According to B R Barwale, chairman, Mahyco, the work of genetically modified organism (GMO) starts with the formation of a committee at the organisation level, viz Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBSC), in which a DBT representative is also a member. As far as field trials in cotton are concerned, IBSC of Mayhco had applied to the DBT and sought permission to import 100 gms of transgenic cotton seeds containing Bt gene only from Monsanto of the US for incorporation of Bt gene in Mahyco germplasm as per the DBT guidelines.

Clarifying its position, the Mahyco chairman said ``as we understand the terminator gene is not in existence. This gene is just a conceptual one and Mahyco has nothing to do with this terminator concept.''

The technology containing Bt gene in cotton with which Mahyco isconcerned is working very well in the US, China, Brazil and Australia. In the US, cotton was grown with this variety over 1.8 million acres in 1997 and went up to 2.7 million 1998 and reaching over 3 million acres in the current period. ``It is also interesting to note that 98 per cent of the farmers who planted these seeds went for the same the next year. This proves the acceptability of this technology,'' he added.

``These are seeds of prosperity. Companies can prosper only when the farmers make profit. The linkage with Monsanto could help in globalising the Indian technology,'' Barwale added.