Monsanto to dabble in pulses, wheat

COMPANIES' GREEN MOVES

Monsanto's business strategy for India is not just confined to genetically modified cotton as the biotech major is also open to look at key grains such as wheat and pulses. Monsanto is the world's largest seed company.

"Monsanto is willing to partner public research institutes to develop technology for crops of importance to India," Raj Ketkar, deputy managing director, Mahyco Monsanto Biotech (MMBL), said.

MMBL is an equal joint venture between US-based Monsanto and Maharashtra Hybrid Seed Company (Mahyco). Monsanto introduced Bt cotton in India in 2002.

He said the company is already working on the fruit segment, especially papaya. "We recently signed a pact with Tamil Nadu Agriculture University and have given them a royalty-free licence of genetically modified papaya," he added.

On other crops such as pulses and wheat, which India imports, he said, "We are willing to study on these crops too."

However, Ketkar explained that research and development (R&D) on these crops would take years to complete because of their yield complexities, diseases, climatic conditions and other parameters differ from country to country.

"The technology we develop for the US cannot be dumped in India. Even Bt cotton was not developed overnight. Monsanto took a good number of years before commercialising it (in India)," he said.

"After we accomplish the lined-up projects, we would identify others," he said, adding research on vegetables, corn, soyabean and cotton is still going on.