Foreign seed firms gang up to fight India’s GM crop rules

Foreign seed companies operating in India today announced the formation of an alliance to oppose the government's move to rein in the jacked-up prices and royalties of genetically modified seeds that have become a burden on the farmers.

Ten top seed supplying companies in India such as Bayer, Monsanto, DuPont Pioneer and Syngenta along with local outfits Mahyco and Shriram Bioseeds have formed a new association to promote "growth of research-based seed industry".

The new body - Federation of Seed Industry of India (FSII) - is being formed at a time when the seed industry in the country is divided over issues such as capping of royalties and seed prices.

They allege that the government's move to rein in prices would ultimately force them to share their genetically modified crop technology with local players.

Officials of these seed majors showing solidarity with aggrieved Monsanto say that seed prices should be set by the market rather than by regulation.

The alliance follows Monsanto's threat to pull out an application for its new GM product from the approval process.
 
An executive from Bayer India said nobody would invest in research if the proposed introduction of compulsory licensing - which would force a company to share its intellectual property if the government so orders - is implemented.

India is yet to allow GM food crops, because of its possible health hazards and fears of environmental damage, but biotech firms are pushing the government to approve their GM technologies to hike production of oilseeds and other items that, they say, could help reduce heavy import bills.

Alongside, however, Monsanto is pushing its locally-developed GM mustard seed, which, according to reports, is nearer to final approval. Food safety and environment concerns may yet delay the approval process.