NBPGR Commercializes State-of-the-Art GMO Detection Technology

In a bid to commercialize the state-of-the-art PCR based technologies for the detection of various GMO in food crops, the National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources (NBPGR) has successfully inked a deal with M/s Amar Immunodiagnostics, a Hyderabad based GMO-detection company. A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU)  was signed between NBPGR and Amar Immunodiagnostics on May 17, 2010 at New Delhi. This is the first public- private partnership on the GMO detection technologies between NBPGR and Amar Immunodiagnostics. These GMO detection technologies are available for further collaboration and technology transfer to interested parties.

A set of PCR- based GMO detection technologies, kits, bioassay and protocols have been developed in-house by the team led by Dr. Gurinder Jit Randhawa of the National Research Centre on DNA Fingerprinting based at NBPGR under the collaborative projects supported of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) and the Department of Biotechnology (DBT), Government of India. With the commercialization of these easy to use and reliable detection kits, a broad range of stakeholders would be benefited in detecting DNA sequences in GM crops for its effective regulation. The kits will help build the confidence of consumers in the technology for the development of GM crops, assisting in post release monitoring and solving legal disputes if they arise.

Two recent peer-reviewed articles showing proficiency of detection methodology developed by NBPGR which were published in Food Analytical Methods  and the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry are available at http://www.springer.com/food+science/journal/12161 and http://pubs.acs.org/journal/jafcau, respectively.  For more information on the PCR based GMO detection technology, contact Dr. Gurinder Jit Randhawa at gjr@nbpgr.ernet.in or gurinder.randhawa@rediffmail.com or visit NBPGR at http://www.nbpgr.ernet.in/