits. These actually enhance the native germ plasm”. Frelay said claimed since the introduction of biotech crops in 1996, 29 countries had adopted them and these were now being cultivated on 20 per cent of the world farmland. “We are yet to witness a single case of food or animal safety”, he added. The farm biotechnologist said the company was testing its biotech corn seed in India to generate data for approvals. “We are committed to bring the new corn technology to India”, he added.

Monsanto Director, Emerging Markets, Rashmi Nair said the Punjab Government was supporting the development of new corn traits.

Corn is being projected as an alternative to paddy which is leading to depletion of groundwater in the state. She said Mahyco, Monsanto’s Indian partner, had tested corn traits at Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, where the results had been encouraging. “Farmers who were exposed to the tests want the seeds immediately,” she added.

Nair said corn trials would be over by October when the three-year regulatory period would end. She said corn trials had already been approved by the Haryana and Gujarat governments, but the company was awaiting approval from the Central Government.