2009-07-28 | permalink

Indian Government announces GE vegetables within three years

The government’s parliamentary reply that three genetically modified varieties of vegetables—tomato, brinjal and cauliflower—will be in commercial production in three years clarifies a situation made murky by constant activism. This should be taken as proof that the government is serious about bringing about a second Green Revolution in a fast stagnating agriculture sector. India has been very slow to adopt GM technologies and has thus missed the opportunity to exploit the many advantages that come with GM farming. GM crops, at a minimum, offer the unambiguous benefits of higher yields and greater resistance to pests, both of which could give a big boost to the average farmer.

• The Financial Times, UK: Good and modified
• The Times of India, India: View: GM is the wave of the future
• The Times of India, India: Conterview: Decision is dangerous and ill-advised
• The Indian Express, India: On a GM platter
• The Telegraph, India: Gene trick for fresh tomatoes
• Indian Express, India: Agri-biotech body claims success in research on enhancing crop quality
• Press Information Bureau, India: Research on genetically modified vegetables in progress
• Thaiindian News, Tailand: Farm scientists bat for genetically modified crops