Gene-modified Cotton Market Hots Up

Everyone is suddenly jumping on to the biotechnology bandwagon. And aiming to deliver genetically engineered cotton varieties, which are said to possess 'in-built' resistance against deadly insect pests.

With the Maharashtra Hybrid Seed Company (Mahyco) obtaining formal approval from the government for undertaking large scale field trials of its transgenic cotton, parallel efforts are on within the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) to develop similar genetically engineered cotton varieties, incorporating the Bacillus Thuringiensis (BT) genes. On its part, the Central Institute for Cotton Research (CICR), Nagpur, claims to have already evolved its own transgenic cotton version, involving introduction of two BT genes into two popularly grown local cotton varieties. The CICR says its objective is to provide an alternative to the Indian farmer, so that he is not dependent on just one seed company in the long run.

Genetically engineered cotton is big business and continues to be so, despite the fact that earlier crop trials (in 1998) of transgenic cotton were marred when farmers in Karnataka, Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh torched test plots and conducted 'Operation Cremation Monsanto.'

So, why are so many agencies conducting research in transgenic cotton? Biotechnology engineered cotton is claimed to significantly reduce the need to resort to frequent and excessive spraying of chemical pesticides (cotton accounts for an estimated 55 per cent of pesticide consumption in India , despite being grown on less than five per cent of its gross cropped area).

Mid-July, the government cleared large scale field trials on genetically engineered cotton by Mahyco. The seed is derived from the US-based life sciences major, Monsanto 's patented `Bollgard' germplasm.

As a company representative pointed out, ``This time round, the clearance was given by the Genetic Engineering Advisory Committee (GEAC) under the Indian Ministry of Environment and Forests.'' The Mahyco seeds contain a certain gene which makes it resistant to the common cotton bollworm pest that inflicts heavy damage on the crop.

The U.S. multinational Monsanto has proprietary rights over this gene and several non-government organizations within the country have been protesting against permission for field trials on this cotton.

The official added that the seeds would not be used for commercial purposes ``as yet'' and that the large scale field trials were approved only after the company's small scale trials, conducted in 40 locations in 1998 and 11 locations in 1999, had been cleared by the Review Committee on Genetic Manipulation under the Department of Biotechnology (DBT). Meanwhile, the Nagpur-based Central Institute for Cotton Research (CICR), has developed transgenic cotton varieties to combat the deadly American bollworm insect pest, Helicoverpa Armigera.

The CICR's BT transgenic cotton variety would be ready for field trials in two year's time. The BT genes present in Monsanto 's Bollgard cotton as well as the CICR's proposed transgenics are isolated from a naturally occurring soil bacteria, Bacillus Thuringiensis. More than 100 strains of this bacillus have been found in Indian soils.

A Monsanto representative maintained that Mahyco, ``has received permission to conduct crop trials up to 85 hectares in the country, though the exact locations, where the trails are to be conducted, are still in a fluid state.'' The company is busy taking the requisite consent from the state authorities to conduct trials.

The representative pointed out that, ``in some states, the season for sowing has already passed. State consent for other states is currently being sought,'' she added.

Sowing is to commence in Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh. When queried as to whether the company had devised a policy to tackle any negative onslaught, the representative added, ``from past experiences, we have found information to be our best policy. Educating the farmers about the technology and what the trials are about has proved to be the best channel. Last year's trials in 11 locations which went off peacefully are a testimony to this fact.''