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Garma
Garam More
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Agriculture |
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IRRI Director Voices Concern Over Slow Acceptance Of Biotech Foods In India By VK Chakravarti The Phillipines-based International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) director Swapan K Datta, has expressed his serious concern on the 'very slow' process at which India is accepting genetically modified (GM) or transgenic crops. During his recent visit here, he told The Financial Express that the GM crops have their plus and minus points but it is in the interest of a country to have an efficient regulatory authority to field test them. He cited the example of engineered rice developed at IRRI with genes for bacterial blight (BB) and stem borer resistance, named 'BB resistant IR72', which if transferred onto the fields could save up to $2 billion yield loss annually due to all major isolates found in Asia. Datta was here to attend a national conference on 'Taking Bio-technology to Indian Farms,' jointly organised by the Gujarat State Fertilisers & Chemicals Science Foundation and Gujarat State Financial Corporation. Speaking about potentials of improved transgenic rice (near perfect rice), being developed at IRRI, he said, "The improved variety with genes for lysine pro-vitamin A and high iron biosynthesis could tremendously help reduce the malnutrition of the poor people." Shantiniketan-born biotechnologist admitted that though there were still several constraints to overcome, such as a few wrong perceptions, bio-safety and Intellectual Property Rights (IPR), this technology could be well utilised. "Field evaluation of transgenic crops is not a field release. However, this is a very important step that needs to be done for assessment of materials, for moving to the next step of availability to the end-users.""In India," he said, "certain things still move very slowly such as the issuing of an important permit and also implementation of field tests. It needs special attention so that the benefit of the technology and products can reach the people without wasting time." Datta pointed out that engineered rice developed at IRRI with genes for bacterial blight (BB) and stem borer resistance have now been field-tested in China. Similarly, the transgenic commercial restorer line, MH63 with Bt genes, developed at IRRI has been transferred to China. The collaborative scientists in China have evaluated this material under field condition and found highly resistant against the several insect pests. This material has now been crossed with CMS line and hybrid Bt rice has been developed and evaluated under field condition. He said that transgenic rice seeds, with enhanced resistance for stem borer, sheath blight and bacterial blight have been transferred to India also under the joint collaborative programme of Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) and IRRI. Dated
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14th August, 2000
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