Proagro's GM mustard:
the first transgenic food crop in India
After the approval of Bt-cotton for cultivation on farmers fields, it is anticipated that hybrid mustard, developed using the barnase-barstar system (consult Chapter 35 for details), will be the next GM crop and the first transgenic food crop that is likely to be approved for commercial cultivation. The transgenic hybrid rapeseed-mustard was developed by multinational Proagro Seed Company Ltd., located at Gurgaon (now a part of Belgium based Aventis Crop Science) and was subjected to large-scale field trials in the year 2001-2002. According to Proagro, this hybrid mustard gave 25% yield advantage, but could not be cleared by GEAC for commercial sowing at the farmers fields in October 2002; it 'is expected to be approved in 2003-04. Since no commercial hybrid mustards are available in India, this will be the first hybrid mustard to be used for commercial cultivation in India. Another effort to develop transgenic hybrid mustard is being made at the Delhi University South Campus (DUSC).
