By Ashok B. Sharma
The Genetic Engineering Approval Committee (GEAC) is
slated to approve multi locational research trials of a number genetically
modified (GM) food crops at its meeting on Friday. These GM crops include
six Bt rice hybrids, three Bt okra hybrids, two GM corn crops, eight Bt
eggplant hybrids.
The six Bt rice hybrids developed by Mahyco slated to undergo field
trials are MRP 5305 Bt, MRP 5319 Bt, MRP 5401 Bt, MRP 5445 Bt, MRP 5629 Bt
and MRP 5631 Bt. Field trials are slated to be conducted in 12 locations in
10 states. The three Bt okra hybrids also developed by Mahyco, namely
MHOK-10 Bt, MHOK-12 Bt and MHOK-421 Bt, are slated to undergo field trials
in 20 locations across the country. Among two GM corn crops slated to
undergo field trials are YieldGard corn and Roundup Ready corn (NK603)
developed by Monsanto India.

Among eight Bt eggplant hybrids slated to undergo field trials are
Malapur local, Manjari Gotha, Kudachi local, Udupi Gulla, 112-GO and
Rabakavi local developed by University of Agricultural Sciences, Dharwad and
SBJ 9Bt and SBJ 10 Bt developed by Sungro Seeds Research Ltd, Jammu.

The GEAC had set up an in-house panel to study its implications of the
May 9 court order. The GEAC member-secretary, Ranjani Warrier when contacted
confirmed saying ?multi-location research trials of some GM food crops are
on the agenda for discussions in the 78th meeting of GEAC slated on Friday.?
Also in the agenda for discussion are field trials of a number of Bt cotton
hybrids and approved events and commercial release of 8 Bt cotton hybrids
for central and southern India.


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