Việt Nam will start growing genetically modified plants in 2012, said Mr. Phạm Văn Toản of the Việt Nam Academy of Agricultural Sciences.

Việt Nam will start growing genetically modified plants in 2012, said Mr. Phạm Văn Toản of the Việt Nam Academy of Agricultural Sciences.

Mr. Toản affirmed the news on Tuesday in Hà Nội at a seminar on approaching strategies for an effective biological safety system in Việt Nam.

The seminar was jointly held by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) and the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI).

According to Mr. Toàn, Việt Nam is only at the initial stage of researching genetically modified organism (GMO) products and is yet to put it into practice.

The country has so far tested the growing of seven varieties of genetically modified corn in the northern provinces of Sơn La and Vĩnh Phúc, the central province of Nghệ An, the central highlands province of Đắk Lắk, and the southern provinces of Bà Rịa - Vũng Tàu and Đồng Nai.

MARD Deputy Minister Bùi Bá Bổng acknowledged that the application of GM products will be a challenge for developing countries, including Việt Nam.

Việt Nam is seeking experience from other countries and assistance from international organizations in the course of growing GM plants./.