June 27, 2012

Uganda likely to allow GM crops to bolster production

An industry group supporting biotech crops said that Uganda is considering a law to allow genetically modified crops to boost production.

A bill is being considered after successful introduction of the genetically modified (GM) crops in India, South Africa, Egypt and Burkino Faso, the Uganda Biotechnology and Biosafety Consortium said in a statement from Kampala, the capital. Possible crops include bananas, corn, cotton and cassava, it said.

Uganda is testing biotech cassava to fight cassava brown streak virus, which causes deadly streaks in the roots. Biotech corn would be resistant to drought, cotton to bollworm and bananas to wilting, the Uganda consortium said.