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News Alerts | Bt brinjal crosses another hurdle

Bt brinjal crosses another hurdle

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published Published on Oct 29, 2009   modified Modified on Oct 29, 2009


The Genetic Engineering Advisory Committee (GEAC), a regulatory body comprising of scientists which works with the Ministry of Environment and Forest, has finally waved the green flag for commercial cultivation of Bt brinjal in India on 14 October, 2009. The present recommendation of the GEAC has met with opposition from Greenpeace (http://www.greenpeace.org/) and a host of other civil society organizations.

However, commercial cultivation of Bt brinjal may take a year or so since it has to first get mandatory approvals from the ministries of health, environment and agriculture. 

Though cultivation of Bt brinjal was cleared by a government panel earlier, under pressure from the non government organizations (NGOs) and civil society organizations (CSOs) on health security and environmental concerns, a review committee was constituted in 2007.

The GEAC approval of Bt brinjal for commercial exploitation has been opposed by dozens of CSOs and peoples’ movements all across the country. (The links below carry facts, figures and opinions for and against the genetically modified crops). The All India Kisan Sabha of CPI (M) has expressed its concerns over vested interest groups such as the Mahyco-Monsanto and the USAID working for its release in the Indian environment. Patenting of seed technologies is deemed to create monopolies, serving profit motives of the Multi National Corporations (MNCs) due to which the Indian farmers are likely to face higher prices beyond their purchasing capacity.

The International NGO Greenpeace has alleged that people in the GEAC had vested interest in the release of Bt brinjal for commercial purposes as they enjoyed close ties with Mahyco- Monsanto. It has questioned whether release of GM crops can solve India’s problem of food security and malnutrition.

There are others who have supported the GEAC’s approval for Bt brinjal because it is designed to be insect-resistant. Fruit borers destroy roughly 50 per cent of the brinjal crop, which is grown across the states of Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal, approximately an area of 5 lakh hectares. The present Bt brinjal, which has been genetically developed by a group of scientists from the company Mahyco and universities in Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, is designed to secrete a protein that kills insects called fruit borers that routinely attack brinjals.      

The Minister of State for Agriculture KV Thomas while endorsing the GEAC’s decision has said that genetic engineering holds the key to increasing food production and ensuring food security in the country. However, following a campaign by Greenpeace, the Environment Ministry has declared that it is not going to allow the new brinjal crop into the Indian market without a nationwide consultation. Some feel that labeling of GM food should be made mandatory provided farmers do not pay much time and money for the approvals.

Further readings

Brinjal and beyond, 21 October, 2009,

http://www.hindu.com/2009/10/21/stories/2009102155640800.htm

Commercial cultivation of Bt brinjal may take a year by Jacob P Koshy and Padmaparna Ghosh, Livemint, 16 October, 2009
http://www.livemint.com/2009/10/16005430/Commercial-cultiv
ation-of-Bt-b.html

GEAC nod to commercial release of Bt brinjal, 14 October, 2009,
http://ibnlive.in.com/news/geac-nod-to-commercial-release-
of-bt-brinjal/103254-11.html

Cleared, super-brinjal in frying pan, The Telegraph, 14 October, 2009,
http://telegraphindia.com/1091015/jsp/frontpage/story_1161
7850.jsp
  

Controversial Bt brinjal cleared for entry as first GM food, Infochange India,
http://infochangeindia.org/200910167987/Environment/News/C
ontroversial-Bt-brinjal-cleared-for-entry-as-first-GM-food
.html

 
Decision on Bt brinjal after consulting scientists, farmers: Ramesh, DNA India, 15 October, 2009,
http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report_decision-on-bt-brinja
l-after-consulting-scientists-farmers-ramesh_1299448

 
BT brinjal safe for consumption by Kalyan Ray, Deccan Herald, 14 October, 2009,
http://www.deccanherald.com/content/30673/bt-brinjal-safe-
consumption.html

 
Say ‘no’ to Bt Brinjal: civil society groups by Gargi Parsai, The Hindu, 14 October, 2009,
http://www.hindu.com/2009/10/14/stories/2009101461490700.htm 
 
Are we ready for genetically modified vegetables? by Raashi Bhatia, Reuters blog, October 14 2009
http://blogs.reuters.com/india/2009/10/14/are-we-ready-for
-genetically-modified-vegetables/

 
Bt brinjal gets regulator's nod, farmers protest, The Hindu, 14 October 2009
http://beta.thehindu.com/news/national/article33982.ece
 
GEAC fails the nation, takes the side of Seed Companies on Bt Brinjal, Greenpeace India, 14 October 2009
http://greenpeace.in/safefood/news-blog/geac-fails-the-nat
ion-takes-the-side-of-seed-companies-on-bt-brinjal/

PMK fires salvo against Bt Brinjal, 18 October, 2009,
http://www.sindhtoday.net/news/1/62153.htm
 
We will not blindly oppose Bt brinjal: KV Thomas, Financial Chronicle, 15 October, 2009,
http://www.deccanchronicle.com/national/we-will-not-blindl
y-oppose-bt-brinjal-kv-thomas-064
#
 
Bt brinjal debate goes to people, 16 October, 2009, The Times of India,
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Bt-brinjal-debate
-goes-to-people/articleshow/5128675.cms

 
Experts' panel approves Bt brinjal, final okay now with Jairam by Sreelatha Menon, The Business Standard, 15 October, 2009,
http://www.business-standard.com/india/storypage.php?auton
o=373318

 
Govt seeks public view on Bt Brinjal, The Financial Express, 16 October, 2009,
http://www.financialexpress.com/news/Govt-seeks-public-vie
w-on-Bt-Brinjal/529552/

 
Bt brinjal gets the green signal by Zia Haq and Chetan Chauhan, The Hindustan Times, 14 October, 2009,
http://www.hindustantimes.com/Bt-brinjal-gets-the-green-si
gnal/H1-Article1-465298.aspx
#

 

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