May 22, 2013

Source

The Ghana National Biosafety Committee (NBC) has granted the Savannah Agricultural Research Institute of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR-SARI) approval to conduct Multi-Location trials of Genetically Modified Cotton (Bollgard II Cotton). The decision follows recommendation by the Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) which reviewed the application in accordance with Section 28 sub-section (1) of the Ghana National Biosafety Act. The approval gives CSIR-SARI the authority to carry out multi-location trials of the Bollgard II Cotton at six (6) locations in the Northern part of Ghana.

This brings to four (4) the number of approvals granted by the Ghana NBC for confined field trials of GM crops in the country. These include:

a. Bt. Cowpea by the Savannah Agricultural Research Institute
b. High Protein Sweet Potato by the Crops Research Institute.
c. NUWEST rice by the Crops Research Institute.
d. Bt. Cotton (Bolgarld II) by the Savannah Agricultural Research Institute.

The Crops Research Institute has already planted the NUWEST rice under the supervisorship of Dr. Kofi Dartey, who is the Principal Investigator for the project. The rest are yet to be planted.

Website: http://www.cbd.int

Published: June 5, 2013