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.
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. Signalling reviving interest from foreign seed, agricultural chemicals and farm technology companies in India. And 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
“Bayer, through its local joint venture partner, has resubmitted the dossier for seeking regulatory approvals to introduce RRF in India”. Said one of the government sources familiar with the matter.
“Once the regulatory approval process starts, it might take a few years for Bayer to get the final approval.” It was not clear when the approval process would start, the sources said. The GM cotton seed variety could cut the cost of cultivation in India. Boost crop yields and act as an antidote to the pink bollworm pest, farm policy experts said.
The pink bollworm pest has of late become a major threat to India’s cotton crop. The pest attack has also hit farmers’ income, with nearly 20% to 30% of the country’s 12 to 13 million hectares of the cotton area infested with pink ballworm, based on estimates from industry bodies and farmers.