GM Brinjal developed by Monsanto's Indian subsidiary

New Delhi, May 26 (UNI) After Bt cotton, Mahyco, an Indian subsidiary of American Multinational Mansanto, has developed transgenic Bt Brinjal which is the first genetically modified (GM) food crop in the country.

Mahyco, the seed company has produced transgenic brinjal plants with cry 1Ac gene from Bacillus thuringiensis tolerant to the fruit and shoot borer, one of the major pests which attack the brinjal crop throughout its life cycle.

Their application for large scale trials and seed production of four Bt Brinjal hybrids, MHB 4 Bt, MHB 9 Bt, MHB 80 Bt and MHBJ-99 Bt, containing cry 1 Ac gene during Kharif 2006 has been submitted to Genetically Engineering Approval Committe (GEAC) under the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF).

The biosafety data will be placed on MoEF website [email protected] under the sub heading GEAC Clearance shortly.

The MoEF has constituted a sub-committee on Bt cotton and related issues under the Chairmanship of Dr C D Mayee, Chairman Agricultural Scientist Recruitment Board and Co-Chair GEAC with a view to rationalise the regulatory procedure and facilitate introduction of new technology to make available cheaper options to farmers.

The GEAC has approved the import and conduct of Phase II clinical trials with Chimerivaxtm JE (Japanese Encephalitis vaccine) in children of descending age from USA by M/s Quintiles.

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