Maharashtra issues NOC to 28 applications for GM trials

The Maharashtra government has issued no-objection certificates to 28 applications for GM crop trials from seven private companies and the Nagpur-based Central Institute of Cotton Research.  

Most of the 28 strains cleared for trials are for wheat, rice, maize and cotton. Among the GM crops whose trials Maharashtra has permitted are transgenic rice and wheat.

Each field trial will take place in “confined conditions” on the farm of a state agriculture university.

The no-objections were issued after a 10-member committee chaired the Atomic Energy Commission's former chairman Anil Kakodkar gave a case-by-case clearance.

The  list of some of the companies and crops include

Rice : Bayer Bio Science, Harayana

Cotton : Monsanto India

Maize : Dow Agro Sciences India

Maize : Pioneer Overseas Corporation

Maize : Syngenta Bio Sciences, Pune

Wheat : Maharashtra Hybrid Seeds, Mumbai

Brinjal : Ankur Seeds