Biotech Updates

Indonesia Approves First GM Sugarcane

May 22, 2013

Indonesia's National Genetically Modified Product Biosafety Commission (KKHPRG) has approved the world's first genetically modified sugarcane which will soon be commercialized. Dr. Bambang Purwantara, a member of the commission said that all the institutions mandated to approve biotech crops have given their approval to the drought resistant sugarcane.

Developed by the PT Perkebunan Nusantara, the Indonesian Sugarcane Plantation Research Center (P3GI), and scientists from the State University of Jember in East Java, the sugarcane is one of the 14 crops being assessed by the commission, and expected to be planted next year.

More information is available from the news article at http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2013/05/20/development-underway-first-transgenic-sugarcane-plantation.html.