The scientific and policy debate on the potential benefits and risks of biotechnologies remains polarized. As more genetically modified crops, insects, and fish are developed, the 2000 Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety to the Convention on Biological Diversity provides a forum to monitor developments and address risk assessment and risk management …
Emergence of more virulent forms of pests and pathogens is also an important concern CUDDALORE: Biotechnology cannot be a panacea for the problems confronting the agricultural sector. At the most it can be part of a solution, but, thus far it is being pushed in the wrong direction, said B.Vasantraj …
As I write this page, the Union minister for environment and forests is deliberating whether Bt brinjal can be grown and eaten in India. So, at the outset, let me make my own bias clear. I am not an anti-GM person; I have no ideological problems with the use of …
WITH state governments, the Planning Commission and two agricultural universities tasked to conduct research on Bt brinjal cautioning the Centre against immediate commercial release of the GM crop, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is expected to take a middle-of-theroad approach. Mr Singh is meeting ministerial colleagues Sharad Pawar, Jairam Ramesh and …
S.Elango , Director of Public Health (right), having a word with S.S.Vasan, head of Public Health, Oxitec Limited, U.K., at the Asian Biosafety Training meeting in Madurai on Monday. Madama Bouare , African scientist (centre), is in the picture. MADURAI: Director of Public Health S. Elango on Monday said clarifications …
Director of Public Health S. Elango on Monday said clarifications were needed on the bio-safety of Genetically Modified (GM) mosquitoes being developed by researchers globally to combat vector-borne diseases such as malaria, chikungunya and dengue. He said here that public health administrators and governments could not take any chances with …
Priscilla Jebaraj NEW DELHI: At a time when the Science and Technology (S&T;) and Environment Ministries are differing over Bt brinjal, another tussle is brewing between them over who a new biotechnology regulator will report to. In the wake of the Bt brinjal moratorium, the government is fast-tracking a Bill …
The purpose of any regulation around Genetic Engineering and related modern biotechnology applications flows from the inherent risks and hazards associated with these technologies. India does not have a separate statute to govern the regulation of GMOs in our food and farming systems. This means that we have only executive …
Bt Brinjal, the first genetically modified food crop, has generated much debate in India. The Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) received strong views both in favour of and against the commercialization of Bt Brinjal in India from various stakeholders. In response, the Ministry decided to hold nationwide public consultations …
Limited information and imperfect regulation mislead consumers PRABHA JAGANNATHAN MODERN plant breeding evoke strong concern on food and feed crops. Critics also charge that through a combination of technical and economic pressures, commercial breeders of transgenic crops are reducing biodiversity and significantly constraining farmers from developing and trading seed at …
HIGH price and not bio-safety concerns is likely to be the key deterrent to the commercial acceptance of Bt brinjal, a January 2010 IFPRI (International Food Policy Research Institute) study has suggested, even as the environment ministry gears up to take a final decision on whether to accept an expert …
Recent approval of Genetic Engineering Approval Committee (GEAC) of the Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of India for commercial cultivation of Bt Brinjal led to an expression of a variety of opinions in the popular media. Biotech News asked some of India’s most respected scientific personalities to comment on …
Since 2005, shepherds and farmers from different parts of India- particularly from the states of Andhra Pradesh, Haryana, Karnataka and Maharashtra have reported that their animals (cattle, buffaloes, sheep and goat) that have grazed on genetically modified cotton or have been fed genetically modified cotton seeds have fallen sick and …
Small-scale, resource-poor farmers in developing countries face daily stresses, including poor soils, drought, and lack of inputs. Ongoing trends such as climate change and population growth will likely exacerbate binding stresses. A new generation of genetically engineered (GE) crop research aims to alleviate these pressures through the improvement of subsistence …
The issues relating to Genetically Modified Crops have generated intense public debate, engaging the attention of the Government, the farming community and the civil society. Though it has been widely claimed that genetically engineered foods will go a long way in tackling food security issues of the 21 st century, …
Brinjal commonly known as eggplant, aubergine or guinea squash, is an important vegetable crop of tropical and temperate parts of the world. It is a good source of vitamins and minerals, especially iron. Besides being used as an important vegetable, eggplant has been exploited extensively in traditional medicine.
With environmental clearance from the Genetic Engineering Approval Committee (GEAC) of the Ministry of Environment and Forests in place, Bt-Brinjal has taken an important step towards its widespread cultivation. As is expected, a variety of views, supportive as well as those advocating caution have been expressed regarding the introduction of …
This latest report by Asia-Pacific Consortium on Agricultural Biotechnology provides updated statistics on Bt-cotton and highlights newer issues related to technology, production, economic, social and environmental impacts of Bt cotton in India. The first Status Report on Bt Cotton in India was published in 2006, when 40 Bt hybrids were …
Despite the Genetic Engineering Approval Committee giving its nod to the commercial cultivation of Bt Brinjal last week, Orissa government has made it clear that commercial farming of any genetically modified crop, including brinjal, would not be allowed in the state.
Report of the Expert Committee (EC-II) to review findings of large scale trials and the related biosafety studies on Bt brinjal submitted to GEAC on Oct 8, 2009. Concludes that that development and safety assessment of Bt brinjal is fully compliant with the conditions stipulated by GEAC. M/s Maharashtra Hybrid …
