Last month, genetically modified brinjal was found in a farm in Haryana. While the government insists that this is a one-off case, activists wonder how widespread the problem could be.
A forest department report has revealed that Mangar is home to almost 6 lakh trees, making it a strong contender for the 'natural conservation zone' tag.
GURGAON: The state forest department on Tuesday submitted an exhaustive report to the National Green Tribunal (NGT), highlighting the salient characteristics of Mangar forest, while also underlinin
At least 13 varieties are slated for GEAC nod after a long while but states have to also agree; biotech sector waits eagerly
Even as the government prepares to give a final nod to field trials for at least 13 crop varieties in the next meeting of the Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC), on March 21, the road ahead for genetically modified (GM) varieties is still bumpy.
Following three years of research, National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources (NBPGR) has identified core genes which would help in development of new varieties of wheat, rice and vegetables which would withstand climatic variations.
These varieties, identified from the four lakh accessions held with NBPGR or the national gene bank, would help deal with variations in temperatures, rainfall and alternations in climate conditions witnessed during the last few years.
India’s top agricultural scientists blasted the Technical Evaluation Committee (TEC) report which had asked for an indefinite moratorium on field trials of Bt Transgenics.
These scientists claimed that 17.3 million farmers in 29 countries are growing biotech crops on over 170 million hectares of land while another 31 countries are presently importing biotech crops for food and food use.
In a first of its kind experiment to identify specific trait from country's huge genetic resources, National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources (NBPGR) has characterised more than 5000 varieties of wheat germplasms for development of better seed varieties which could withstand climate change issues.
The national seed bank which operates under NBPGR, has more than four lakh accessions out of which around 1.2 lakh belongs to only rice and wheat varieties.
The Hisar-based Chaudhary Charan Singh Haryana Agriculture University has signed an agreement with the National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources (NBPGR) for evaluation of germ plasm.
The Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC), which pioneered supercomputing in India, is now assisting the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) in establishing a national agricultural bioinformatics grid.
This initiative, the first of its kind here, will help scientists enhance agricultural productivity and also address problems like food security.
