The environment ministry's Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC) has cleared field trials for genetically modified rice, wheat, maize and castor for the Kharif season of 2013.

The State government is planning to provide sugar and wheat to Above Poverty Line (APL) ration cardholders under the Public Distribution System (PDS), Food and Civil Supplies Minister Dinesh Gundu

The UPA Government plans to call a special session of Parliament to pass the Food Security Bill after the Cabinet on Thursday deferred a proposal to pass an ordinance for implementing the same.

An agricultural dragnet has found no cases of unapproved genetically engineered wheat outside of a 123-acre field in Oregon after two months of an ongoing investigation, the U.S.

Ignoring concerns expressed by allies and civil society groups, the United Progressive Alliance government is all set to push for an ordinance on the Food Security Bill. The revised Bill along with Food Ministry’s 81 amendments will be tabled for approval in the Union Cabinet meeting on Thursday.

Food Minister K.V. Thomas and key ally and NCP chief Sharad Pawar are known to have expressed concern over taking the ordinance route. Some of the allies have also let it be known that the proposal for an ordinance was moved during the previous Cabinet meeting without prior consultation.

American wheat farmers and a food safety advocacy group filed a lawsuit Thursday against biotech seed developer Monsanto Co, accusing the company of failing to protect the U.S.

With substantial opposition to short cuts in passage, regular Parliament discussion in coming session seems the route

The implementation of the National Food Security Mission (NFSM) has resulted in an increase in food grain production by 42 million tonne as against the target of 20 million tonne set for the Eleventh Plan.

Agriculture and Food Processing Industries minister Sharad Pawar on Wednesday informed members of parliamentary Consultative Committee attached to his ministry that various interventions under NFSM have resulted in the distribution of almost 75 lakh of farm equipment, nearly 175 lakh quintals of highyielding seeds of rice, wheat and pulses, and knowledge transfer through more than 49,000 farmer field schools and 8 lakh field demonstrations.

AHMEDABAD: "If the Government of Gujarat keeps allotting land arbitrarily to industries, 62% of the state's land will be acquired by industrial corridors and corporates in just 15 years. Where will you grow crops then? The farmers of Gujarat will have to pay heavily for this," said environmental activist Mahesh Pandya from Paryavaran Mitra.

To mark World Environment Day, Paryavaran Mitra held a press briefing on Tuesday. This year's theme is 'Think.Eat.Save'. However, there has been a decline in the state's crop production.