Officially mass-produced 3 genetically modified corn varieties

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development has just signed Decision No. 69/QD-CT-CLT on special recognition of three genetically modified corn varieties of Syngenta Company. This is an event marking the official permission for genetically modified corn to be commercialized and put into mass production in Vietnam.

Specifically, three genetically modified corn varieties, NK66 Bt, NK 66 GT and Nk66 BT/GT, will be officially applied to corn growing areas across the country.

Among them, NK 66 Bt variety is applied in corn growing areas with high pressure on stem borers; NK66 GT variety is for corn growing areas using herbicides at the 3-4 leaf stage; NK66 Bt/GT variety is for corn growing areas with high pressure on stem borers and using herbicides at the 3-4 leaf stage.

Corn purchasing and milling point in Son La. (Photo: Dinh Hue/VNA)

Speaking at the exchange and information session on the recognition of three genetically modified corn varieties, organized by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development in collaboration with Syngenta Company this afternoon (March 18), in Hanoi, Mr. Pham Dong Quang, Deputy Director of the Department of Crop Production (Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development) said that the three genetically modified corn varieties NK66 Bt, NK66 GT and NK66 Bt/GT were all created from the hybrid corn variety NK66.

“Meanwhile, the NK66 background variety has been officially recognized by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and added to the List of plant varieties permitted for production and trading in Vietnam according to Decision No. 40/2006/QD-BNN dated May 22, 2006,” Mr. Quang added.

On the other hand, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development has also recognized the results of the risk assessment test on the impact of the genetically modified corn variety NK66 with the Bt11 gene transfer event (carrying the Cry1Ab gene for resistance to stem borers and the pat marker gene) and the GA21 gene event (carrying the mepsps gene for resistance to herbicides containing the active ingredient glyphosate) on the environment and biodiversity according to Decision No. 376/QD-BNN-KHCN dated February 27, 2013.

The Bt11 and GA 21 gene transfer events have also been granted a Biosafety Certificate by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment and a certificate of genetically modified plants qualified for use as food and animal feed by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.

According to Mr. Kumar Datta, General Director of Syngenta Vietnam Company, in the coming time, Syngenta Company will closely coordinate with the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of provinces and cities to develop detailed plans to transfer and widely disseminate these 3 corn varieties into production to bring about the highest efficiency, contributing to increasing farmers' income.

“In particular, in 2015, Syngenta will focus on building many demonstration sites in suitable areas, closely coordinating with local agricultural extension agencies to train, coach and guide farmers on techniques for cultivating genetically modified corn varieties directly in the field so that farmers can clearly understand the varieties as well as technical care measures to fully exploit the potential of the varieties, contributing to increasing productivity, output and economic efficiency,” Mr. Kumar Datta emphasized.

According to Vietnam+