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 …
This booklet captures some key developments in agricultural biotechnology in Africa. Contrary to the strongly held belief that the continent is not ready to embrace new technologies, much has been accomplished in agricultural biotechnology. The document narrates notable scientific breakthroughs, political support, policy formulation, capacity building and awareness creation on …
After the fibre crop Bt. Cotton, genetically-engineered food crops look set for more action, with Bt. Brinjal (eggplant) and golden rice expected to be released in the country in less than three years. According to Dr Sajiv Anand, Director of All India Crop Biotechnology Association (AICBA), genetically-engineered brinjal (Bt. Brinjal) …
MINISTER for Animal Husbandry, Pongalur N Palanisamy on Saturday announced that a world-class bio-safety lab would be established at Padappai near Chennai at a cost of Rs 50 crore The Central government will set up this lab and the State government had given 30 acre land free of cost, the …
This latest report by ISAAA documents how various stakeholders from 14 countries in Africa and Asia have benefited from science communication efforts and how in turn, they are now part of the process of realizing a collective voice on crop biotechnology. Communicating Crop Biotechnology: Stories from Stakeholders documents how various …
Across the world, attempts at regulating the processes and products of recombinant DNA technologies, including genetically modified organisms (GMOs) had their origins in the famous Asilomar Conference in 1975. In this conference, scientists who had been involved in developing these revolutionary technologies gathered to discuss the potential dangers of creating …
K.V. Kurmanath Chinnakanjarla (Medak dist), June 22 Activists of Greenpeace, a global non-governmental organisation that takes up environmental issues, today barged into a Bayer Crop science field trial site here, protesting against herbicide-resistant rice trials. The trials were being conducted on a 1,440-sq yard plot in this remote village.
More importance should be given by hospitals HEALTH CARE: S.S. Vasan, visiting Research Fellow, University of Oxford, making a presentation in the city on Wednesday. MADURAI: Proper disposal of biomedical waste is mandatory for hospitals/ clinical laboratories and the Health Department will not allow any lacunae in that aspect, S. …
To be taken up by Indian Council of Medical Research THOUGHT-PROVOKING: V.M. Katoch, ICMR Director General, delivering an address after inaugurating biosafety training course in the city on Tuesday. MADURAI: The link between climate change and eye complications will be studied through national level projects to be taken up by …
Brazil's biosafety regulator CTNBio has approved the use of Monsanto's Bollgard 2 genetically modified cotton seed, the company said on Thursday. The pest-resistant cotton variety must still be approved by Brazil's Agriculture Ministry before it can be planted in the country. U.S.-based Monsanto has a total of six genetically modified …
BHUBANESWAR: After the controversy involving the Bt cotton and Bt brinjal across the State, now it is the turn of Bt rice. However, while a group of activists have opposed its field trials and use, many have termed it as the
Pune MPKV farm is one of three such sites in India The Mahatma Phule Krishi Vidyapeeth (MPKV) said it has decided to stop genetically modified (GM) crop trials for corn at its fields in Kolhapur. The trails began in December 2008 and MPKV land in Kolhapur was one of the …
This study investigates the observed discrepancy between real and perceived commercial risks associated with the use of genetically modified (GM) products in developing countries. It focus particularly on the effects of GM-free private standards set up by food companies in Europe and other countries on biotechnology and biosafety policy decisions …
This comprehensive review of all aspects of cultivation of brinjal in India summarises the development and regulatory status in India of biotech Bt brinjal hybrids. Bt brinjal was approved in India for experimental seed production in 2008-2009 and is under consideration for commercial release. This Brief is a comprehensive review …
Since the last decade crop improvement using genetic engineering tools is one of the alternative approaches to increase and stabilise agricultural production in the world. However, producing a transgenic plant is a long and expensive process. Even after it led to the successful development of a plant with a desired …
Joe C Mathew / New Delhi September 06, 2008, 3:59 IST Data on clinical trials of genetically-modified (GM) brinjal have been made public by the Genetic Engineering Approval Committee (GEAC) of the environment ministry. The development comes even as Maharashtra Hybrid Seeds Company (Mahyco) had filed a petition before the …
Meena Menon MUMBAI: The Genetic Engineering Approval Committee (GEAC) has published information on biosafety studies of Bt brinjal, developed by MAHYCO, on its official website. The data in eight volumes, runs into more than 1,100 pages. Sources in the Department of Biotechnology (DBT) confirmed that it was the complete data …
By Vandana Shiva Citizens have a right to health and environmental safety. Hence the existing biosafety law needs to be upheld. While the country has been preoccupied with the Indo-US nuclear deal, there is indifference to the US-India agricultural deal, under which India is being pressurised to dismantle her biosafety …
Six outstanding issues sum up just how faulty and perfunctory the Regulator's approach to bio-safety has been. Even the current inadequate norms for safety testing have NOT been applied to GM food crops like Bt okra and Bt brinjal before they were field tested. A. In No case has there …
