India, which currently does not allow the growing of genetically modified (GMO) crops, is preparing to lift its import ban on corn for the first time in 16 years which could potentially open the doors to GMO contamination in its food supply.

Monsanto is in the news again. The Competition Commission of India (CCI), the country’s antitrust regulator, has recently said that it suspects a Monsanto joint venture abused its dominant position as a supplier of genetically modified (GM) cotton seeds in India and has issued an order citing prima facie violation of Sections 3(4) and 4 of the Competition Act, to be investigated by CCI’s director-general.

Monsanto also faces cases brought by state governments and domestic seed manufacturers, for the astronomical royalty it charges. In previous cases, Monsanto defended itself by saying that it was “trait fees” (for using its technology in cotton hybrids) and not royalty.

Fact is that Monsanto has viewed the laws of our land as mere hurdles in its way to swindle India and our farmers. On March 10, 1995, Mahyco (Monsanto-Mahyco) brought 100 grams of cotton seeds, containing the MON531-Bt gene, into India without the approval of the Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC).

The recent controversy around the sedition charges being against the Jawaharlal Nehru University Students’ Union President has taken up a lot of space in all media publications and broadcasts.

JAIPUR: Amidst the debate over allowing use of Genetically Modified mustard, Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje today said GM crops are not allowed in the state and would not be permitted.

"The previous Congress government had tried to introduce GM crop and an expert team was sent to three places for study (and) BJP (had) opposed it then," Raje said at the Kisan Agri Expo-2016 organised by Bharitya Kisan Sangh (BKS).

"BJP had opposed the move then and now my government would not allow it because farmers are more inclined towards organic farming," Raje said.

Organic farming is being done in 60,000 hectares in the state to contain diseases like cancer caused by chemical (fertiliser) farming, she said.

Global oilseed, agribusiness and biotech corporations are engaged in a long term attack on India's local cooking oil producers, writes Colin Todhunter. In just 20 years they have reduced India from self-sufficiency in cooking oil to importing half its needs.

As India prepares to import corn for the first time in 16 years, at least one stipulation in its international tender has become much tougher to meet — that shipments of the crop are completely free of genetically modified organisms (GMOs).

Before the fresh review procedure starts, the committee will meet first — likely on March 3 — to finalise the modalities for preparing the RARM report “including roles, responsibilities, consultation, time lines etc”.

The former Monsanto boss said the company used to fake scientific data" submitted to government regulatory agencies to get commercial approvals for its products in India.

The debate on genetically modified (GM) brinjal variety continues to generate heat. Former managing director of Monsanto India, Tiruvadi Jagadisan, is the latest to join the critics of Bt brinjal, perhaps the first industry insider to do so.

Jagadisan, who worked with Monsanto for nearly two decades, including eight years as the managing director of India operations, spoke against the new variety during the public consultation held in Bangalore on Saturday.

On Monday, he elaborated by saying the company “used to fake scientific data” submitted to government regulatory agencies to get commercial approvals for its products in India.

Bt Brinjal, the genetically modified brinjal introduced in Bangladesh despite concerns and failures in performances, is imposed again for the third round with newer farmers during 2015 – 2016 winter crop season. No report has been published as research findings of the first two rounds of field cultivation except some propaganda news. The website (both Bengali and English page) of Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute (BARI) has no information. It only says Bt Begun (Bt Brinjal). That’s all. The page is just blank. Even International Service for the Acquisition for Agri-Biotech Applications (ISAAA) did not publish any report after its Brief 47: The Status of Commercialized Bt Brinjal in Bangladesh, in 2014. There is nothing in 2015 which could have reported about the the so-called 'success' of the second round field cultivation. In the second round Bt brinjals seedlings were given 108 farmers, of which 79 farmers were interviewed by UBINIG and were found to have massive failures.

This ‘new’ mustard in our kitchen could soon be harmful to us. Mustard oil is an everyday consumption item for lakhs of families across India. Almost all our curries are incomplete without a seasoning of mustard and mustard products find their way into our food in various ways. Don’t we have babies massaged with mustard oil? Have we not enjoyed Sarson da Saag on cold winter days?

And now our mustard is getting Genetically Modified. Shockingly, important information about this new Genetically Modified (GM) mustard is not being disclosed to us.

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