India launched its first non-GMO high-expansion popcorn maize hybrid seed

India launched its first non-GMO high-expansion popcorn maize hybrid seed

¨     India launched its first non-GMO high-expansion popcorn maize hybrid seed on 24 August 2026.

¨     The seed was launched at the Gourmet Popcornica facility in Musunuru, Eluru district, Andhra Pradesh.

¨     Vice-President C. P. Radhakrishnan launched the hybrid seed.

¨     Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu attended the launch ceremony.

¨     Popcorn maize is a specialised type of Zea mays selected for its ability to expand when heated.

¨     High-expansion hybrids are developed to produce a larger volume of popped popcorn.

¨     The expansion volume is an important quality parameter in the popcorn industry.

¨     The newly launched seed is non-GMO, meaning it does not contain genetically modified traits.

¨     Non-GMO seeds are developed using conventional plant-breeding methods.

¨     Hybrid maize seed production involves controlled cross-pollination between selected parent lines.

¨     This process combines desirable agronomic and processing characteristics in the hybrid.

¨     The hybrid was developed through collaboration between ICAR-Indian Institute of Maize Research (ICAR-IIMR) and Gourmet Popcornica.

¨     The scientific and commercial collaboration between ICAR-IIMR and Gourmet Popcornica began in February 2021.

¨     ICAR-IIMR is a maize research institute under the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR).

¨     ICAR-IIMR works in areas such as maize breeding, agronomy and value-chain development.