Page 2 - Bt Cotton

Bt cotton: Centre to soon allow commercial use of 3 locally made varieties

The government is expected to soon allow commercial release of three genetically modified (Bt) and indigenously developed varieties of cotton seed, for the first time. These were grown by using the now off-patent Bollgard-1 technology (BG-1).Officials said the seeds (called PAU-1, RS 2013 and F-1861) had been recommended for commercial release by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR). The seeds can be re-used and this allows significantly lower prices than existing Bt cotton varieties, mostly licensed by seed giant Monsanto. Monsanto first started sub-licensing the BG-1 technology, which went off-patent in 2006. It now sub-licenses BG-2. Seeds produced by using this technology occupy 95 per cent of the Indian cotton market. A third technology, BG-3, is in the pipeline but commercial use has not yet been approved."We welcome the move to commercially release indigenously produced Bt cotton but it remains to be seen whether this is parallel to the existing BG-2. If priced ..

Behind Bt-cotton's decline

Govt's reluctance to allow gene-engineered variety is to blame

Licensing of Bt cottonseed to hamper growth of GM seeds: ICRA

India embraced its first GM crop in 2002 by Mosanto and now Bt Cotton now covers 95% of total area devoted to cotton

Bt cotton: Karnataka HC removes stay on Centre's seed price control order

Mahyco Monsanto Biotech has sub-licensed Bt cotton seed technology since 2002 to various domestic seed companies

Govt to continue regulating cotton seed prices: Agriculture minister

Mayhco Monsanto Biotech Ltd had challenged the govt's seed control order in the Delhi High Court in December

Failure of Bt cotton forces govt to promote native seeds

Agriculture Ministry decided to revive cultivation of indigenous varieties of cotton in a meeting yesterday

Seed pricing: Cottoning on to controls

The Centre's cap on genetically modified cotton seed prices and royalty fees in all states may have set a questionable precedent

Centre cuts fee and prices for Bt cotton

Mosanto JV had said it would re-evaluate its India operations if this happened

Panel for over 70% reduction in Bt cotton licence fee for 2016

A 450-gramme packet of Bt cotton is sold for Rs 830 in Maharashtra; in Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Telengana, Gujarat and Tamil Nadu, it is sold at Rs 930

Central govt to fix Bt cotton seed price by April 1

Committee to decide on uniform national price, says will keep farmers' interest paramount

HC stops Indian seed co from selling Bt cotton under Monsanto brand

HC also asked the Hyderabad firm to pay the royalty to MMBL after selling the old stock manufactured before November 2015