Seed company Monsanto says it has competed a field trial of genetically engineered corn in India, and aims to submit data within a year to the government for use in deciding whether to approve the strain, according to Reuters. It quoted the head of Monsanto’s operations in India as saying, “We are close to the final stage in corn.” India does not currently allow GE food crops but it recently has encouraged work on biotech varieties. Monsanto launched GE cotton in India in 2002. Introduction of the crop coincided with an upturn in cotton output.
Sale and consumption of beef will be banned in the Indian state of Maharashtra, which includes the city of Mumbai, says NPR. Also banned is the slaughter of cows, bulls and bullocks. Several other states also ban the sale or consumption of beef.