01.11.2011 | permalink
The field trial of a genetically modified rice variety has been deferred till an expert committee formed to look into the food security aspect submits its report. West Bengal Environment Minister Sudarshan Ghosh Dastidar said here that the three-member committee would file its report on October 30 after which a final decision would be taken. Ghosh told PTI that the trial, scheduled to be held at the Chinsurah Rice Research Station, was stopped following concern expressed by agricultural experts. “Such a trial needs to be carried out at a proper ‘isolation distance’ and the field for the trial has to be made at a minimum distance of 300 metres from other existing crops,” he said quoting the experts.