Print

Government is holding closed-door meetings with major political groups to end their opposition to the crops
 
1. India will soon be game for GM crops
2. Monsanto India jumps on report Modi government pursuing GM crops
3. SJM upset over Modi govt nod to GM crop field trials

1. India will soon be game for GM crops

Jyotika Sood
DNA India, 1 Feb 2015
http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-india-will-soon-be-game-for-gm-crops-2057189

The pro-technology Modi government is desperate to introduce genetically modified (GM) crops. It is now holding closed-door meetings with the right wing-affiliated groups – the Swadeshi Jagran Manch (SJM) and the Bhartiya Kisan Sangh (BKS) – to end their opposition to the crops.

"The aim is to dispel fears about GM crops, so that the country can join the US, China and Canada. GM crops are very important for India's agriculture growth," says a senior agriculture ministry official.

What are GM organisms and foods?

According to the World Health Organization, genetically modified organisms (GMOs) can be defined as organisms (i.e. plants, animals or microorganisms) in which the genetic material (DNA) has been altered in a way that does not occur naturally by mating and/or natural recombination.

Is it the same as gene technology?

This technology is often called "modern biotechnology" or "gene technology", sometimes also "recombinant DNA technology" or "genetic engineering". It allows select individual genes to be transferred from one organism into another, also between non-related species. Foods produced from or using GM organisms are often referred to as GM foods, explains WHO.

Why are S[J]M and BKS opposed to the idea?

Like many organisations around the world, SJM and BKS also have raised many concerns. Their main concerns are food and environment safety. They have also raised questions as to whether Bt Cotton with one gene is a failure.

What's the govt doing now?

The latest meeting, on January 29, was convened by environment minister Prakash Javadekar. It was attended by SJM and BKS representatives and senior genetics and biotechnology scientists. A standing committee to ensure that the concerns of the SJM and BKS are addressed was also formed.

Are the organisations convinced?

One of the scientists attending the meeting told dna: "The questions were very valid and they were not talking like anti-GM activists. They understood what was being explained to them, and in most of the things they seemed to be even convinced."

Why so much hurry now?

"It's high time. India should clear its stand like other nations. You can't linger on for years like this. More than hundreds of crores are being spent on public research for GM crops, and if you don't need this technology, why waste time and funds?" he said. If our position is "no", it should be told openly, so that other alternatives can be worked upon, the official said.

What if the SJM and BKS are convinced?

Once they come on board, the government may waive off the No Objection Certificate (NOC) by state governments. The NOCs were introduced by former environment minister Jairam Ramesh in 2011 after Bihar, Kerala, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh refused trials of GM crops, arguing that agriculture is a state subject.

What is India's stand on GM crops now?

"Since the BJP is in power at the Cenrre and in most states now, implementation won't be an issue as the government is technology friendly. Besides, the government is pumping more money into GM crops. They are also setting up universities and projects, which are indications that it accepts the technology and wants India to use it."

Are there GM crops in India?

Bt cotton was the first crop approved for commercial cultivation in India. The Bt cotton (Bollgard) was approved in 2002. But in February 2010, the government imposed a moratorium on the commercial cultivation of Bt brinjal EE-I, the first biotech food crop, due to concerns aired by green activists.

What is the state of public debate on GMOs?

GM crops are still under debate the world over. This debate, says the WHO, is likely to continue, probably in the broader context of other uses of biotechnology (e.g. in human medicine) and their consequences for human societies. Even though the issues under debate are usually very similar (costs and benefits, safety issues), the outcome of the debate differs from country to country. On issues such as labelling and traceability of GM foods as a way to address consumer preferences, there is no worldwide consensus to date.

Some concerns raised by SJM and BKS:

1. If GM crops are successful, why are two genes stacked in the new Bt Cotton?
2. If India's biosafety system is robust, how did Monsanto conduct illegal trials for its genetically modified Okra (ladyfinger)?
3. Can India produce its own genes so that the country is not dependent on MNCs for GM technology?
4. Why are GM crops not increasing yields?
5. Can there be a way by which farmers can keep GM seeds with them and use it again and again?
6. Are genetically modified food safe to consume?
7. How will GM crops affect biodiversity?

2. Monsanto India jumps on report Modi government pursuing GM crops

By Reuters, 2 Feb, 2015
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/markets/stocks/news/monsanto-india-jumps-on-report-modi-government-pursuing-gm-crops/articleshow/46093025.cms

Shares of Monsanto India rallied 18 per cent on Monday following a report suggesting the the government was looking to allow use of GM crops.

Tracking the news, the stock witnessed its biggest daily gain since September 2014 during the intra-day trades.

A leading newspaper has reported that the government is persuading local groups to end opposition to genetically modified (GM) crops.

Even if the groups opposing GM crops agree, it would take at least two years for any such launch, experts believe.

3. SJM upset over Modi govt nod to GM crop field trials

Somesh Jha
Business Standard (India), 28 October 2014
http://www.business-standard.com/article/economy-policy/sjm-upset-over-modi-govt-nod-to-gm-crop-field-trials-114102801066_1.html

* GM Panel had okayed field trials of 13 crops, including mustard, cotton, brinjal, rice, and chickpea

The Swadeshi Jagaran Manch (SJM), a Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS)-affiliated organisation, said it was “pained” by the Centre’s flip-flop on field trials of two varieties of genetically-modified (GM) crops in a few states.

“If the government has given approval for field trials of GM brinjal and mustard, despite giving an assurance to us, we are really pained at this,” said Ashwani Mahajan, all-India co-convener of SJM. Mahajan said his organisation was studying whether the trials, which had been given a nod by the Centre were those approved by previous Union Environment Minister Veerappa Moily or the present incumbent, Prakash Javadekar.

However, a reply given by the Union environment ministry under the Right to Information (RTI) Act to Manvendra Singh Inaniya, a Greenpeace campaigner, on September 18 stated the government passed an order dated August 21, based on the approval given by the Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC) in its meeting held on August 18. This is when the NDA government was in power. The GEAC had approved field trials of 13 GM crops, including those of mustard, cotton, brinjal, rice and chickpea. GEAC is a statutory body for recommending approval to any release of genetically-engineered products into the environment.

“If the government is intending to give approval to field trials of GM crops, they should have done it openly and not conveyed it merely through an RTI reply…We stand by our words that we look at this move in anguish and disbelief,” said Mahajan.

Greenpeace India said many state governments, including those ruled by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) -- Gujarat, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh -- have denied permission for field trials.

“It now seems that the Union government is not bothered about the opposition of various state governments regarding GM field trials, including the recent opposition by the Gujarat government, which confirmed that it will not issue a no-objection certificate (a statutory requirement from the state government for conducting open air trials) for any field trial of GM food crop,” said Inaniya, who filed the RTI. Business Standard independently reviewed some of the letters from the states refusing to give no-objection certificates for such trials.

The ministry order stated that Delhi University’s Centre for Genetic Manipulation of Crop Plants has been given permission to conduct field trials for a new variety of GM mustard and Maharashtra-based Bejo Sheetal Seeds Private Limited to test Bt brinjal.

The DU can conduct trials in 10 locations of Delhi-National Capital Region (NCR), Maharashtra, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan and Bejo Sheetal can do so in Maharashtra, Gujarat, Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, New Delhi, and Andhra Pradesh.

However, this would require a no-objection certificate (NOC) from the state governments to conduct open air trials. Except for Maharashtra, all these states have shown reluctance against GM crop trials.

The GEAC decision was strongly opposed by the Sangh Parivar organisations such as SJM and Bharatiya Kisan Sangh (BKS). Under pressure from these groups, Javadekar had reportedly put on hold field trials on July 29.

“The minister assured the members of SJM and BKS that the decision (on field trials) had been put on hold,” Mahajan had said in a press statement on July 30.

Javadekar has been ambivalent on his stance on field trials of GM crops. In a public event on August 6, he had said the country cannot ignore science but will also have to tread cautiously.

“We are not saying no to science. We have to take proper caution and proper action,” Javadekar had said. He had also pointed that the Supreme Court was still hearing a case on the matter though remaining ambiguous if the government would defer its decision till it got a final verdict in the matter.