After BT cotton, Mahyco bets on genetically modified okra & rice

The genetically modified vegetable BT brinjal may be still mired in controversy but that has not deterred its maker Maharashtra Hybrid Seeds Co (Mahyco) from going ahead with BT okra (ladies finger) and rice.

According to Usha Barwale Zehr, joint director of research at Mahyco, the company is currently conducting bio-safety tests for BT okra and rice, and once they are done, permission will be sought for field trials.

“BT okra and rice are next in pipeline. All three, including brinjal, are relevant for Indian agriculture. We are optimistic that science will prevail and the government will be a facilitator in the process and take a positive decision,” said Zehr, adding that all the three have the same protein which is present in BT cotton.

Three months ago, a 16-member expert panel set up by Union environment minister Jairam Ramesh, along with the genetic engineering approval committee (GEAC), met to discuss BT brinjal, which has been facing protests over its commercial release on safety and health grounds.

“Several members present in that meeting were in favour of a commercial release of the product in a limited manner. However, no other meeting has been planned on this matter as of now,” said Zehr.

BT refers to a gene of a bacterium, bacillus thuringiensis which produces a protein, Cry 1Ac which destroys pests that eat up the crop. Brinjal, okra and rice are genetically modified and infused with the BT gene, the technology for which has been licensed from US-based crop company Monsanto, which holds a 26% stake in Mahyco.

Zehr said the firm has already started certain bio-safety tests involving BT okra and rice to check the safety and toxicity of the products on animals like rats and rabbits, and it will take about three to six months for completion.

“Once the bio-safety tests are done, we will apply for permission with the GEAC for doing field trials to check the efficacy of the products. However, there is a delay in getting approvals for trial permission due to various factors.”

Like brinjal which gets attached by a chewing pest called fruit and shoot borer, in okra it is the fruit borer while in rice it is the stem borer that chews up all the nutrients, thereby harming the plant.

“The BT technology when infused into the plant gets eaten by the pest, which then kills the pest upon entering its body. It is good for farm yield and safe for consumers. On brinjal we have done all the necessary testing and will do the same in case of okra and rice as well,” said Zehr.

However, according to agriculture activist Kavita Kuruganti, there is no pressing hurry to release any genetically modified food crop into the market and a great degree of experimental studies and assessment is needed to check the human safety.

“Once such products are allowed, it becomes impossible to track their impact on human health.”