Financial Daily from THE HINDU group of publications
Friday, Apr 12, 2002
Financial Daily from THE HINDU group of publications Friday, Apr 12, 2002 |
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Agri-Biz & Commodities
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Bio-tech & Genetics New facility at DRR to test transgenic crops M. Somasekhar
HYDERABAD, April 11 THE country's latest and most sophisticated transgenic bio-safety glasshouse with funds from the Mahyco Research Foundation (MRF) has become functional at the Directorate of Rice Research (DRR), a national institute under the Indian Council for Agricultural Research (ICAR), here. The facility will screen and test transgenic crop material that would later be released for controlled field trials in the country, according to Dr B. Mishra, Project Director of the DRR, a premier rice institute. The bio-safety glasshouse facility was inaugurated by Mr Raju Barwale, Chairman of Mahyco, recently on the occasion of DRR's Foundation Day. Funds for the project were sourced from the Rs 3 crore given by MRF to ICAR for hybrid rice research as per a MoU signed a few years ago. After the inauguration at a joint meeting of MRF and ICAR scientists, it was decided that material from the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), the Philippines, as well as from other sources, internationally or indigenously developed, would be tested at the facility. Dr Mishra told Business Line that DRR had got approvals from the Department of Biotechnology (DBT) for field evaluation of transgenic rice lines. A new bio-safety facility has been developed for the purpose. DRR has also developed the required bio-safety protocols and transgenic containment facilities necessary to undertake such testing. It was also agreed at the 37th All-India Annual Rice Research Group meeting under way at DRR that the transgenic material that was resistant to stem borer pest from IRRI would be tested at the new facility, he said. The meeting also decided to constitute an expert committee with Dr B. Mishra, Project Director, DRR, as Member-Secretary to formulate recommendations for utilisation and field evaluation of transgenics in the country. DBT, IRRI and the national agriculture programme under ICAR would be actively involved in the proper utilisation of the transgenic test centre.
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