Egypt NBC and Parliament Visit Bt Maize Trials

Members of the Egyptian National Biosafety Committee and the Parliament, as well as maize breeders and media specialists visited the Bt maize field trails in Nubaria, Egypt. Nubaria is one of five Bt maize field trial locations totaling about 65 feddan (68 acres).  Egypt cultivates 1.9 million feddan of maize annually, and is facing a major problem of corn borer infestation. Chemical pesticides do not provide full protection from the pest.

Mr. AbdelReheem ElGhoul,  head of the agricultural committee in the Egyptian Parliament, expressed interest in the performance of Bt maize  noting that " Egypt is always looking for the best technology that can help small-scale farmers to overcome insect infestation and minimize the use of pesticides that can harm  farmers, farm animals as well as the environment". Prof. Dr. Hussien Hegazy, head of the agricultural and irrigation committee in the Shoura Council, noted a  "need to evaluate every step in these trials and choose the appropriate technology that will help Egyptian farmers".  

In related developments, the Egypt Biotechnology Information Center (EBIC) organized a field trip for agricultural extensions from  8 different governates. They discussed Bt maize performance in controlling corn borers with Prof. Magdy Massoud of the University of Alexandria.  For more information contact Dr. Ismail AbdelHamid, EBIC director, at  Ismail@egypt-bic.com.