July 25, 2005

India to benefit from potential of GM crops
 

Professor K.M. Singh, an agricultural economist and project director with India's Agricultural Technology Management Agency, has reported progress in breeding Indian corn resistant to diseases and pests.

Meanwhile, a government official said that GM crops were generally accepted amid substantial domestic biotech investments and creation of a separate government biotech department. However, there were also religious concerns from the majority of the population regarding such crops.

India could also benefit from new US export potential through domestic biotech acceptance.

Other possible benefits included GM corn with higher protein content to meet the nutritional needs of certain groups in India's lower income population.