India plans to start field testing a genetically modified

India, the largest consumer of natural rubber, after China, plans to start field testing a genetically modified as it tries to overcome a shortage forecast by industry to increase fivefold in the next decade.

The state-run Rubber Board shall ensure the approval of the states of Kerala and Maharashtra before planting 0.4 hectares, James Jacob, director of the Rubber Research Institute of India, said via email. Trials were cleared last month by the Evaluation Committee of genetic engineering, a group of experts established by the Ministry of Environment, said.

Global automobile manufacturers led by Ford Motor Co. are building plants in the second fastest in the fastest growing economy in Asia where auto sales are projected by the government to double to 3 million by 2015. Bridgestone Corp. and its Indian rivals are spending $ 3 billion in new capacity to meet projected demand by the Association of Automobile Manufacturers tires to increase 10 percent to 106 million tires in the year to 31 March.

"Every country in the world needs natural rubber, vital and strategic industrial raw materials like iron and coal," said Jacob. "Domestic rubber Prescription increase with increasing our GDP, and it appears that is not enough."

rubber trees of the altered gene are resistant to drought and dryness by touching the panel, and have the ability to produce higher yields, even in adverse weather conditions, said Jacob.

Prices in Tokyo, Thailand and China have risen to records this year after heavy rain in the producing countries of low production. In India, prices exceeded Rs 200 per kilo last month for the first time.

India's deficit could rise to 840,000 tons in 2020 to 175,000 tons next year, Vinod Simon, president of the Association of Industries of All India Rubber, said on 2 December. Consumption may increase to 1.89 million tonnes in 2020 from 930,000 tons this year if the economy is expanding at 8.5 percent per year, the group said.

Eggplant

India has said it wants gene technology modified to be part of efforts to increase basic food production, following the success of GM cotton was introduced in 2002. However, the government rejected in February the nation's first gene-modified foods, eggplant or aubergine, after protests from farmers.

GM cotton accounts for 90 percent of the planting of the nation, according to the Ministry of Agriculture. The country has gone from being a net buyer for the second largest producer and exporter.