Trilochan Mohapatra [a molecular geneticist] took over as . . . director general, Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) in February. . . . In an interview . . . he [says] that we need PPPs [Private Public Partnerships] in biotech and for seed multiplication. . . .
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You told reporters recently there should be PPPs in research. Can you elaborate?
We need PPPs in biotech and for seed multiplication. Gone are the days when the public system could meet all the seed needs of the country. Today, the National Seed Corporation. . . cannot supply enough because seed replacement rates are increasing. Some farmers want to change them every year.
The second area is having partnerships for GM research … partnering with multinationals. . . we can do research together to solve a particular problem.
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Political leaders are reluctant to allow private companies to charge for plant traits. The agriculture ministry virtually issued a compulsory licence on Bt cotton. . .. It capped the trait fees. . . .
. . . . [W]e can partner from the very beginning and have an understanding on how to share credit, and how to make it (a desirable trait) a thing of public good.
The GLP aggregated and excerpted this blog/article to reflect the diversity of news, opinion and analysis. Read full, original post: Record caFe: We’re open to private partnership for GM crop research: ICAR DG
