Tue Jul 15 13:10:37 UTC 2025: Okay, here’s a summary of the text, followed by a news article written from it:

**Summary:**

The Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC) in India has approved field trials for two types of genetically modified (GM) maize at Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) in the ongoing kharif season. The trials will study herbicide-tolerant and insect-resistant maize. While PAU defends the research as necessary to determine the potential benefits and risks of GM maize, activists from the Coalition for a GM-Free India are strongly opposing the trials, raising concerns about the use of glyphosate, a herbicide banned in Punjab, in conjunction with the herbicide-tolerant maize. They are urging the Punjab government to withdraw its approval for the trials.

**News Article:**

**GM Maize Field Trials Spark Controversy in Punjab**

**CHANDIGARH, July 15, 2025** – Field trials of genetically modified (GM) maize are set to begin at Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) this kharif season, following approval from the Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC), India’s top regulatory body for the sector. The trials will involve herbicide-tolerant and insect-resistant varieties of maize, developed by Bayer Crop Science Limited.

PAU Vice-Chancellor Satbir Singh Gosal defended the trials as a necessary research step. “Unless we study the matter, we will not know whether it’s good or bad,” he stated, emphasizing that the university’s role is limited to research and that any decision on commercialization rests with the Central government. The university asserts it will adhere to strict guidelines from the Department of Biotechnology.

However, the move has ignited fierce opposition from the Coalition for a GM-Free India. The coalition has urged the Punjab government to withdraw its No Objection Certificate (NOC) for the trials, citing concerns over the use of glyphosate, a herbicide already banned in the state due to its negative impacts on human health and the environment.

“How can the university experiment with herbicide-tolerant maize that has been modified to withstand the application of glyphosate, which is in itself against the legally-approved label claim for glyphosate in India’s pesticides regulatory regime?” asked Kavitha Kuruganti, co-convenor of the coalition, in a letter to Punjab Agriculture Minister Gurmeet Singh Khudian.

The coalition argues that the trials could have national repercussions and is demanding an inquiry into the scientific basis for the NOC. The controversy highlights the ongoing debate surrounding GM crops in India, pitting proponents who see them as a potential solution to food security challenges against activists who raise concerns about environmental and health risks. The outcome of this debate could significantly impact India’s agricultural future.

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