Illegal Bt Cotton Comprises 40 percent of Pakistan's Crops
October 19, 2007| |
A new Global Agriculture Information Network (GAIN) report released by the United States Foreign Agricultural Service (USDA FAS) estimated that illegal Bt cotton varieties comprise nearly 40 percent of Pakistan’s total cotton crop for the year 2007/2008. Of the estimated 11 million bales of cotton, 4 million is expected to be from illegal biotech varieties. According to the report, the majority of the illegal cotton seeds were likely smuggled to Pakistan from India, China and Australia, while some were probably obtained from local research institutes where new genetically modified cotton varieties are being developed. There are no GM crops approved for commercial release in Pakistan.
Modified to be resistant to the cotton bollworm, the Bt cotton is not effective against mealy bugs and the cotton leaf curl virus (CLCV), serious threats to Pakistan’s cotton crop. Initiatives are now being taken to develop new cotton varieties suited to Pakistan’s climate, insect pests and plant diseases. A Federal Committee has been formed to promote cooperation between international biotechnology companies and Pakistan’s research institutes.
Read the USDA GAIN Report at http://www.fas.usda.gov/gainfiles/200710/146292619.pdf
| |
Biotech Updates is a weekly newsletter of ISAAA, a not-for-profit organization. It is distributed for free to over 22,000 subscribers worldwide to inform them about the key developments in biosciences, especially in biotechnology. Your support will help us in our mission to feed the world with knowledge. You can help by donating as little as $10.
-
See more articles:
-
News from Around the World
- Two Decades of Safety Assessment Studies of Virus-resistant GM Plants Reviewed
- Developing Countries as the World's Next Top Biodiesel Producers
- Agrow Awards for Best Plant Protection Companies
- African and Asian Countries Collaborate for Legume Project
- GM Poplar for Phytoremediating Contaminated Waters
- A Gas that Helps Apples Stay Crisp
- Tropical Maize May be the Ultimate Midwest Biofuel Crop
- Pioneer Hi-Bred Has 23 New Soybean Varieties for 2008
- EMBRAPA Holds Public Audience to Discuss Research Priorities
- Illegal Bt Cotton Comprises 40 percent of Pakistan's Crops
- Philippines' DA won't Impose GMO Ban
- India Jumps on Jatropha Bandwagon
- Asia Rice Production Challenges Discussed in Vietnam
- In Vitro Technique Saves the Nearly-extinct Palaeobotanical Tree
- EuropaBio Delegation Hosts EU Commissioners
- BCPC President Calls for Use of Modern Technology
- Emerging Possibilities for Plants as Pharma Factories
-
Research Highlights
- Folate Fortified Rice by Metabolic Engineering
- Combating Nitrification in Wheat Using Wildrye Genes
- GM Maize Expressing a Fungal Phytase Gene
- Identification of Symbiotic Ectomycorrhizae of Yang Tree
-
Announcements
- Global Conference on GMOs
- International Symposium on Underutilized Plants
- BioMalaysia 2007 – Innovation for Quality of Life
-
Resources
- PK on Functional Foods
-
Read the latest: - Biotech Updates (April 30, 2025)
- Gene Editing Supplement (April 30, 2025)
- Gene Drive Supplement (February 22, 2023)
-
Subscribe to BU: - Share
- Tweet