Seminar and Visit of GM Corn Field Trial in Vinh Phuc Province

The Department of Science and Technology, Department of Plantation and the local Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of Vinh Phuc province has organized a seminar which included a visit to genetically modified (GM) corn trial field in Vinh Phuc Province.

Experts provided presentations on the science and benefits that can be derived from GM corn including resistance to pests and tolerance to herbicides. Preliminary data on the on-going field trials was presented and showed that GM corn and non-GM corn has no difference on biodiversity and environment effects, specifically it has no affect on non-target organisms and other non-lepidopteran insects.

Dr. Nguyen Tri Ngoc, Director of the  Department of Plantation said that the success of GM corn trial in Vinh Phuc is the basis for biosafety council to evaluate the effectiveness of the technology. He recommended the Vietnam Agriculture Institute to conduct a large scale trial in winter in Vinh Phuc, and if successful will lead to the commercializataion of GM corn in 2012.

The trial that is being conducted in Vinh Phuc province is under the key program for biotech development and application in agriculture which will run until 2020. In addition, Vietnam Agriculture Genetic Institute (AGI), Pioneer Hi-Bred Vietnam Co, Ltd; Dekalb Vietnam Co, and Ltd (Monsanto Thailand) has conducted large scale trials of GM corn at Di Vu Breeding station, Vinh Tuong District and Mai Nham Breeding Station in Tam Duong District to collect data for risk assessment of GM crops for biodiversity and environment, pests resistance and herbicide tolerance in agro-ecological conditions in Vietnam.

 For details, see the original news in Vietnamese at http://nnptntvinhphuc.gov.vn/index.php?action=details&&idmuc=TSX06L