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LATEST NEWS UPDATES | Bt food neither safe nor viable by Vandana Shiva

Bt food neither safe nor viable by Vandana Shiva

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published Published on Oct 23, 2009   modified Modified on Oct 23, 2009

It would be the saddest day of our lives if the Centre approves the commercial cultivation of Bt brinjal. This would be an excuse for the government to allow genetically-modified food crops in India, which are facing stiff opposition in other parts of the world. How can the government think of allowing genetically-modified crops in the country when there is no scientific evidence to prove that they are safe for human consumption?

In India there is no labelling regime for genetically-modified (GM) foods which will give consumers a choice to make a decision whether they want to consume GM food or not. Till the time this is done, regulators should not have cleared any GM crops.

Are GM food crops the only solution to address food security concerns? Are we sure the Genetic Engineering Approval Committee (GEAC) decision to approve Bt brinjal was not affected by corporate interests, when many countries in Europe have refused to accept it? The GEAC decision has clearly overruled science. The decision was taken in an hour’s time. This is questionable. You are taking such an important decision and do not care to go into the scientific evidence? After its own regulatory body approves it, the Centre says it is in no hurry to approve Bt brinjal. What good will it do now for environment minister Jairam Ramesh to consult scientists, farmers’ organisations, consumer groups and NGOs, when he could not stop his subordinates from approving Bt brinjal?

How can one forget the suicides by farmers who were made to believe that another genetically-modified crop, Bt cotton, was good for their land, as well as economically viable?

Surveys have shown that there have been decreases in micro-organisms and beneficial soil enzymes in the soil of Bt cotton fields.

And now we are getting into Bt brinjal. No one is considering the fact that this would destroy the rich varieties of brinjal in the country. India is known for organic farming and we know that organic farming produces more and brings more money to farmers.

India still needs to step up laboratories and the regulatory framework before anyone thinks of clearing Bt food crops.

It is also not possible to check the GM-content in food as there are no methods in the country to prove that these foods are safe for consumption.

There are so many unresolved issues surrounding the environmental release of the transgenic vegetable, as well as genuine concerns expressed over its safety for human consumption. But there is apparently no concern in government to address these.


The Asian Age, 23 October, 2009, http://www.asianage.com/presentation/leftnavigation/opinion/op-ed/the-vegetable-war.aspx
 

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