The Department of Agriculture said Friday it will extend its scrutiny of controversial proposed biotech crops developed by Dow AgroSciences, a unit of Dow Chemical, and Monsanto Co.

Cambridge-based scientists claim to have developed a new type of 'superwheat' which could boost productivity by 30 per cent.

Monsanto study says crop in four Gujarat districts showed susceptibility to pest

The Genetic Engineering Approval Committee (GEAC) is learnt to have received a report confirming pink bollworm developing resistance to Bt cotton in four districts in Gujarat. The apex regulator of genetically modified (GM) crops is likely to consider these findings by Monsanto and Mahyco scientists in its next meeting.

Plea to remove Agriculture Ministry’s nominee from panel

The Coalition for GM-free India has urged the Supreme Court to “remove” the Agriculture Ministry’s nominee from the Technical Expert Committee (TEC) on genetically modified crops on account of alleged ‘conflict of interest’ in the matter of a PIL filed on Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs).
The committee that was set up to advise the court on the technicality of whether the GMOs should be banned or not, has, in its interim report, recommended a 10-year moratorium on field trials of GM crops in the country till such time a proper regulatory system is put in place.

Opposition is building up against the Biotech Regulatory Authority of India (BRAI) Bill, which was introduced in the Lok Sabha recently.

The CPI leader, in his letter to Jaipal, cites “conflict of interest”

Close on the heels of 17 MPs urging Science and Technology Minister Jaipal Reddy to withdraw from the Lok Sabha the recently introduced Biotechnology Regulatory Authority of India (BRAI) Bill, CPI leader D. Raja has also expressed “serious reservations” over the Bill, which provides for a single-window clearance mechanism for genetically modified crops.

Anti-genetically modified (GM) food groups on Wednesday announced a campaign against the Government’s move to promote GM bananas to “save Indian women from anaemia”.

Several women’s NGOs, including Women for Diversity, Guild of Services, Diverse Women for Diversity and Gene Ethics Australia, have launched a combined campaign against genetically-engineered (GMO) bananas.

Dr Vandana Shiva has questioned why India should finance the Queensland University of Technology (QUT) in Australia to develop GMO bananas when research in this area has already been done by the a team from the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (Barc).

New efforts to force labeling of foods made with genetically modified crops, including a bill introduced by U.S.