Association of Biotechnology Led Enterprises – Agriculture Group (ABLE-AG)
Welcomes Government of Karnataka’s Intention to Re-start Confined Field
Trials of GM Crops.
Bangalore, February 9, 2015: The Association of Biotechnology Enabled Enterprises – Agriculture
Group (ABLE-AG) welcomed the statement made by Shri S.R. Patil, Hon’ble Minister for Information
Technology, Biotechnology and Science & Technology; Planning & Statistics, Govt. of Karnataka with
regard to GM field trials in the state and confirming that the state would soon begin allowing confined
field trails of GM crops in Karnataka.
The 15th edition of India's premier biotech event, Bangalore India Bio 2015 was inaugurated by the
Hon’ble Chief Minister of Karnataka, Shri Siddaramaiah. Others present on this occasion were Shri.
Prakash Javadekar, Hon’ble Minister of State (IC) for Environment , Forests and Climate Change, Govt.
of India, Shri S.R. Patil, Hon’ble Minister for Information Technology, Biotechnology and Science &
Technology; Planning & Statistics, Govt. of Karnataka, Piyush Goyal, Hon’ble Minister of State (IC) for
Power, Coal and New & Renewable Energy, Govt. of India, Prof. K. VijayRaghavan, Secretary, Dept. of
Biotechnology, Ministry of Science & Technology, Govt. of India, Dr. Kiran Mazumdar Shaw,
Chairperson , Karnataka Vision Group on Biotechnology, Mr. Dominic Jermey, Chief Executive, UK
Trade and Investment (UKTI).
Shri S.R. Patil further said that we should encourage research in the development of Technology in
agriculture. He said that Karnataka should also allow field trials as is being done in states like
Maharashtra, Gujarat and Andhra Pradesh. He mentioned that the Karnataka Government has given
Rs. 6.53 crores to the University of Agriculture in Karnataka for research spending in agri-biotech. He
also announced setting up a sub group of Agriculture in the Biotech Vision group of Karnataka. He
wanted agri-biotech to play an important role in tackling abiotic stresses like drought, salinity and
nitrogen fertiliser reduction.
Welcoming the intention of the State Government to allow field trials of GM crops soon, Mr. Ram
Kaundinya, Director General, ABLE-AG said, “I welcome the statements by Shri S.R. Patil, indicating
that the government will allow confined field trials in Karnataka for GM crops, as well as his focus to
encourage university research in the agri-biotech sector to benefit India’s farmers. Renewing field
trials will provide a great impetus to Indian scientists and agriculturists who are committed to
propelling Indian agriculture into the future. As of now many field trials of GM crops are awaiting
approval and we hope that this positive step by the Karnataka Government will help us to progress
science towards its useful commercialization for the benefit of the farmers.”
Mr. Kaundinya further added, “We are happy to inform that water use efficiency, nitrogen use
efficiency and salinity tolerance requirements can be met through GM traits and they are currently
under Regulatory Trials in India. Karnataka has been one of the leading states in harnessing BT cotton
technology and there is much to gain for the Karnataka farmers by evaluating more technologies
which could benefit them.”
Shri Piyush Goyal requested that based on the proceedings of the conference, the Vision Group could
present a paper to lead India in Biotech and what India needs to do to become a leader in Biotech
including agriculture.
Shri Prakash Javadekar urged the industry to innovate more in biotech field and make India a global
leader in this area. He was confident that the biotech market will multiply manifold in the world and
India should play a major role in this market.
About ABLE-AG
ABLE-AG The Association of Biotech-Led Enterprises–Agriculture Group is an association of 14 leading
biotechnology companies focused on research and development of innovative agriculture
biotechnology products for the benefit of farmers, consumers and the nation.
The Indian biotechnology sector is one of the fastest growing knowledge based sectors in India and is
expected to play a key role in shaping India's rapidly developing economy. The industry grew threefold
in just five years showing revenues of US$ 3 billion in 2009-10 alone, a rise of 17 per cent over the
previous year, according to the eighth annual survey conducted by the Association of BiotechnologyLed Enterprises (ABLE).
Vision: To contribute towards sustainable and safe food production by facilitating the best
biotechnology products and practices for both farmers and consumers.
Mission: Committed to create an enabling environment for developing new and superior biotech traits
that can enhance agricultural productivity and sustainably in the country.
Goals: To proactively engage with farmers, the government, regulatory authorities, agriculture
universities, scientists, public and private sector research organizations, industry representatives,
consumers, people’s representatives, civil society groups, and media, to create awareness on the need
and benefits of agri-biotech in India.
ABLE-AG aims to accelerate the pace of agricultural growth in India by enabling strategic alliances
between researchers, the Government and the global biotech industry to increase crop productivity,
help meet domestic food security, and contribute to the inclusive growth.
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