New Delhi — Genetic engineering technique enables development of disease resistance as well as nutritional quality improvement. Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) is developing iron biofortified banana for nutritional quality improvement.
The other parameters of this genetically engineered banana plant include incorporation of Vitamin A and fungal and viral disease resistance which is undertaken in other Institutes participating in Department of Biotechnology (DBT) project on transgenic bananas.
Genetically modified (GM) bananas under development by BARC would be available to general public only after completion of trial and government’s approval.
GM bananas can be given to public or school children only after their usage has been approved by regulatory authorities (Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC) for open field planting. The transgenic plants need to be evaluated in a contained facility initially before planting in the open field.
This information was given by the Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Development of North-Eastern Region (DoNER), MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Jitendra Singh in reply to an unstarred question in Lok Sabha today.
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