-The Hindu The hostility to the UPA's food security Bill from both its allies and the Opposition stems not from substantial objections to the draft law itself but from other political grouses The decision to bring an ordinance to provide food security to 67 per cent of the country's population was received with much hostility by the Opposition parties last week. The latter seemed surprised that the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) could...

-The Economic Times CHENNAI: India's patent appeals board has denied Monsanto a patent for a genetically-engineered method of increasing climate resilience in plants. The decision is significant not only for Monsanto's loss of possible exclusivity in an increasingly important segment but also for the interpretation of India's home-grown clauses in patent law - these are unpopular with global companies - for the first time in the case of plants. The Intellectual Property...

-The Business Standard Food insecurity and hunger are rooted in bad policies, faulty design, poor governance and a lack of political will According to the latest Global Hunger Report, India continues to be in the category of those nations where hunger is "alarming". What is worse, despite high growth, the hunger index in India between 1996 and 2011 has gone up from 22.9 to 23.7. National Sample Survey Organisation data show that...

-The Business Standard About 35 mn poor families may get benefits from the scheme which has the highest malnutrition rate in India Bhopal: Madhya Pradesh CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan sounded the poll bugle on April 22 by announcing the availability of wheat at Re 1 a kg and rice at Rs 2 a kg to poor families from June 1. About 35 million poor families are expected to get benefits from the scheme...

-The Hindu     Hema Vijay meets R. Rajamurugan who's on a quest to document and rejuvenate forgotten food traditions of the State Chennai: This young man visits obscure villages, speaking to farmers in the fields and elderly village women, sifting through folklore and oral history on food. R. Rajamurugan's grand vision is to document and rejuvenate ancient and forgotten food traditions of the State. "For instance, consider ‘Kongu Nadu' that includes regions such...