Monsanto is back in the courts on the issue of royalty or trait fees it charges for its genetically modified Bt cotton

K P Prabhakaran Nair

Monsanto devotes an annual budget of $10 million to harassing, intimidating, suing -and in some cases bankrupting -American farmers over alleged improper use of its patented seeds. This will become the norm for India as well

THERE is unlikely to be any decision on Bt food crops till next year. Dr K Kasturirangan, who is discussing the controversial issue of biotechnology and food crops with the scientific community, will present a detailed review report in December this year.

| K P Prabhakaran Nair

Debashis Banerji

Decisions on GM crops should be taken on the basis of sound science only after incorporating known advances in plant transformation technology.

Ananth Krishnan

BEIJING: Chinese Vice-Premier Hui Liangyu will arrive in New Delhi on Friday for talks with Indian officials on furthering co-operation between the two countries on a range of agricultural and environmental issues.

Misleading the public on safety of genetically modified crops or organisms without scientific evidence would not be made a punishable offence, the government has decided following concerns raised by some scientists and civil society groups.

THE country