India independently developed and launched 21 Bt cotton varieties Monsanto to meet the challenge

Monsanto's business in India may be greatly challenged by a product developed by a government agency in India

These Bt varieties will be provided to the agricultural departments of Telangana and Maharashtra states this year, and experimental studies will be carried out by agricultural universities in various states in multiple locations

CICR Director KR Kranthi said, “After the Indian Ministry of Agriculture confirmed that the genetically modified Bt cotton (Bollgard-mon 531) introduced by Monsanto 14 years ago has no patent problems, we are now implanting Bt genes into traditional Indian cotton varieties

A scientist from the Indian Agricultural Research Council in New Delhi said: “I hope that these Bt varieties can obtain higher productivity through lower production costs, especially in rain-fed agricultural areas such as Maharashtra and Telangana

He said that most of the varieties are short-cycle crops of 150-180 days, because this can avoid the pressure of the rainy season and drought, which is the key flowering and boll-forming stage

The Ministry of Agriculture pays close attention to the project to protect the interests of growers

A CICR scientist said that unlike most Bt hybrids on the market, which are more sensitive to piercing pests and diseases, almost all non-Bt cotton varieties are naturally resistant