HL Deb 21 February 2005 vol 669 cc147-8WA
Baroness Byford

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they have awarded money in any form to the firm Syngenta, or any collaboration involving Syngenta, to develop genetically modified crops in Andhra, India; and if so, how much. [HL1304]

Baroness Amos

Her Majesty's Government, specifically the Department for International Development (DfID), is not funding or promoting the introduction of genetically modified crops in Andhra Pradesh or elsewhere in India. DflD does not collaborate with Syngenta to develop genetically modified crops in Andhra Pradesh. DfID does support work to develop traditional crop varieties and farming practices in drought prone areas of Andhra Pradesh.

DfID's policy on GM technologies is that they have the potential to provide significant benefits for poor farmers, if applied safely and responsibly to the crops they rely on. Developing countries need to make their own informed choices about adoption of GM technologies, and build the capacity to manage their safe development and use.