Monsanto, Bayer CropScience cut India investments

Policy uncertainty, pending field trial approvals force firms to review plans

Global biotech companies are reducing research activities and investments in India following policy uncertainty over the use of genetically modified (GM) crops.

The government last March lowered by 74 per cent royalty rates for BT Cotton and asked Monsanto, which developed the seed, to allow companies to use the Bollgard-2 variety.

“The cotton seed price control order, fixing a trait fee for our Bollgard technology, and other issues have created significant uncertainty in the business environment. This has compelled Monsanto to withdraw introduction of new technologies in India,” Monsanto had said then. 

Two other multinational players, Bayer CropScience and BASF,