Paraguay commercially releases Bt-RR cotton seeds

10 Jun '13

2 min read

Paraguay has commercially released transgenic cotton Bollgard tolerant – Round up Ready (Bt-RR), the Producers’ Guild (PMU) has announced.

Monsanto’s genetically modified Bt-RR is resistant to insects and herbicide glifisato lepidoptera. Its commercial sale was approved by Paraguayan Government last year, but was subject to various tests before it was to be finally released.

The Producers’ Guild said all the regulatory processes have been met for making Bt-RR cotton seeds available to farmers for the cotton sowing season 2013-14, EntornoInteligente.com reported.

According to the Cotton Chamber of Paraguay (CADELPA or Camara Algodonera del Paraguay), more than half of cotton sown in the country during last season was transgenic cotton.

The PMU is highlighting the benefits of the use of transgenic cotton and showcasing the good results obtained by cultivators who had sown GM seeds.

Cristina Soerensen, Coordinator of the Comisión Nacional de Bioseguridad (CONBIO or National Biosafety Committee), said the commercial release of Bt-RR could be expected in near future and it may be made available to cotton growers by the beginning of the next crop season.

Last week, Rody Godoy, head of the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAG) said the commercial release of Bt-RR cotton seeds is likely soon, as it has been cleared by all concerned departments, and only the final approval from the Ministry of Public Health is awaited.

The Ministry of Industry and Commerce and MAG’s Department of National Quality and Plant Health and Seed (SENAVE) had cleared the commercial sale of Monsanto’s cotton seed earlier.

Fibre2fashion News Desk - India

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