India To Become Major GM Rice, Veggie Producer

Matt Hopkins Posted by Matt Hopkins|12 February 2008

A new report from Rabo India Finance Ltd. notes that India has the potential to become a major producer of GM rice and vegetables by 2010. India has emerged as a leading destination for investment in biotechnology in the recent years, and work is currently being carried out on 19 crops including rice, wheat, cotton, potato, banana, tomato, canola, mustard, eggplant, cauliflower, cabbage, melon, and citrus.

Research is focusing on several traits, including insect and biotic stress resistance, drought tolerance, water logging and salinity tolerance, delayed ripening, and increased shelf life. The report estimated the Indian crop biotech industry’s revenue in 2006/07 at 55% higher than last year.

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