Seeds of stagnation in Bt cotton: Can newer variants impact productivity?

Manufacturers said deferrals in introducing newer variants will seriously impact productivity

Last month, a meeting of the Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC) decided to seek fresh information from Mahyco on the Bollgard-2 Round-up Ready Flex (BG-2 RRF), a second-generation variant of the genetically modified (GM) Bt cotton seed. Speci­fically, the GEAC wanted to recheck BG-2 RRF’s efficacy claims against certain target­ed pests, including the dreaded pink bollworm. The committee also wanted a revised analysis of the socioeconomic impact of the use of this hybrid.

This dossier has had a chequered history. It was first submitted in 2013, according to senior industry sources.

In 2016, it was voluntarily withdrawn in 2016 owing