Globally 30 percent of the food produced never reaches to a human stomach (FAO, 2021). Tackling food loss and waste benefits the climate, food security, and sustainability of agri-food systems. India suffers a food loss of about Rs. 1.53 lakh crores (USD 18.5 billion) every year as per the latest …
As many as 109 Nobel laureates, mostly scientists, have signed a letter urging the Greenpeace to end its opposition to the genetically modified organisms (GMOs) and calling upon governments around the world to reject the NGO's campaigns that opposed biotechnological innovations in agriculture. Urging the Greenpeace, known for its anti-GM …
Farmers and members of some voluntary organisations today staged a dharna in front of the mini-secretariat in Faridkot against the menace of stray animals. The farmers alleged that strays bulls and cows were destroying their crop. Besides, these were causing accidents on roads, they said. None of the roads of …
After more than a year, the Prakash Javadekar led Environment Ministry today finally called a meeting of the Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC) to decide on field trials for a number of Genetically Modified (GM) crops. GEAC is the apex body in India that is authorized to approve the use …
A genetically modified strain of rice may be good for the environment. Scientists have developed a new GMO that produces far less methane than traditional rice, which could help curb the amount of greenhouse gases entering the atmosphere. The new rice was engineered by the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences. …
FUZHOU - Scientists from China, Sweden and the United States have developed a high-yielding rice that can reduce methane emissions, a major greenhouse gas blamed for global warming, from paddies. By inserting a barley gene into rice, Sun Chuanxin and his colleagues created SUSIBA2 Rice, which stores more starch in …
Raising concerns over Maharashtra government’s approval for open field trials of GM crops, activists have written to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis seeking a reversal of his decision. “By approving these open air trials of unknown new organisms in nature, the State is making a statement that it abides by the …
People of 45 districts in Bangladesh, are at risk of contracting kala-azar as the fly-borne disease breaks out in different parts of country in recent times, found a study conducted by the International Centre for Diarrhoeal Diseases Research, Bangladesh (ICDDR-B) and Shaheed Suhrawardy Medical College and Hospital. Read more in …
The commercial cultivation of genetically modified rice in China may still be far in the future as the safety certificates of two varieties of GM rice have expired and it is unknown if they have been extended. The expiration of the certificates came only days after a report that GM …
The Narendra Modi government’s decision to disallow field trials of 15 varieties of genetically modified (GM) crops came on top of several state governments virtually thwarting such trials of 45 GM crop varieties approved by the regulator during the previous UPA regime. The Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC) gave approval …
Claims that genetically modified rice that has not been approved for sale in China is being supplied illegally in a number of provinces have triggered alarm. China Central Television reported on Saturday that three of five bags bought at a supermarket in Wuhan, Hubei province, were found to contain GM …
Chinese authorities have vowed zero tolerance and harsh punishment for rule-violating sales and growing of genetically modified (GM) crops days after a media exposure of GM rice on sale at a supermarket in central China. "The ministry will punish any companies or individuals that ignore regulations to grow or sell …
I have not approved such trials: Union Minister Confronted by farmers on the issue of permission given for field trials of genetically modified (GM) crops, Union Minister for Environment and Forests M. Veerappa Moily on Tuesday said that “he only examined the file concerned and returned it without approving any …
Melbourne : Scientists from India and Australia have found that a native Australian grass growing in Queensland state could hold the key to ensuring the long-term viability of rice, a crop critical to global food security. Deputy Director of Queensland University of Technology's (QUT) Centre for Tropical Crops and Biocommodities, …
Says genetically modified crops have an adverse impact on human health The coalition for a gene modification (GM) Free India in the state has begun holding a series of public meetings to oppose GM field trials. The Environment Ministry had allowed gene modification (GM) trials of more than 200 varieties …
Decision to allow field trials of 200 crops The Union ministry of environment and forests (MoEF) has approved field trials of genetically modified (GM) food crops on a conditional basis. Environment Minister M Veerappa Moily on Thursday said though the final call on GM crops would be taken by the …
Reversing his predecessor Jayanti Natarajan’s stance, M Veerappa Moily, Minister for Petroleum, Natural Gas and Environment, has approved the biotech regulator – Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC)’s year-old decision to permit field trials of genetically modified crops such as rice, wheat and maize among others. Expert panel “We have no …
Seed companies and agriculture research institutes in India can go ahead with scientific filed trials of different transgenic varieties of GM crops which had got clearance from the government's regulatory body - Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC) — in March last year. A day after agriculture minister Sharad Pawar specified …
Maharashtra Hybrid Seeds Company (Mahyco) is seeking regulatory approvals for field trials in genetically modified (GM) rice and cotton lines that can grow under water-stressed and saline environments, besides requiring less nitrogen fertilisers. The ₹700-crore company has developed these new plants using proprietary genes belonging to Arcadia Biosciences, a privately-held …
Vikhe Patil wanted a public hearing to be held before clearing the trials Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan overruled reservations expressed by the State’s Agriculture Minister Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil in clearing no objection certificates (NOC) for “confined” field trials of genetically modified crops in the state, The Hindu has learnt. …
A fierce public debate over GM food exposes concerns about America. Of the many thousands of usually small protests that break out in China every year, few relate to national policy. Many consider the risk of challenging the central government too great. But the entrance to the agriculture ministry is …
