Bayer Revives Plan to Introduce New GM Cotton Seeds in India
Germany’s Bayer has applied to cultivate its next generation of genetically modified (GM) cotton seeds in India, government sources said, reviving plans to bring the high-yielding, herbicide-tolerant variety to the country, according to Reuters.
In late 2016, Monsanto withdrew an application seeking approval from New Delhi for the GM variety Bollgard II Roundup Ready Flex (RRF), to protest a raft of government measures against the world’s biggest seed maker. Bayer, which bought Monsanto in 2018 for $63 billion, has resubmitted the application for Bollgard II RRF, signaling reviving interest from foreign seed, agricultural chemicals and farm technology companies in India, the world’s leading producer of cotton, rice, wheat and an array of other farm goods.
After Monsanto’s row with India over pricing and intellectual property rights, other global corporations in the agriculture industry decided to scale back investments and put off plans to introduce new seed varieties and farming technologies in India. Bayer resubmitted the application seeking cultivation of the Bollgard II RRF variety in December, said the sources, who asked not to be identified in line with official rules.
Get The Newsletter Today!
