(a) whether tests are being conducted on Bt. ladyfinger, Bt. Cauliflower and Bt. Paddy and
other crops in the country;
(b) if so, the facts thereof;
(c) whether these tests are being conducted in the Government laboratories;
(d) if so, the facts thereof; and
(e) the details of crops being tested in private and Government scientific laboratories?
MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR ENVIRONMENT AND FORESTS (SHRI JAIRAM RAMESH)
(a) Yes, Sir.
(b) to (d) The Genetic Engineering Approval Committee has accorded approval for conducting
experiments on Genetically Modified (GM) crops namely; cotton, rice, okra, brinjal, potato,
groundnut, tomato, corn, cabbage, cauliflower, mustard and sorghum for generation of biosafety
data. The public and private institutions which have been permitted to conduct biosafety tests
include; Central Potato Research Institute, Shimla, National Research Centre for Sorghum,
Hyderabad; National Research Centre for Plant Biotechnology, New Delhi; Tamil Nadu Agriculture
University, Coimbatore; University of Agriculture, Dharwad; International Crop Research
Institute for Semi Arid Tropics, Hyderabad; M/s Bejo Sheetal Seeds Pvt. Ltd., Jalna; M/s
Pioneer Overseas Corporation; Hyderabad; M/s Dow Agro Science, Mumbai; M/s Monsanto India
Limited, New Delhi; M/s Bayer BioSciences Pvt., Hyderabad; M/s J. K. Agri Genetics Limited,
Hyderabad; M/s Nunhems India Pvt. Ltd., Gurgaon; M/s Avesthagen Ltd., Bangalore, M/s
Maharashtra Hybrid Seeds Co. Ltd., Mumbai; M/s Sungro Seeds Research Ltd., M/s Metahelix
Life Sciences, Bangalore; and Delhi University.
(e) The development of these GM crops (except okra, cotton and corn) is at its nascent
stage and therefore preliminary data are being generated by the applicant within their own
laboratory, green house and research farms. In case of okra, animal feeding studies have been
initiated at National Institution of Nutrition, Hyderabad and accredited private laboratories
such as Advinus Therapeutics, Bangalore. In case of WideStrike transgenic cotton, goat feeding
study is being conducted at International Institute of Biotechnology and Toxicology, Chennai.
It is recognized by Ministry of Science and Technology and also recognized by University of
Madras. Field trials with transgenic corn and cotton are being conducted in State Agriculture
Universities for generating information on the stability, efficacy and environment safety of
the introduced gene.