DRR and ISAAA Hold Seminar on Outlook of Biotech/GM Crops

A seminar on "Outlook of Biotech/ GM Crops, held in Acharya NG Ranga Agricultural University, Rajendranagar, Hyderabad was jointly sponsored by the Directorate of Rice Research (DRR) and the International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-biotech Applications (ISAAA). Prominent speakers included Dr. Clive James, Chair, ISAAA Board of Directors, Dr. Zhen Zhu, Professor, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Bejing, China, Dr. Swapan Datta, Professor, University of Calcutta, Kolkata and Dr. T.V. Ramanaiah, Biotech Affairs Manager, PHI Seeds, Hyderabad, and chaired by the eminent Rice Scientist and former Deputy Director General, Indian Council of Agricultural Research, Dr. E. A. Siddiq. 

Dr. James presented the global history of commercialization of genetically modified crops from 1996 to the present, which currently exceeds 100 million ha, covering 22 countries and represented by eight crops. He discussed the benefits and gains in the use of the technology, its increasing hectarage and wider application not only for food and feed, but also in biofuels and pharmaceuticals. Dr. Zhen Zhu presented the development of GM rice with resistance to stemborer and leaf folders, and its hopeful adoption in China. Dr. Swappan Datta presented an array of GM rice with traits for insect and disease resistance, abiotic stress tolerance and with improved nutritional quality, which will be very important for the rice industry in India. The regulatory framework and guidelines for evaluation and commercialization of GM crops in India was discussed by Dr. T.V. Ramanaiah. 

Finally, Dr. E.A. Siddiq remarked that "greater efforts need to be put by the scientific community in providing the right information to the public and become more vocal in clarifying misgivings raised in the media by the anti GM lobby". The seminar was attended by over 300 researchers, scientists, professors and executives of agro-Industries representing 28 organizations mainly based in Hyderabad.

For details contact Bhagirath Choudhary of ISAAA South Asia Office at: b.choudhary@isaaa.org.