This is Dr P. Ananda Kumar. I am a Principal Scientist working at National Research Centre on Plant Biotechnology, New Delhi, India. I pioneered the development and and field testing of Bt brinjal in 1996. I have constructed and patented codon-modified Bt genes which are deployed in Pod bore resistant chickpea and pigeonpea.

I wish to respond to the specific questions that people were asked to address in the conference in Section 4 of the Background Document:

"4.1 What new GMOs are likely to be commercialized in developing countries within the next five years (i.e. before the end of 2017) in the crop, forestry, livestock, aquaculture and agro-industry sectors?"
 
Response: India. Bt brinjal, Bt chickpea and Bt pigeonpea

"4.1.1 Which species will they be?" 

Response: Solanum melongena, Cicer arietinum and Cajanus cajan

"4.1.2 Which traits will they have?"

Response: Insect pest resistance

"4.1.3 Will they be developed by the public sector, the private sector or through public-private partnerships?"

Response: Public sector as well as through public-private partnerships.

"4.1.4 Will they be produced in the developing countries themselves or, alternatively, will they be developed elsewhere (and then imported by developing countries for commercialization purposes)?"

Response: Developed in India

"4.1.5 What kind of intellectual property management options will be exercised by the bodies commercializing these new GMOs?"

Response: intellectual property rights belongs to national agricultural research system
 
"4.2 What are the likely implications of these new GMOs for developing countries?
 4.2.1 What are the likely implications of these new GMOs on food security and nutrition in developing countries? " 

Response: 
- Chickpea and Pigeonpea: Food and nutritional security, reduction in pesticide use and protection of human health, animal health, non-target organisms, biodiversity and environment.
- Brinjal: Reduction in pesticide use, protection of human health, animal health, non-target organisms, biodiversity and environment.

"4.2.2 What are the likely implications of these new GMOs on socio-economic conditions in developing countries?"

Response: Significant improvement in the socio-economic status of poor and marginal farmers.

"4.2.3 What are the likely implications of these new GMOs on sustainable management of natural resources in developing countries?" 

Response: Reduction in pesticide use, protection to soil, water and environment and biodiversity.

"4.2.4 What are the likely implications of these new GMOs on adaptation to climate change in developing countries?" 

Response: Indirect benefits through environmental protection.

Dr P. Ananda Kumar
Principal Scientist
NRC on Plant Biotechnology
Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI) Campus
New Delhi 110012, India
Phone: 091-11-25841787 X 240
Fax: 091-11-25843984
Email: polumetla (at) hotmail.com ; Kumarpa (at) nrcpb.org
Web: www.nrcpb.org

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