Date:07/10/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/10/07/stories/2008100754380400.htm

Kerala - Thrissur

KAU denies reports

Thrissur: The Kerala Agricultural University (KAU) on Monday denied reports in a section of the media that it was planning to transfer germplasm (collection of genetic resources) of rice varieties it had developed to a private seed company that executed joint ventures with global seed giants. D. Alexander, director of Research at KAU, termed the reports as false. “The company had written to the KAU demanding germplasm of rice varieties. I replied to the company that the germplasm cannot be passed on, but samples of seeds can be. According to the norms of the Indian Council for Agricultural Research, any research station under it can pass on samples of seeds,” he said. — Staff Reporter