In this paper, assess the impacts of genetically modified eggplant, Bt brinjal, on economic and health outcomes in Bangladesh using a cluster randomized controlled design. Bt brinjal cultivation reduces the cost of pesticide use by 47 percent. This is driven by reductions in the use of pesticides with adverse ecological …
This report provides snapshots of frontline struggles against Monsanto & other biotech corporations pushing GM crops. It shows that small-holder and organic farmers, local communities and social movements around the world are resisting Monsanto and the agro-industrial model that it represents. This report provides snapshots of frontline struggles against Monsanto …
The Coalition for a GM-Free India has expressed “outrage” at Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's statement that foreign-funded NGOs were the reason for the moratorium on Bt brinjal. “It is a clear attempt to undermine and disrespect the exercise of democratic rights by the citizens of this country regarding critical issues …
The Foundation for Biotechnology and Awareness (FBA) has urged the government to lift the moratorium on Bt brinjal and accept the recommendations of the Genetic Engineering Approval Committee (GEAC) which recommended its commercial release in 2009. FBA, which consists of leading biotechnologists, also demanded that permission from state governments for …
Union Minister for Rural Development Jairam Ramesh on Sunday said no NGO influenced his decision to put a moratorium on Bt Brinjal, a statement that comes against the backdrop of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh raising questions about the role of foreign funded NGOs in blocking use of genetic engineering. Dr. …
The government should remove all constraints in the research and development work of biotech crops and lift moratorium on commercial release of Bt-brinjal, agri-biotech scientists and industry bodies said today. In a day-long conference on ‘Biotech Crops for Food Security in India’, the scientists from the US, Switzerland and India …
A report on the safety assessment of Bt brinjal (eggplant/aubergine) by Prof. Jack Heinemann has been submitted to India’s Minister of Environment and Forests. Its findings suggest the regulation and official expertise brought to bear on GM crops are either grossly incompetent or worse.
AFTER GUNNING for American seed major Monsanto and its Indian subsidiary Mahyco for violating the Biological Diversity Act in the Bt Brinjal case, the Karnataka State Bio-diversity Board has decided not to prosecute the violators. The decision was taken on 20 January while reviewing the complaint of Bengaluru based Environment …
India has become the testing ground for a whole range of GM crops. These include paddy, wheat, maize, mustard, okra even as testing for the controversial Bt brinjal continues. Testing is being done by private universities, private crop developers and the National Agricultural Research System all of whom are testing …
Union Minister Jairam Ramesh today said no NGO influenced his decision to put a moratorium on Bt Brinjal, a statement that comes against the backdrop of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh raising questions about the role of foreign funded NGOs in blocking use of genetic engineering. “Green Peace a foreign funded …
Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh plans to increase the government's R&D; spending and create incentives for the private sector to increase spending on science and technology as well.
Nuclear energy still has a role in India, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has said as he appeared to blame some US-based NGOs for difficulties at the Kudankulam nuclear plant. “Yes, where India is concerned, yes. The thinking segment of our population certainly is supportive of nuclear energy,” he said. He …
Perhaps encouraged by Miss Mamata Banerjee's record of vetoing important UPA initiatives recently, Greenpeace is urging the West Bengal chief minister to help scuttle the Biotechnology Regulatory Authority of India (BRAI) Bill. The Bill, which was drafted by the Ministry of Science and Technology, and tabled during Parliament's Monsoon Session …
In the next 24 months, genetically modified food crops will enter India’s neighbourhood. And that will trigger changes in our own agriculture, like it or not. Between now and 2014, Bangladesh will introduce BT brinjal; Pakistan will introduce biotech corn; Philippines, that already grows biotech corn, will also adopt BT …
India needs to have a proper set of protocols and a credible regulatory mechanism to address issues related to genetically modified crops, according to Abhijit Sen, member of the Planning Commission. Mr Sen was addressing a gathering at the inaugural day of the two-day international seminar on ‘Biotechnology in Indian …
Mahyco confident of regulatory approvals, plans launch within a year. Bt brinjal may have gone into the deep freezer, but that has hardly dampened the enthusiasm of Maharashtra Hybrid Seeds Co (Mahyco) from coming up with new genetically modified (GM) crops. Mahyco now plans to introduce Bt rice and Bt …
The Biotechnology Regulatory Authority of India Bill, 2011 (Bill No. 54 of 2011, BRAI Bill, 2011) was proposed by Shri. Vilasrao Deshmukh, Minister of Science and Technology and Earth Sciences, in the Monsoon Session of the Lok Sabha on 27th July 2011. However, it was not taken up as the …
The field trial of a genetically modified rice variety has been deferred till an expert committee formed to look into the food security aspect submits its report. The West Bengal Environment Minister, Mr Sudarshan Ghosh Dastidar, said here that the three-member committee would file its report on October 30 after …
As Greenpeace completes 10 years in India, it chalks up its successes and faces some flak. Kunal Majumder looks at both sides of the story WHEN GREENPEACE India listed 33 successful campaigns to celebrate its first decade in the country, the Copenhagen meet on climate change held two years ago …
New Delhi: ‘Dil hai Hindustani’ is a phrase that best sums up Association for India’s Development’s vast network of workers and volunteers for whom all roads lead to India. The much-needed funds are raised abroad but channeled to a staggering sweep of projects within the country. From helping organic farmers …
"National Biodiversity Authority has received a complaint from Environment Support Group on alleged violation by Monsanto and their collaborators for accessing and using the local brinjal varieties for development of Bt brinjal." —— Jayanthi Natarajan Union Minister of Environment and Forests Members of Parliament cornered Union environment minister Jayanthi Natarajan …
