India’s biotechnology regulator Genetic Engineering Approval Committee (GEAC), on October 14th gave its green signal to the environmental release of Bt brinjal, the first genetically modified food crop to be allowed in the country. With this, a debate has gripped the entire nation of whether or not to allow GM food crops as this could be a precedent for many other such crops.

Though GEAC has put its stamp on the crop, the final decision rests with the Union Environment Minister, Mr. Jairam Ramesh who has explicitly averred that the matter will be treated with no urgency and only after public deliberations will a final decision arise. However, apart from environment minister Jairam Ramesh’s nod, commercial cultivation of the genetically modified vegetable will require approvals from the ministries of agriculture and health and family welfare.

Currently, Bt cotton is the only genetically modified crop allowed for commercial cultivation and its introduction was prompted by its pests becoming increasingly resistant to pesticides. The commercial cultivation of Bt cotton has reportedly increased cotton yield from 308kg per hectare in 2001 to 508kg per hectare in 2006. The success of Bt cotton in India has in fact raised hopes for Bt brinjal as well. Although brinjal may not transform India’s fortune as was the case with Bt cotton, it might as well clear the deck for many such similar interventions.

The most prominent thing that irks the supporters as well as its critics is the absence of a labeling mechanism for foods in India. This will deprive the consumers to make an informed choice about the foods they consume. More over the labs in the country are not at present capable of identifying GM products, and there is also a big question hovering of who will regulate these products. Whether it will be the Ministry of Food, or will it be Health; Environment or Science and Technology or is there any other separate ministry to be formed in the future to look into the GM matters. Without a clear agreement on these issues, a decision cannot be arrived on this matter. But the time granted should be used constructively to assess the impact of the Bt Brinjal on the Socio – Economic tapestry of Indian Agriculture.

The ethical angle is going to be another major issue which is going to consume lot of newsprint in the coming months. Though scientific definitions may not delineate GM Brinjal as a vegetable with animal traits, to strict vegetarians willful mixing of bacterial genes may raise serious religious and sensitive issues. Cotton per se never faced this problem as cotton is not a food crop. Though sixty percent of the Cotton plant biomass is indirectly or directly linked to our food system, e.g. Cotton seed oil in our vanspati ghee or cotton leaves as fodder to goats and sheep, we have not yet been exposed to direct GM food crop like GM soybean or GM maize. Approval of GM Brinjal will open floodgates to most of them.

If the advisories of the companies are to be trusted, the transgenic vegetables are as safe as any vegetable available in the market, while Anti GM protesters paint a picture of a very gory world of Seed Corporations ruling the world. So where is the truth, may be somewhere in between. What can the Government do to inform the public, can we ask for every GM food be labeled like our green and red dotted foodstuffs? If after a period of 20 years, GM food is found to be dangerous, something like the discovery of toxicity of DDT after almost fifty years of indiscriminate use, will the mega corps pay for the clean up of whatever extent possible?

One obvious and unwanted fall out of this controversies are the misconceptions created in an uninitiated mind about the amazing science of biotechnology. This branch of genetic sciences has the capacity to change the world. We would definitely not have looked at a biotech Brinjal with suspicion, which produces insulin, or Vitamins, for example, instead of Bt Toxin. Valuable time and resources are being frittered out in search of finding a soybean which resists an herbicide rather than a soybean with double protein content. Maybe a corporation will not find it profitable but it could have gained a little more goodwill. Maybe government can take these initiatives and put forward legislatures to this effect.

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yes i agree with mahesh ranjan, first proper Lab results should be published by Union and Sate govt in the media abput the use of GM foods and its nutritional content ,and if it is unhealthy only then one can oppose GM food production !!
Otherwise GM Food production and GM food processing should be promoted in bihar for benefit of the Bihar farmers !!

Jai Bihar !! Jai Buddha !!

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Dear Manish
I appreciate your Comment on GM Foods. Thanks.
Sir, we have not started any movement against GM Technology or GM system, but only we request that please insure that we are not a LAB RAT. Please don’t test these items on our body. without testing and trial not even a single GM Food crop may be allowed by the authorities. GM foods should be tested in lab first and the results should be made public and public opinion should also be taken.

We must know what we are eating, says Pushpa M. Bhargava.Who has been a nominee of the Supreme Court on GEAC (Genetic engineering approval Committee) since last year.No note has also been taken by the RCGM or GEAC of the fact that GM crops are banned in most parts of the world; they are largely confined to four countries: the US, Canada, Argentina and Brazil. They are banned in most countries of the European Union and in the UK. Countries such as Greece, Austria, Germany, Switzerland and even small states such as Tasmania have banned them specially.
An important question that may be asked in regard to Bt cotton and now Bt Brinjal (the first GM food crop cleared by GEAC for environmental release is: Did we need them? We have already shown integrated pest management (IPM) and bio-pesticides that we have developed, to be eminently successful for both cotton and brinjal – in fact, for 85 crops.
http://www.tribuneindia.com/2009/20091101/edit.htm#1
Regards
Pankaj
Patna, Bihar, India

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Dear Sir,
this is a crucial issue.
Considerable energy is still being exhausted to convince the media networks in the State to cover the campaign and write objectively about the GM Foods.

Further, as awareness in the public, especially the farmers, on the subject was almost zero, activists had a tough time during their visits to villages as well as urban areas talking about the issue, which, now surely, has been made a controversial topic to begin with. People are talking about GM Foods, now. Newspapers, news agencies and websites are picking the topics and output so far has been very very positive.

On the sideline, signature campaign against the Bt Brinjal and addressed to the Bihar chief minister is going on in Patna and Muzaffarpur districts. Both common people and farmers are encouraged to participate in the signature campaign. Colleges are also being covered for the campaign.
Thanks
Pankaj
9470230999

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Manish Ranjan Reply:
November 13th, 2009 at 11:23 am

I am against any such movement. Do we have enough information about GM foods? I think, GM foods should be tested in lab and the results should be made public. when food prices are increasing day by day GM foods are providing good option.
We should be open minded and learn to evolve otherwise we will have to face extinction.

–Manish Ranjan, Singapore

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