INDIA - Opposition grows to GM eggplant in India

Published Date: February 3, 2010

Opposition grows to GM eggplant in India thumbnail

The release of Bt Brinjal (eggplant) for cultivation as food may present a serious risk to human health, environmentalists say

NEW DELHI (UCAN) — Genetically modified crops could spell disaster for Indian farmers, bishops’ spokesperson Father Babu Joseph says.

The government is deciding whether to give the green light to a modified brinjal or eggplant, developed by Mahyco, the Indian partner of global seed giant Monsanto.

Church agriculture experts, scientists and other religious leaders are urging caution.

“India should have more studies before jumping on the bandwagon,” Father Joseph said. He believes genetically modified crops would “spell disaster” for Indian farmers.

The eggplant variety, dubbed Bt Brinjal, has been produced by Maharashtra-based Mahyco by inserting into it a synthetic version of a gene from the naturally occurring soil bacterium.

The company says the GM plants are pest resistant and high yielding.
But many scientists oppose it, saying brinjal engineered with bacteria could result in an environmental catastrophe through genetic contamination and ecological imbalances.

Food safety is also a concern.
Father Joseph noted that scientific community was divided.
“It simply shows that we are not sure about negative impacts of what we are doing,” he said. “The government should encourage research before making a decision.

Leading scientists such as Pushp Bhargava told media its launch could spell the “single largest disaster in the country.”

Popular yoga expert Swami Ramdev at a public function opposed it saying the attempt to introduce the GM crop was a “conspiracy by foreign multinationals” to make common Indian farmers dependent on foreign technology.

“It is totally unacceptable as it is unsafe for health as it contains mutated chemicals to bring about the change in our genetic make-up,” said the leader of large following.

He is threatening to launch a campaign against the crop.
Father Joseph said some 70 percent of Indians directly or indirectly depend on farming and majority of them are farmers on the margins.

Opponents fear genetic modification will result in people losing indigenous seeds, varieties and methods of farming, and make them dependent on the costly GM versions.

“The majority farmers are poor and uneducated. Government has a responsibility to protect them,” Father Jospeh said.

Even the government is divided with two ministries at loggerheads over the issue.

An expert body of the Food and Agriculture ministry has approved the GM brinjal but environment minister Jairam Ramesh said that the decision is not final.

A decision is expected by Feb. 20, in consultation with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

IC08714/1587 February 3, 2010 40 EM-lines (391 words)

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