India Biotech Information Goes Online

The International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-biotech Applications (ISAAA) announces the launch of a new user-friendly and interactive website of its India Biotech Information Centre (BIC).   India BIC website (http://www.isaaa.org/india) is a one-stop-shop for reliable information on genetically modified (GM) crops and agri-biotech related developments in the country. It contains the most comprehensive and packaged information related to GM crops and also features most updated information related to biotech policy and regulatory environment in the country.

Catering to the needs of multiple stakeholders, the website filters and logically decodes complex biotech science related information so as to expand the understanding of biotechnologies in agriculture. It also features important research publications, short and snappy documents and biotech video documentaries that are translated in major Indian languages.  

Major ISAAA publications including ISAAA's flagship annual Brief on the Global Status of Commercialized Biotech/GM Crops, Briefs on Bt Brinjal and Science Communication, series of Biotech Crop Profiles and ISAAA series of Facts & Trends are made available free in downloadable format. In addition, publication highlighting the significance of the seed and new crop technologies; downloadable biotech videos; attractive gallery of posters related to GM crops and a series of Pocket Ks on crop biotechnology are placed on the website for use by students, researchers, scientists, farmers, general public and concerned stakeholders. All publications released in the past are available in the archive section.

An interesting feature of the website is a column "Latest News & Views" that updates readers with the new developments in the area of crop biotechnology on a daily basis. It also includes Crop Biotech Update (CBU), a  weekly summary of news on latest developments in crop biotechnology in the Asia and Pacific region. For up-to-date news in the area of biosafety regulation and policy matters, a "Policy & Regulatory Bulletin" contains the most sought-after information on biotech regulation in India including decision and policy documents placed for public information. Relevant reports and publications of significance to Indian agriculture are also made available in the form of "Information Capsule".

 Visitors of India BIC website are encouraged to send their feedback and suggestions for improvement of this website to b.choudhary@cgiar.org and k.gaur@cgiar.org