Following on the heels of neighbouring Maharashtra, Karnataka's Minister for Biotechnology and IT, S.R. Patil, said on Wednesday that the State would soon allow confined field trials of genetically modified (GM) crops, according to the Association of Biotechnology-Led Enterprises-Agriculture Group (ABLE-AG), a GM advocacy group. 

Patil made the statement while inaugurating the 15th edition of 'Bangalore India Bio 2015', a State-promoted biotechnology event, which was attended by Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah, Union Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar and Power Minister Piyush Goyal. 

Patil said that research and development of technology must be encouraged in agriculture. He mentioned that the Karnataka Government has given Rs. 6.53 crore to the University of Agriculture 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.

Ram Kaundinya, Director General, ABLE-AG, welcomed the Minister's statement and believed that renewing field trials will provide "a great impetus" to Indian scientists committed to taking domestic agriculture to the future. “I welcome the statements... indicating that the government will allow confined field trials in Karnataka for GM crops... 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 commercialisation for the benefit of the farmers,” he said.

Kaundinya added that abiotic requirements "can be met through GM traits and they are currently under regulatory trials in India" and believed that the State's farmers had much to gain by evaluating more technologies.

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