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- Pawar's daughter on panel that will examine biotechnology Bill 1
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- Gujarat pollution board gets a makeover in efficiency 33
- 309,000 infants die on first day
- Poison in disguise 2
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- So much to give
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- Environment ministry wants to restore night traffic through Bandipur tiger reserve 52
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- Diesel: when bad policy makes for toxic hell 38
- Gujarat pollution board gets a makeover in efficiency 33
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- Grand distraction called river interlinking 28
- Eat at your own risk 27
- Green energy takes toll on green cover 26
- Temporary solution, permanent jam 25
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GM bollworms on the anvil?
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Issue Date: Jul 31, 2002
Insects have been modified to destroy own species
Genetically modified pink bollworms (Pectinophora gossypiella) have been released recently for the first time in a secret location in the cotton fields of Arizona. The bollworms have been modified by US scientists to be sterile so that they can mate with natural bollworms, which will not produce any offspring. Although the experimental batch of bollworms have been released under netting, many dread that the experiment will go awry and the modified insects will wreak havoc in the wild.
The recent move, if successful, spells trouble for US multinational giant Monsanto as they sell genetically modified bollworm-resistant cotton at prices farmers say are exorbitant. So instead of GM cotton, farmers are likely to back the modified version of the bollworm, which, if successful would enable them to plant regular cotton and save money on chemical pesticides. When contacted, officials at Monsanto's India office declined to comment on the issue.
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