Genetically modified corn with high yield of 364 kg/sao

(Baonghean.vn) -On December 20, in Dien Phong commune, Dien Chau, Syngenta Vietnam Company, Loc Troi Group in collaboration with Nghe An Department of Agriculture and Rural Development organized a workshop to evaluate the genetically modified corn model NK7328 Bt/GT.

Attending the workshop were leaders of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, the Provincial Plant Protection Department, the Agricultural Extension Center, the Departments of Agriculture, the Agricultural Extension Station, the Plant Protection Station, the Plant Seed Station of the two districts of Dien Chau and Nghi Loc, along with leaders of communes, cooperatives, and farmers of Dien Chau district.

Through economic accounting results, it shows that the profit when using the genetically modified corn variety NK7328 Bt/GT reaches 640,000 VND/sao, much higher than the background variety NK7328 (only reaching 220,000 VND/sao).

In the 2015 Winter crop, the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development cooperated with Syngenta Vietnam Co., Ltd. to build a demonstration model of the NK7328 Bt/GT genetically modified corn variety provided by Syngenta Co., Ltd. The purpose of the model is to evaluate the growth, yield and efficiency of the NK7328 Bt/GT variety under natural conditions and local production to serve as a basis for transferring the technology of genetically modified crops into mass production.

Genetically modified corn plants are not damaged by stem borers throughout their entire growth process.

This variety contains two genetically modified events Bt11 resistant to stem borers and GA21 resistant to glyphosate-based herbicides. These two events are certified for biosafety by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment and certified by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development as genetically modified plants qualified for use as food and animal feed. The NK7328 Bt/GT variety has been licensed by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development for large-scale testing before being put into mass production. The control variety is the NK7328 variety, which is currently commonly grown by farmers in the locality.

Delegates attending the workshop listened to an introduction to the characteristics of genetically modified corn.

Despite the weather difficulties, the corn plants grew quickly. Both the NK7328 and 7328 Bt/GT background varieties had a growing period of 107 days, which was very suitable for the crop structure in the province. The genetically modified corn plants were not damaged by stem borers throughout the entire growth process.

Under the same cultivation conditions, with the same care regime, except for weed and stem borer management, the yield of NK7328 Bt/GT is much higher than that of the base variety, reaching 364 kg/sao compared to the base variety reaching 305 kg/sao. Meanwhile, the production cost is 125,000 VND/sao lower because the NK7328 Bt/GT variety is resistant to Glyphosate herbicide and stem borer, saving weeding and spraying insecticide against stem borer.

At the workshop, Mr. Nguyen Van Lap, Deputy Director of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, affirmed: NK7328 Bt/GT genetically modified corn is a new technology that helps protect corn plants from stem borers and weeds. Syngenta and related units need to organize science and technology transfer programs, carry out many demonstration models, conduct large-scale trials and conduct training courses to guide farmers in cultivating corn varieties in general and genetically modified varieties in particular so that farmers can absorb and apply them in production to achieve the highest efficiency.

Phu Huong