Voluntary Report - public distribution

**Date:** 12/29/2003

**GAIN Report Number:** IN3125

IN3125

**India**

**Planting Seeds**

**Indian Seed Industry Under Transition**

**2003**

**Approved by:**

![](media/image1.wmf)Chad Russell

U.S. Embassy, FASNEWDELHI

**Prepared by:**

A. Govindan

**Report Highlights:**

The Indian seed industry is undergoing wide ranging transformations --
which include an increasing role of private sector seed companies,
rising presence of multinational seed companies with focus on
biotechnology, and wide ranging changes in regulatory frameworks, which
would affect seed research, marketing, and trade in coming years.

Includes PSD Changes: No

Includes Trade Matrix: No

Unscheduled Report

New Delhi \[IN1\]

\[IN\]

#### Structure of the Indian Seed Industry

-   **Pubic Sector Seed Companies**

-   **Private Sector Seed Companies**

-   **Variety Development**

-   **Public-Private Sector Cooperation**

#### Trade

#### Regulatory Environment

-   **Industry Regulation and Quality Control**

    -   **The Seed Act, 1966 and Seed Rules, 1968**

    -   **Seed Control Order, 1983**

    -   **New Seed Legislation, 2002**

-   **Phytosanitary Regulations**

    -   **The Destructive Insect and Pest Act, 1914, and**

    -   **Plants, Fruits and Seeds (Regulation of Imports in India)
        Order, 1989**

-   **Intellectual Property Rights**

    -   **Plant Variety Protection and Farmers' Right Act, 2001, and
        Rules**

-   **Other**

    -   **Biodiversity Act, 2002**

    -   **Rules for the manufacture, use, import, export, and storage of
        genetically engineered organisms**

    -   **National Seed Policy**

# 

# Agricultural Biotechnology 

# Structure of the Indian Seed Industry

Although the Indian seed market is one of the largest, it is almost
exclusively supplied by locally produced seeds. Farmers retain seed of
major food crops (wheat, rice, sorghum, millet, corn, and pulses) and
commercial crops for many years, and the largest volume of seed trade
involves local exchanges of established self-pollinating varieties. The
seed replacement rate in most crops is very low, with the exception of
cotton and some vegetables. The use of hybrid seeds is mostly confined
to cotton, and to some extent to corn, millet, sunflower, and few
vegetables. However, awareness about the high yield and quality of
produce from hybrid seeds, attracting farmers to switch over to hybrids,
is growing.

The Indian seed industry used to be dominated by public sector seed
companies. However, following the easing of government regulations and
the implementation of a new seed policy in 1988, the private sector seed
companies have started playing a major role in seed development and
marketing. More recently, the government's decision to embrace
biotechnology as a means of achieving food security has attracted
several leading biotechnology-focused multinational seed companies to
India. The composition of the seed industry, by volume of turnover, has
reportedly reached a ratio of 60:40 between the private and public
sectors.

# Public Sector Seeds Companies

Public sector involvement in the seed industry on a national scale began
at the beginning of the "green revolution" with the establishment of the
National Seed Corporation (NSC) in 1963, which was charged with the
responsibility of promoting seed industry development from production
through processing, storage and marketing, and establishing a system of
quality control. Before that, the Indian seed industry was little
developed apart from a small number of private companies dealing with
high value vegetable and flower seeds. In the initial years of
operation, the NSC concerned itself mainly with foundation seed
production and with seed certification after the enactment of Seed Act
in 1966. The State Seed Corporations (SSC) were established later with
support from the World Bank, initially in nine states, and later
expanded to cover 13 states, for production and handling of seed in
their respective states.

The role of public sector seed companies is now mostly confined to
certified seeds of high volume, low value segment of high yielding
varieties of cereals, pulses, and cotton with a limited presence in the
high value hybrid sectors of cotton, cereals, and vegetables. Wheat and
paddy seed constitutes a major share of the seeds handled by them. The
NSC and SSCs work closely together to coordinate procurement and sales
prices as well as variety demand and supply. Their presence is
considered necessary by the government to ensure the availability of
reasonably priced seeds of major crops throughout the country and to
make sure that private sector seed companies do not enjoy and exploit
unreasonable market power.

The public sector seed companies, however, lag behind in research; they
are mostly dependent on public research institutions, under the aegis of
Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) and State Agricultural
Universities (SAUs) for their breeder seed requirements. Based on feed
back from dealers and end-users, the public sector seed companies/state
governments forecast seed demand for various crops three years in
advance and a requirement for breeder seeds is placed with the GOI's
Ministry of Agriculture. Using the breeder seeds supplied by government
research institutes, the public sector seed companies produce foundation
seeds on government farms or reliable, well-trained contract farms.
These are further multiplied in contract farmers' fields next year as
certified seeds for commercial distribution. If for some reasons
(drought or other weather calamities) the supply of certified seeds
falls short of requirements, the public sector seed companies source
commercial grain from the market, upgrade the quality, and after proper
testing distribute it as quality seeds.

All seed grown by contract growers for seed corporations meeting the
specified standards attract a premium price over and above the
commercial grain price for that crop. The premium can vary between 25
percent for cereals to over 100 percent for hybrids. In the public
sector, NSC is usually the retail price setter with the SSCs following
NSC prices in determining their own for similar or substitute varieties.
For self-pollinated field crops, an accepted basis is to add a margin of
15 to 25 percent on production costs. For hybrid seeds of cereals and
vegetables, prices to some degree reflect market trends. However, there
is government intervention in the pricing of seeds produced by public
sector corporations with the degree of intervention varying from state
to state. Some states are now thinking of giving greater autonomy to
their seed corporations to make them financially viable by allowing them
to market private branded seeds, domestically produced or imported. An
advantage to the government seed companies is that they have a vast
distribution network and trusted brand image. The reason why they are
losing market share is because seeds by private companies often
outperform the publicly available varieties. Some SSCs have started
their own research to evolve superior propriety hybrids.

The following table shows breeder seeds supplied and the production and
distribution of foundation, and certified seeds, mostly by government
seed companies in metric ton.

  ------------------- ------------- ------------- ------------- ------------- ----------------
  **Type of Seeds**   **1998/99**   **1999/00**   **2000/01**   **2001/02**   **2002/03(E)**

  Breeder seed        3,899         5,064         4,269         4,702         6,292

  Foundation seeds    67,500        46,600        59,100        54,400        56,800

  Certifies/quality   849,700       879,800       862,700       910,000       950,000
  seeds                                                                       
  ------------------- ------------- ------------- ------------- ------------- ----------------

**E** : Estimated

Source: Annual Report 2002-03, Ministry of Agriculture

# Private Sector Seed Companies 

Easing of government regulations in the late 1980s spurred enormous
development within the seed industry by attracting several foreign seed
companies to India. While some of them (like Cargill) entered through
joint venture partnerships with Indian seed companies, some others
already had a presence in India through affiliate companies (like
Hindustan Lever). They identified potential crops for hybridization and
started research and development activities. Typically they concentrated
on hybrids, mainly corn, cotton, sunflower, vegetables, and flowers
(more recently on rice), and they now account for a major share of
commercial production of these seeds in India. The basic reason for the
private sector's focus on these crops is that it involves low production
volume and higher margins. Concomitantly, they had little interest in
developing self-pollinated crops, which involve high volume and low
margin and are more prone to piracy in the absence of an effective Plant
Variety Protection regime in India. Furthermore, there is no significant
government intervention in the pricing of these hybrids, and the Indian
seed regulations permit marketing of truthfully labeled seeds.
Currently, some 500 hybrids of field crops and vegetables are being
marketed, as truthfully labeled seeds, mostly by private seed companies.

The private seed sector now comprises some twenty or so large players
(with sales turnover exceeding rs. 200 million), several medium
companies (sales turn over between rs. 200 million and 20 million), and
a large number of small, unorganized players (sales turnover less than
rs. 20 million) with local presence.

The private seed industry is now undergoing a transition following the
Indian government's focus on biotechnology research, as a means of
increasing agricultural production and also driven by trends in the
domestic and world seed market. Intensifying international competition,
increasing R&D costs, and the complexity of biotechnology have lead to
increased consolidation of the Indian seed industry with several of the
large and medium companies merging or being taken over by multinational
seed companies. Most large multinational seed companies now have their
presence in India (either as a joint venture or with 100 percent equity)
with their main focus on biotechnology. These include Monsanto, Bayer
CropScience, Syngenta, Advanta, Hicks-Muse-Tate, Emergent Genetics, Dow
Agro, Bioseed Genetics International Inc., Tokita Seed Co, and Nunhems
Zaden BV.

Another factor attracting international seed companies to India is the
country's varied agro-climatic conditions and abundant skilled and
unskilled labor, as seed production, particularly hybrid seed
production, is highly labor intensive. Private seed production is
largely centered around Bangalore for vegetable crops and Hyderabad for
field crops, particularly cottonseeds. The emergence of these two seed
production centers is due to ideal climatic conditions, better
infrastructure, the technology and research leadership, and the
expertise of the two regions' seed farmers in manipulating crops for
perfectly synchronized flowering.

The initial focus of many of these companies has been cottonseed, for
which genetically modified (Bt) hybrids have already been approved by
the Indian government for commercial cultivation, with other
bio-engineered crops in the pipeline. Most of these companies have
licensing agreement with Monsanto for the Bt gene; some are trying to
develop their own Bt technology, legally or illegally.

The seed industry is represented at the national level by two
associations " The Seed Association of India" based in New Delhi and the
"Association of Seed Industries" based in Mumbai. Recently, a third
association called All India Crop Biotechnology Association (AICBA), was
formed with members from mostly hybrid seed producers and multinationals
like Monsanto and Dow Chemicals.

**Variety Development**

Variety development (especially for self-pollinated crops) is
predominantly carried out in the public sector, although in recent years
there is growing private sector involvement, which focuses mainly on
hybrid cereals, cotton, sunflower, vegetables, and flowers. The private
sector is also actively involved in developing bio-engineered crops of
cotton, oilseeds, and other crops. The ICAR, operating through 30 All
India Coordinated Crop Improvement Projects (AICCIPs), five Crop
Directorates, and seven National Research Centers coordinates public
sector plant breeding. Basic genetic material from which new varieties
are developed is available from the institutions' own resources and from
the National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources (NBPGR), through which
India has established a working relationship with international
agricultural research centers. ICAR's own institutes and several SAUs at
research centers located in different parts of the country and focusing
on various agro-climatic zones carry out the AICCIPs.

The present arrangement in India for variety development, testing,
evaluation, and release are as follows:

-   New varieties are developed by SAUs, ICAR institutes, and private
    seed companies.

-   Varieties that show some promise are entered into the All India
    Coordinated Trials (AICT) operated by SAUs, ICAR institutes, and
    State Agricultural Departments under the auspices of ICAR.

-   Results of the AICT are presented at the respective Annual Workshops
    of participating scientists working on the particular crop, where
    recommendations are formulated for submission to the Variety Release
    Sub-Committee of the Central Seed Committee who makes final
    recommendations to the Agriculture Ministry on which varieties
    should be released and notified.

# Public-Private Sector Cooperation 

Cooperation between private sector seed companies and public research
institutes under ICAR, SAUs, and the International Crop Research
Institute for Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), supported by the Consultative
Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR), is growing. Public
sector breeder seeds are available free of charge to private seed
companies with no strings attached. The AICT annual workshops provide
venues to private sector seed companies to assess what is available with
public research institutes. Under the "consortium" model with ICRISAT,
private companies can jointly fund research that results in publicly
available parental lines, which they often cross with in-house genetics
to produce proprietary hybrids. ICRISAT recently introduced a live-in
campus for private sector researchers to use the institutions'
facilities and expertise. ICRISAT is focusing more on private sector
partnerships for funding reasons and also because of private companies'
effectiveness in getting the research result out to farmers. ICRISAT is
currently reviewing its policy of keeping all research in the public
domain and is considering licensing/royalties/exclusive rights. Private
companies can also fully fund research at SAUs for exclusive rights on
the results and/or hire professors as consultants, although the degree
of cooperation varies from state to state.

# Trade

# 

# The New Policy on Seed Development, 1988 eased the regulations on imports and exports of seeds. Nonetheless, importing and exporting of seeds is not easy in India. Although export restrictions on seeds have been mostly removed, restrictions still apply on exports of seeds of jute, onion, cotton, castor, fodder, etc., as well as wild plant germplasm for biodiversity reasons. Exports of seeds of the restricted category are allowed on a case-by-case basis under license issued by the Director General of Foreign Trade, on recommendations from the Department of Agriculture and Cooperation of the Government of India (GOI). Some companies report difficulty in obtaining phytosanitary certificates for exports. There are restrictions on taking germplasm out of India. Custom grown hybrid vegetable and corn seeds and wheat seeds form a major component of India's exports and exports are shifting to high value products. Exports in Indian Fiscal Year (IFY) 2001/02 were valued at \$28 million (including \$14.5 million wheat and corn seeds). 

# 

# Under the New Policy on Seeds, imports of vegetable and flower seeds are permitted, while other crops are subject to a license requirement. All seed consignments must be accompanied by an import permit and a Phytosanitary Certificate with additional declarations as the case may be. Permits are issued to those importers who are registered with the NSC. Getting imported seed through Plant Protection and Quarantine offices can be difficult and companies say it all depends on the officer in charge. Seed could be retained for thirty days or more for inspection and clearance, but in practice this has become a minimum period. For imports of germplasm, NBPGR is authorized to issue permits. However, they retain samples of all imported seed material to enrich their germplasm collection. Imports consist of mainly vegetables, flowers, mostly from USA, Korea, Japan, and Europe. Imports in IFY 2002/03 were valued at \$14.3 million. 

# 

# Regulatory Environment 

> **Industry Regulation and Quality Control**

The Ministry of Agriculture within the following legislative framework
determines overall policy with regard to the seed industry.

-   **The Seed Act, 1966 and Seed Rules, 1968**

The Seed Act enacted in 1966, the Seed Rules framed under this Act and
notified in 1968, and amendments from time to time provide the basic
regulatory structure to ensure seed quality control. The Act provides
for compulsory quality control of seed of any notified kind and variety;
voluntary certification of seed of any notified kind or variety; and
truthfully labeling of seeds. The Act specifies the function of various
regulatory bodies associated with the industry as well as rules for
notification of new varieties, specifications of minimum limits of
germination and purity, regulation of sale of seeds, certification,
labeling, etc. The full text of the Seed Act and Seed Rules are
available at:

> <http://agricoop.nic.in/seedsact.htm>
>
> <http://agricoop.nic.in/seedsrules.htm>

-   **Seed (Control) Order, 1983**

A Seeds (Control) Order was issued in 1983 under the Essential
Commodities Act of 1955, which required seed dealers to obtain a license
valid for three years in order to operate, grants the Controller powers
to regulate the sale and distribution of seed and provide additional
power to the seed inspectors. The full text of the Order is available
at:

<http://agricoop.nic.in/seedsconord.htm>

# New Seed Legislation, 2002

The GOI is in the process of formulating a new seed legislation, which
would ultimately replace the existing Seed Act, Rules, and Seeds
(Control) Order, 1983. This legislation is aimed at regulating the
quality of seeds for sale, imports, and exports. Various stakeholders
are currently reviewing the draft bill. The salient features of the
proposed legislation are:

-   Compulsory registration of all varieties being offered for sale by
    National Seed Board (NSB), to be constituted by the government

-   Registration to be valid for fifteen years for annual and biennial
    crops and 18 years for long duration perennial crops

-   Registration of genetically engineered crops subject to clearance
    under the Environmental (Protection) Act, 1986

-   Selling, bartering, importing/exporting of seed of any transgenic
    kind/variety subject to declaration to this effect

-   Non-registration of a kind/variety of seeds containing any
    technology (including genetic use restriction technology and
    terminator technology), which is harmful, or potentially harmful

-   Registration of existing varieties on the basis of three years of
    agronomic performance data to be submitted by the applicant

-   Registration of new/exotic varieties only provisionally for two
    years

-   Registration of all seed producers and seed processing

-   Declaration of information on adaptability and expected agronomic
    performance by the breeder

-   NSB to decide the seed standards, to appoint private/public seed
    certification agencies and to formulate rules for compensation to
    farmers in the event of a crop failure due to defective seeds

-   Exemption of farmers' seed from the Seed Act and allowing them to
    save their own seeds and market it without branding.

# 

# Phytosanitary Regulations

-   **The Destructive Insects and Pests Act, 1914 & Plants, Fruits and
    Seeds (Regulation of Import in India) Order, 1989**

This Act and Order regulate the import into India of agricultural
products including plants and seeds. Salient features are:

-   Prohibit import of seeds for sowing and planting materials without a
    valid permit

-   Clearance of consignments subject to inspection, fumigation,
    disinfection, and disinfestations as the case may be under official
    supervision

-   Imports not permitted unless accompanied by an official
    Phytosanitary Certificate

The full text of the Act, Order and Amendments are available at:

<http://agricoop.nic.in/dtpact.htm>

<http://agricoop.nic.in/pfs.htm>

<http://agricoop.nic.in/pfsorder.htm>

# Intellectual Property Rights

## Plant Variety Protection and Farmers' Rights Act, 2001 & Rules

To address concerns about the lack of effective intellectual property
rights in the seed industry, the GOI enacted legislation in August 2001
named, "Plant Variety Protection and Farmers' Rights Act, 2001." This
legislation provides for the establishment of a "Protection of Plant
Varieties and Farmers' Right Authority" to implement the Act. Under the
new legislation, farmers will continue to enjoy their traditional rights
to save, use, exchange, share, and sell the produce of the protected
variety with the only restriction that the farmer will not be able to
sell branded seed of the protected variety for commercial purpose. The
legislation contains several of the contentious issues such as the
compulsory acquisition of parental material of a variety and granting
production license to a third party to produce proprietary variety when
there is a shortage of such seeds. The GOI recently published the rules
under this legislation, which are available at:

<http://agricoop.nic.in/seeds/farmersact2001.htm>

# Other

-   **Biodiversity Act, 2002**

Being a signatory to the United Nations' Convention on Biological
Diversity, India enacted a Biodiversity Act in 2002. The Act provides
for the establishment of a National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) and
State Authorities. The full text of the Act is available at:
<http://envfor.nic.in:80/divisions/biodiv/act/bio_div_act.htm>

The provisions of the Act, which will have a bearing on seed trade, are:

-   Person(s) who are not citizens of India would be required to take
    permission of NBA before obtaining any biological resource occurring
    in India. Foreign companies, and even Indian companies having
    foreign equity are included in the list of such persons.

-   Prohibits transfer of material or research occurring in India or
    obtained from India unless the research is collaborative and there
    are agreements to this effect before the Act was commenced

-   Does not allow application for IPRs without permission of NBA in
    case the biological resource from India has been used for
    development of such a product

-   Provides for imposition of charges by way of royalty subject to
    terms and conditions

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-   **Rules for the manufacture, use, import, export, and storage of
    hazardous microorganisms genetically engineered organisms or cells
    under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986**

All genetically engineered crops/varieties will be tested for
environment and bio-safety before their commercial release. Bio-safety
guidelines and regulations are formulated by the Department of
Biotechnology (DBT) in exercise of powers conferred to it through
"**Rules for the manufacture, use, import, export, and storage of
hazardous microorganisms genetically engineered organisms or cells"**
formulated under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 and issued by
the Ministry of Environment and Forests in 1989. Imports and exports of
bio-engineered products are also governed by these rules. The full text
of the Rules is available at:

> <http://envfor.nic.in/legis/hsm/hsm3.html>

-   **National Seed Policy, 2002**

The National Seed Policy, 2002, is expected to lay the foundation for
comprehensive reforms in the seed sector. This will entail significant
changes to the existing legislative framework in order to stimulate
varietal development in line with market trends and to introduce
advanced scientific knowledge (including biotechnology) to meet farmers'
needs. The full text of the National Seed Policy, 2002 is available at:

<http://agricoop.nic.in/seedpolicy.htm>

# Agricultural Biotechnology 

There is a general recognition within India's scientific community, and
even within the government, that biotechnology offers the only realistic
means to achieving food security. According to the GOI's National Seed
Policy, 2002, "Biotechnology will play a vital role in the development
of the agriculture sector. The technology can be used not only to
develop new crops/varieties, which are tolerant to diseases, pests, and
abiotic stresses, but also improve productivity and nutritional quality
of food." Consequently, Indian seed industry is getting increasingly
engaged with biotechnology issues in general and transgenic crop
technologies in particular. As mentioned earlier, most large
multinational seed companies with a focus on biotechnology have a
presence in India. However, the country is approaching a crossroads
where extensive investments in biotech crops, by both the private and
public sectors, need to begin paying off if further investments are to
be justified. There is growing frustration, especially among private
companies, associated with the present regulatory structure and
procedures, which have approved only one (non-food) technology after
seven years of deliberations and review. Bio-engineered varieties of
several crops are in various stages of development and testing, both by
pubic sector research institutes/universities and private seed
companies. The Genetic Engineering Approval Committee (GEAC),
indefinitely delayed the commercial release of a bio-engineered mustard
hybrid, developed by Proagro Seed Company (a company of the Bayer
CropScience Group), in an April 2003 decision.

What is constraining the growth of crop-biotechnology in India is a lack
of formal policy on commercial release of biotech crops. There is no
clear frame of reference for policy makers and hence the tendency is
towards inaction rather than action. Although a substantial regulatory
framework exists, it is non-transparent, lacks clarity, particularly in
the later stages, and at times not perceived to be science based. A
slack Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) regime, which fails to protect
the genes developed by multinational companies, is also a limiting
factor.

Procedures Involved in the Commercialization of Indigenously Developed
Transgenic Crops

# 

Timeline Summary for Regulatory Process Leading to Commercial Release of
Bt Cotton in India

+-----------+-----------------------------------------+---------------+
| # Year    | ### Studies Undertaken                  | **GOI         |
| {#year-1} |                                         | Oversight     |
|           |                                         | Committees**  |
+-----------+-----------------------------------------+---------------+
| 1995-1996 | Application and permit for importation  | DBT           |
|           | of Bt cottonseed containing the Cry1Ac  |               |
|           | gene.                                   |               |
+-----------+-----------------------------------------+---------------+
| 1996-2000 | Greenhouse breeding for integration of  | DBT           |
|           | Cry1Ac gene into Indian germplasm, seed |               |
|           | purification, and stock increase        | RCMG (DBT)    |
|           |                                         |               |
|           | Limited field studies for potential of  |               |
|           | pollen escape, aggressiveness, and      |               |
|           | persistence                             |               |
+-----------+-----------------------------------------+---------------+
| 1998-2001 | Biochemical and toxicological studies   | RCMG (DBT)    |
|           |                                         |               |
|           |                                         | MEC           |
+-----------+-----------------------------------------+---------------+
| 1998-2000 | Multi-location field trials: agronomic  | RCMG (DBT)    |
|           | and entomology performance of first     |               |
|           | generation Bt cotton hybrids, conducted | MEC           |
|           | by Mahyco and State agricultural        |               |
|           | universities.                           |               |
+-----------+-----------------------------------------+---------------+
| 2000-2001 | Soil rhizosphere evaluations and        | RCGM (DBT)    |
|           | protein expression analyses from        |               |
|           | multi-location field trials             | GEAC          |
+-----------+-----------------------------------------+---------------+
| 2001      | Advanced stage multi-location field     | GEAC, ICAR    |
|           | performance trials of first generation  |               |
|           | Bt cotton hybrids, conducted by ICAR    | DBT, MEC      |
+-----------+-----------------------------------------+---------------+
| 2002      | Submission of final bio-safety,         | GEAC          |
|           | environmental safety, gene efficacy and |               |
|           | performance documentation to GEAC.      |               |
|           | Commercial release of first-generation  |               |
|           | Bt cotton hybrids by GEAC               |               |
+-----------+-----------------------------------------+---------------+
| 2002 -    | Continued field performance trials of   | RCGM (DBT)    |
| Ongoing   | second generation Bt cotton hybrids for |               |
|           | regulatory approval                     | GEAC, ICAR    |
|           |                                         |               |
|           |                                         | MEC           |
+-----------+-----------------------------------------+---------------+
| DBT --    |                                         |               |
| D         |                                         |               |
| epartment |                                         |               |
| of        |                                         |               |
| Biot      |                                         |               |
| echnology |                                         |               |
|           |                                         |               |
| GEAC --   |                                         |               |
| Genetic   |                                         |               |
| En        |                                         |               |
| gineering |                                         |               |
| Approval  |                                         |               |
| Committee |                                         |               |
|           |                                         |               |
| RCGM --   |                                         |               |
| Review    |                                         |               |
| Committee |                                         |               |
| for       |                                         |               |
| Genetic   |                                         |               |
| Mod       |                                         |               |
| ification |                                         |               |
| (Co       |                                         |               |
| nstituted |                                         |               |
| by DBT)   |                                         |               |
|           |                                         |               |
| ICAR --   |                                         |               |
| Indian    |                                         |               |
| Council   |                                         |               |
| of        |                                         |               |
| Agr       |                                         |               |
| icultural |                                         |               |
| Research  |                                         |               |
|           |                                         |               |
| MEC --    |                                         |               |
| M         |                                         |               |
| onitoring |                                         |               |
| &         |                                         |               |
| E         |                                         |               |
| valuation |                                         |               |
| C         |                                         |               |
| ommittees |                                         |               |
| (Co       |                                         |               |
| nstituted |                                         |               |
| by GEAC   |                                         |               |
| and RCGM) |                                         |               |
+-----------+-----------------------------------------+---------------+

Source: Maharashtra Hybrid Seed Company Ltd. (MAHYCO)

**Bio-engineered Crops in the Pipeline**

+-----------+-----------------+------------------+---------------------+
| **Crop**  | **Inserted      | **Purpose of     | **Com               |
|           | Event**         | Bioengineering** | panies/Institutions |
|           |                 |                  | Involved**          |
+-----------+-----------------+------------------+---------------------+
| # Cotton  | Cry 1 A(c) /1   | To generate      | Raasi Seeds         |
|           | /4              | resistance to    | Limited, Attur      |
|           |                 | lepidopteran     |                     |
|           |                 | pests            | Ankur Seeds         |
|           |                 |                  | Limited, Nagpur     |
|           |                 |                  |                     |
|           |                 |                  | International       |
|           |                 |                  | Center for Genetic  |
|           |                 |                  | Engineering and     |
|           |                 |                  | Biotechnology,      |
|           |                 |                  | Delhi               |
|           |                 |                  |                     |
|           |                 |                  | Maharashtra Hybrid  |
|           |                 |                  | Seeds Company,      |
|           |                 |                  | Mumbai              |
+-----------+-----------------+------------------+---------------------+
|           | Bt Toxin 2/     | To generate      | Central Institute   |
|           |                 | resistance to    | for Cotton          |
|           |                 | lepidopteran     | Research, Nagpur    |
|           |                 | pests            |                     |
+-----------+-----------------+------------------+---------------------+
|           | CP4EPSPS 1/     | To generate      | Maharashtra Hybrid  |
|           |                 | weedicide        | Seeds Company,      |
|           |                 | resistant plant  | Mumbai              |
+-----------+-----------------+------------------+---------------------+
|           | *Vip* -3 Gene   | To generate      | Syngenta India      |
|           | 1/              | resistance to    | Limited, Pune       |
|           |                 | lepidopteran     |                     |
|           |                 | pests            |                     |
+-----------+-----------------+------------------+---------------------+
|           | Cry 1 A(c) &    | To generate      | Maharashtra Hybrid  |
|           |                 | resistance to    | Seeds Company,      |
|           | Cry 2 A(b) 1/   | lepidopteran     | Mumbai              |
|           |                 | pests            |                     |
+-----------+-----------------+------------------+---------------------+
| *         | Bar, Barnase&   | To develop       | Delhi University,   |
| *Mustard/ | Barstar 2/      | herbicide        | Delhi               |
| R         |                 | tolerant plant   |                     |
| apeseed** |                 |                  |                     |
+-----------+-----------------+------------------+---------------------+
|           | Bar, Barnase&   | To develop       | Proagro PGS (India) |
|           | Barstar         | better hybrid    | Limited, Delhi      |
|           |                 | cultivars        |                     |
|           | 3/              |                  |                     |
+-----------+-----------------+------------------+---------------------+
|           | CP4EPSPS 2/     | To generate      | Maharashtra Hybrid  |
|           |                 | weedicide        | Seeds Company,      |
|           |                 | resistant plant  | Mumbai              |
+-----------+-----------------+------------------+---------------------+
|           | Ssu-maize Psy & | To generate      | Tata Energy         |
|           |                 | plants           | Research Institute  |
|           | Ssu-tpCtrl 2/   | containing high  | (TERI), Delhi       |
|           |                 | beta carotene    |                     |
+-----------+-----------------+------------------+---------------------+
|           | Choline         | To increase      | Indian Agricultural |
|           | Dehydrogenase   | stress tolerance | Research Institute, |
|           | gene 2/         |                  | Delhi               |
+-----------+-----------------+------------------+---------------------+
|           | Arabiodopsis    | To increase      | Indian Agricultural |
|           | annexin         | stress tolerance | Research Institute, |
|           |                 |                  | Delhi               |
|           | gene 2/         |                  |                     |
+-----------+-----------------+------------------+---------------------+
| # Rice    | Bt Toxin 2/     | To generate      | SPIC Foundation,    |
|           |                 | resistance to    | Chennai             |
|           |                 | lepidopteran     |                     |
|           |                 | pests            | Bose Institute,     |
|           |                 |                  | Kolkata             |
|           |                 |                  |                     |
|           |                 |                  | IARI Sub-station,   |
|           |                 |                  | Shillong            |
|           |                 |                  |                     |
|           |                 |                  | International       |
|           |                 |                  | Center for Genetic  |
|           |                 |                  | Engineering and     |
|           |                 |                  | Biotechnology,      |
|           |                 |                  | Delhi               |
+-----------+-----------------+------------------+---------------------+
|           | ADC & SAMDC 2/  | To generate      | Bose Institute,     |
|           |                 | stress tolerance | Kolkata             |
+-----------+-----------------+------------------+---------------------+
|           | Herbicide       | To generate      | Center for Cellular |
|           | tolerant gene   | herbicide        | and Molecular       |
|           | 2/              | tolerant plant   | Biology, Hyderabad  |
+-----------+-----------------+------------------+---------------------+
|           | Bt and Xa 21    | To develop plant | Central Rice        |
|           | genes 2/        | resistant to     | Research Institute, |
|           |                 | lepidopteran     | Cuttack             |
|           |                 | pests and        |                     |
|           |                 | bacterial        |                     |
|           |                 | blight/ diseases |                     |
+-----------+-----------------+------------------+---------------------+
|           | Pyruvate        | To generate      | Delhi University,   |
|           | Decarboxylase   | plants tolerant  | Delhi               |
|           | and Alcohol     | to flooding      |                     |
|           | Dehydrogenase   |                  |                     |
|           | gene 2/         |                  |                     |
+-----------+-----------------+------------------+---------------------+
|           | Xa 21, Cry 1    | To generate      | Directorate of Rice |
|           | A(b), BB and SB | plant resistant  | Research,           |
|           | Resistant gene  | to lepidopteran  |                     |
|           | 1/              | pests, bacterial | Hyderabad           |
|           |                 | and fungal       |                     |
|           |                 | diseases         |                     |
+-----------+-----------------+------------------+---------------------+
|           | Bt and          | To generate      | Indian Agricultural |
|           | Chitanase gene  | plants resistant | Research Institute, |
|           | 1/              | to lepidopteran  | Delhi               |
|           |                 | pests            |                     |
+-----------+-----------------+------------------+---------------------+
|           | Gm2 gene 2/     | To generate      | International       |
|           |                 | plants resistant | Center for Genetic  |
|           |                 | to gall midge    | Engineering and     |
|           |                 | pest             | Biotechnology,      |
|           |                 |                  | Delhi               |
+-----------+-----------------+------------------+---------------------+
|           | Cry 1 A(c), Xa  | To generate      | Maharashtra Hybrid  |
|           | 21 & GNA genes  | resistance to    | Seeds Company,      |
|           | 2/              | bacterial        | Mumbai              |
|           |                 | diseases,        |                     |
|           |                 | lepidopteran and |                     |
|           |                 | sucking pests    |                     |
+-----------+-----------------+------------------+---------------------+
|           | Chitinase,      | To develop       | Madurai Kamaraj     |
|           | Beta - 1,       | plants resistant | University, Madurai |
|           | 3-Glucanase and | to fungal        |                     |
|           | Osmotin Gene 2/ | infection        |                     |
+-----------+-----------------+------------------+---------------------+
|           | Maize           | To generate      | SPIC Foundation,    |
|           | Transposable    | plants tolerant  | Chennai             |
|           | Element 2/      | to abiotic       |                     |
|           |                 | stresses         |                     |
+-----------+-----------------+------------------+---------------------+
|           | Cry 1 A(b) 2/   | To develop plant | Narendradev         |
|           |                 | resistant to     | University of       |
|           |                 | lepidopteran     | Agriculture,        |
|           |                 | pests            | Faizabad            |
+-----------+-----------------+------------------+---------------------+
|           | GNA Gene 2/     | To develop       | Tamil Nadu          |
|           |                 | plants resistant | Agricultural        |
|           |                 | to pests         | University,         |
|           |                 |                  | Coimbatore          |
+-----------+-----------------+------------------+---------------------+
| # Corn    | Cry 1 A(b) 2/   | To generate      | Syngenta India      |
|           |                 | resistance to    | Limited, Pune       |
|           |                 | lepidopteran     |                     |
|           |                 | pests            |                     |
+-----------+-----------------+------------------+---------------------+
|           | CP4EPSPS 2/     | To generate      | Monsanto            |
|           |                 | herbicide        | Enterprises         |
|           |                 | tolerant plant   | Limited, Mumbai     |
+-----------+-----------------+------------------+---------------------+
| # Sorghum | Cry 1A(c) 2/    | To generate      | Maharashtra Hybrid  |
|           |                 | resistance to    | Seeds Company,      |
|           |                 | lepidopteran     | Mumbai              |
|           |                 | pests            |                     |
+-----------+-----------------+------------------+---------------------+
| #         | Bean Alpha AI   | To generate      | Assam Agricultural  |
|  Chickpea | gene            | resistance to    | University, Jorhat, |
|           |                 | diseases         | Assam               |
|           | PGIP Gene 2/    |                  |                     |
+-----------+-----------------+------------------+---------------------+
| # P       | Protease        | To develop       | Indian Agricultural |
| igeon pea | Inhibitor and   | resistance to    | Research Institute, |
|           | Lectin genes 2/ | boll worms and   | Delhi               |
|           |                 | aphids           |                     |
+-----------+-----------------+------------------+---------------------+
|           | Gus gene 2/     | For              | Maharashtra Hybrid  |
|           |                 | Transformation   | Seeds Company,      |
|           |                 | work             | Mumbai              |
+-----------+-----------------+------------------+---------------------+
| # Pea     | GFP gene 2/     | Transformation   | Indian Institute of |
|           |                 | Studies          | Horticultural       |
|           |                 |                  | Research, Bangalore |
+-----------+-----------------+------------------+---------------------+
| **Black   | Coat Protein    | To develop       | Madurai Kamaraj     |
| Gram**    | and Replicase   | resistance       | University, Madurai |
|           | gene 2/         | against Yellow   |                     |
|           |                 | Mosaic Virus     |                     |
+-----------+-----------------+------------------+---------------------+
|           | Dianthin and    | Insect           | Madurai Kamaraj     |
|           | Barnase         | resistance and   | University, Madurai |
|           |                 | herbicide        |                     |
|           | gene 2/         | tolerance        |                     |
+-----------+-----------------+------------------+---------------------+
| # Peanut  | IPCVcp:IPCV     | To generate      | International Crops |
|           | Replicase gene  | resistance to    | Research Institute  |
|           | 2/              | Indian Peanut    | for Semi-Arid       |
|           |                 | Clumpy Virus     | Topics - Hyderabad  |
+-----------+-----------------+------------------+---------------------+
| # Potato  | Cry 1A(b) gene  | To generate      | Central Potato      |
|           | 1/              | resistance to    | Research Institute, |
|           |                 | lepidopteran     | Shimla              |
|           |                 | pests            |                     |
+-----------+-----------------+------------------+---------------------+
|           | Ama 1 gene 1/   | To generate      | Jawaharlal          |
|           |                 | protein enriched | University, Delhi   |
|           |                 | potatoes         |                     |
+-----------+-----------------+------------------+---------------------+
|           | ACC sunthase    | To generate      | Indian Agricultural |
|           | gene 2/         | stress tolerant  | Research Institute, |
|           |                 | plants           | Delhi               |
+-----------+-----------------+------------------+---------------------+
| # Tobacco | Cry 1 A(b) &    | To generate      | Central Tobacco     |
|           | Cry 1 C 1/      | resistance to    | Research Institute, |
|           |                 | lepidopteran     | Rajahmundry         |
|           |                 | pests            |                     |
+-----------+-----------------+------------------+---------------------+
|           | ctx-B and tcp   | Edible Vaccine   | Delhi University,   |
|           | genes -         | Development      | Delhi               |
|           | Antigens of     |                  |                     |
|           |                 |                  |                     |
|           | *Vibrio         |                  |                     |
|           | cholerae* 2/    |                  |                     |
+-----------+-----------------+------------------+---------------------+
|           | Chitinase,      | To generate      | Indian Agricultural |
|           | Glucanase and   | resistance to    | Research Institute, |
|           | RIP gene 2/     | fungal attack    | Delhi               |
+-----------+-----------------+------------------+---------------------+
|           | Bt Gene 2/      | To generate      | International       |
|           |                 | resistance to    | Center for Genetic  |
|           |                 | lepidopteran     | Engineering and     |
|           |                 | pests            | Biotechnology,      |
|           |                 |                  | Delhi               |
+-----------+-----------------+------------------+---------------------+
| **        | Cry 1 A(b) 1/   | To generate      | Indian Agricultural |
| Brinjal** |                 | resistance to    | Research Institute, |
|           |                 | lepidopteran     | Delhi               |
| **(Egg    |                 | pests            |                     |
| plant)**  |                 |                  |                     |
+-----------+-----------------+------------------+---------------------+
|           | Cry 1 A(c) 1/   | To generate      | Maharashtra Hybrid  |
|           |                 | plant resistance | Seeds Company,      |
|           |                 | to fruit and     | Mumbai              |
|           |                 | shoot borer      |                     |
+-----------+-----------------+------------------+---------------------+
|           | Chitinase,      | To generate      | Delhi University,   |
|           | Glucanase and   | disease          | Delhi               |
|           | Thumatin genes  | resistance       |                     |
|           | 2/              |                  |                     |
+-----------+-----------------+------------------+---------------------+
| # Tomato  | ctx-B and tcp   | Edible Vaccine   | Delhi University,   |
|           | genes -         | Development      | Delhi               |
|           | Antigens of     |                  |                     |
|           |                 |                  |                     |
|           | *Vibrio         |                  |                     |
|           | cholerae* 2/    |                  |                     |
+-----------+-----------------+------------------+---------------------+
|           | Cry 1 A(b) 1/   | To generate      | Indian Agricultural |
|           |                 | resistance to    | Research Institute, |
|           |                 | lepidopteran     | Delhi               |
|           |                 | pests            |                     |
+-----------+-----------------+------------------+---------------------+
|           | ACC Synthase 2/ | To increase      | Indian Agricultural |
|           |                 | stress tolerance | Research Institute, |
|           |                 |                  | Delhi               |
+-----------+-----------------+------------------+---------------------+
|           | Chitinase &     | To generate      | Indian Institute of |
|           | Glucanase genes | resistance to    | Horticultural       |
|           | 2/              | fungal and viral | Research, Bangalore |
|           |                 | diseases         |                     |
+-----------+-----------------+------------------+---------------------+
|           | Reporter/Leaf   | To generate      | Indian Institute of |
|           | Curl Virus gene | resistance to    | Horticultural       |
|           | 2/              | fungal and viral | Research, Bangalore |
|           |                 | diseases         |                     |
+-----------+-----------------+------------------+---------------------+
|           | Alfalfa         | To generate      | Indo-American       |
|           | Gluconase and   | resistance to    | Hybrid Seeds,       |
|           | Leaf Curl Virus | fungal and viral | Bangalore           |
|           | gene 2/         | diseases         |                     |
+-----------+-----------------+------------------+---------------------+
|           | OXDC gene 1/    | To generate      | Jawaharlal Nehru    |
|           |                 | resistance to    | University, New     |
|           |                 | fungal diseases  | Delhi               |
+-----------+-----------------+------------------+---------------------+
|           | Snowdrop Lectin | To generate      | Rallis India        |
|           | gene 2/         | resistance to    | Limited, Bangalore  |
|           |                 | lepidopteran     |                     |
|           |                 | pests            |                     |
+-----------+-----------------+------------------+---------------------+
| **Caul    | Bt toxin gene   | To generate      | Indian Agricultural |
| iflower** | 2/              | resistance to    | Research Institute, |
|           |                 | lepidopteran     | Delhi               |
|           |                 | pests            |                     |
+-----------+-----------------+------------------+---------------------+
| # Cabbage | Bt toxin gene   | To generate      | Indian Agricultural |
|           | 2/              | resistance to    | Research Institute, |
|           |                 | lepidopteran     | Delhi               |
|           |                 | pests            |                     |
+-----------+-----------------+------------------+---------------------+
| # Be      | Snow Drop       | To generate      | Rallis India        |
| ll Pepper | Lectin gene 2/  | resistance to    | Limited, Bangalore  |
|           |                 | lepidopteran     |                     |
|           |                 | pests            |                     |
+-----------+-----------------+------------------+---------------------+
| # Chilli  | Snow Drop       | To generate      | Rallis India        |
|           | Lectin gene 2/  | resistance to    | Limited, Bangalore  |
|           |                 | lepidopteran     |                     |
|           |                 | pests            |                     |
+-----------+-----------------+------------------+---------------------+
| # Banana  | ACC Synthase 2/ | To increase      | Indian Agricultural |
|           |                 | stress tolerance | Research Institute, |
|           |                 |                  | Delhi               |
+-----------+-----------------+------------------+---------------------+
| #         | Rabies          | To develop       | Indian Institute of |
| Muskmelon | glycoprotein 2/ | edible vaccines  | Horticultural       |
|           |                 |                  | Research, Bangalore |
+-----------+-----------------+------------------+---------------------+
| # W       | GUS & GFP genes | Transformation   | Indian Institute of |
| atermelon | 2/              | studies          | Horticultural       |
|           |                 |                  | Research, Bangalore |
+-----------+-----------------+------------------+---------------------+
| # Coffee  | Chitinase,      | To develop       | Madurai Kamaraj     |
|           | Beta - 1,       | resistance to    | University, Madurai |
|           | 3-Glucanase and | fungal diseases  |                     |
|           | Osmotin genes   |                  |                     |
|           | 2/              |                  |                     |
+-----------+-----------------+------------------+---------------------+

Source: Department of Biotechnology, GOI

1/ Approved for conducting contained limited field trials.

2/ Approved for conducting green house trials and transformation work.

3/ Awaiting final approval of the GEAC after completion of mandated
tests and trials.

4/ Approved by the GEAC for commercial cultivation.