Why in news?
An expert committee under India’s Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC) delivered a favourable biosafety report on Herbicide‑Tolerant Bacillus thuringiensis (HTBt) cotton in July 2025, bringing it closer to commercial approval.
What is HTBt cotton?
- HTBt cotton is a genetically modified variety that combines two traits: resistance to insect pests (via Bt toxin genes) and tolerance to herbicides like glyphosate.
- Developed by Mahyco‑Monsanto Biotech (now Bayer), it incorporates the Bollgard II Roundup Ready Flex trait.
- The crop allows farmers to control weeds by spraying herbicides over the top while the cotton survives.
Key features
- Dual‑trait technology: Provides protection against bollworms while enabling efficient weed management.
- Weed control: Reduces dependence on manual weeding, lowering labour costs and making large‑scale mechanised farming feasible.
- Higher yields: Minimises crop losses due to pests and weeds, stabilising yields.
- Supports mechanisation: Facilitates large farms where labour shortages make manual weeding difficult.
Significance
- Could address farmer complaints of yield stagnation and weed pressure in existing Bt cotton fields.
- May curb illegal HTBt seed use by providing a regulated product with proper stewardship and monitoring.
- However, concerns remain over herbicide resistance, biosafety and the impact on smallholders; regulatory approval will require addressing these issues.