New Delhi: Two days after the government’s decided to put commercial cultivation of Bt brinjal on hold, leading global seeds firm Dupont said genetic resources from plants need to be harnessed well to provide food to millions.
Speaking to FE on Thursday, William S Niebur, DuPont vice-president, Crop Genetics Research and Development said there is a need to use genetic resources available to further food production.
He however, supported the move to hold further scientific discussion before introducing India ‘s first genetically modified food crop.
“This is the most important time in Indian agriculture and out of these turbulence and turmoil will come the clarity and direction,” told FE.
Speaking about Dupont, he said, “We are committed to increase global agricultural productivity to meet the growing demand for food, feed, fuel and materials through products developed from the ecosystem”.
This will involve collaboration with public sector organizations to conduct research on development of transgenic crop.
According to him this is a win-win situation as it will surmount the financial crunch research organizations often face in carrying out extensive work that is required to bring a transgenic crop from the laboratory to the fields.
DuPont had invested $750 million last year in research and development activities globally.
Environment minister Jairam Ramesh on Tuesday not only imposed an indefinite moratorium on commercial release of Bt brinjal but also expressed his opposition to private participation in country’s bio technological research in agriculture.
“Bio technology in agriculture should rest with public sector research institutes,” Ramesh had observed.
Niebur said while globally science is moved in a faster pace while the regulatory regime for overseeing introduction of transgenic crops has not moved at the same pace.
“Bio technology has to be used responsibly and we do not intend to force into any system,” he observed.
The $26.1 billion global giant DuPont has set up Biotechnology Research Centre at Hyderabad which is has set its eyes on g at discovery of high value agronomic traits such as stress tolerance and efficient nutrient utilisation to improve the performance of critical crops.
Copyright ©2010 The Indian Express Limited
