News
2013-02-15 | permalink
As Indian Bt cotton acreage stagnates, seed firms eye food crops in big way
Stagnating acreage is prompting Bt cotton seed makers to diversify into food crops such as hybrid rice, corn and vegetables, where they see a big market potential. Companies such as Nuziveedu Seeds Ltd and Rasi Seeds (Pvt) Ltd, which currently earn a major share of their revenues from Bt cotton seeds, are aggressively charting plans to scale up exposure to food crops. The Rs 500-crore firm [...] plans to scale up its breeding programme to introduce more hybrids. Rasi Seeds has partnered with Israeli firm, Evogene Ltd, to develop yield-enhancing and drought-tolerant rice varieties.
2013-02-13 | permalink
European Commission amending honey law to hide GM pollen
Tomorrow EU Member States will discuss the Commission’s proposal to amend the Honey Directive in what is widely believed to be an attempt to circumvent the European Court of Justice and hide the presence of GM pollen from consumers. The discussion, which will take place at the Council of Europe’s Working Party on Foodstuffs, is the latest development in the long story of GM pollen in honey. In September 2011 the ECJ ruled that pollen is an ingredient of honey and that honey containing GM pollen must follow GM regulations, meaning it cannot be sold without full food authorisation and GM labels.
2013-02-12 | permalink
About 150 Indian scientists raise concerns about GM crops in a letter to the environment minister
More than 150 scientists have written a letter to the environment minister, Jayanthi Natarajan on Saturday raising concerns about genetically modified crops. Their primary concern is that Ministry of Agriculture is allegedly making a case for GM crops by stating that the technology is ‘absolutely needed’ for India’s food security. They referred to a recent affidavit filed by the ministry of agriculture in the Supreme Court claiming that nation’s food security will be jeopardized without GM crops. “It also argues that open-air field trials of GMOs are absolutely essential for this.” The scientists in their letter said that there are “many serious scientific and policy fallacies” in the argument made by the Ministry of Agriculture.
The Times of India, India: 150 scientists raise concerns about GM crops, write to Natarajan- Hindustan Times, India: Agri scientists seek Natarajan’s intervention on GM crops
- Coalition for a GM-free India, India: Transgenic crop (field trial)s & food security: more than 150 scientists write to MoEF
2013-02-12 | permalink
Indian Bt cotton is failing; blame the farmers
Of all the GMO controversies around the world, the saga of Bt cotton in India continues to be one of the most interesting and important. In the latest chapter, reported by the Business Standard, cotton yields have dropped to a 5-year low, setting off a fascinating round of finger pointing. [...] as I have pointed out, most of the rise in productivity had nothing to do with Bt cotton; in fact it happened before Bt cotton became popular.
2013-02-12 | permalink
GMO Bill tabled in Parliament of Uganda
A Bill whose object includes providing for development and general release of Genetically Modified Organisms in Uganda has been tabled in Parliament. The National Biotechnology and Biosafety Bill, 2012, which also provides for a regulatory framework to facilitate safe development and application of biotechnology, was tabled by the chairperson of the committee on science and technology, Denis Hamson Obua. [...] The Authority will also ensure necessary measures to avoid adverse effects on the environment, biological diversity, human health and on socio-economic conditions arising from GMOs.
