Date:23/12/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/12/23/stories/2008122353990400.htm

Karnataka - Bangalore

Bt brinjal ready for field trials

Special Correspondent

BANGALORE: Indian Agricultural Research Institute Director S.A. Patil on Monday said the Bt brinjal variety was ready for field trials. This variety, which could withstand some pests, would reduce the expenditure incurred by farmers on pesticides, he said.

He sought to allay fears that genetically modified crops were dangerous to the health of human beings. “There are various levels of safety monitoring mechanisms that these varieties have to go through,” he said.