Bt Brinjal Report

7/28/2019 Bt Brinjal Report

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Bt Brinjal- Biological Terrorism orAgro-Biotechnology Invention?

SWAIREETA DUTTA

NITIN ABHISHEK


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ACKNOWLEDGMENT

At the outset, we would like to express our deep sense of gratitude to Natural ResourceManagement Centre, NABARD Mrs. T.S.Raji Gain, General Manager for nominating us to carry

out this research paper.

We would also like to express our sincere gratitude to the Assistant General Manager of NRMC,

NABARD, Mr. Mrinal Kanti De for giving us all the opportunities for this research study and

sparing his valuable time in exchanging the thoughts.

Our special thanks are due to The National Library Kolkata for allowing us and providing

information for our research study.

We would like to express our heartfelt gratitude to our parents for their kindness, inspiration,patience and understanding.

And at last but not at the least we would like to express our thanks to our friends for their

friendly support.

Thanking you,

Nitin Abhishek

Swaireeta Dutta

B.Sc.LLB

School of Law

KIIT University


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INDEX

Serial

Number

Contents Page

Number

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

11.

12.

13.

14.

15.

16.

17.

18.

Introduction

What is Bt Brinjal?

What is the Controversy About?

What is the Official Response to the Controversy?

Why is the Brinjal Important to India?

What are the known Features of the Brinjal Crop in India?

Genetically Modified Crops and the Bt Brinjal

How Plants are Genetically Modified?

What is the History of Development of Bt Brinjal in India?

Arguments For And Against the Release of Bt Brinjal in India?

Is Bt Brinjal A Threat?

Bt Toxins Unsafe

Collective No to GMO

Bt Brinjal has Enormous Potential to Benefit Farmers and Consumers

Brinjal And Beyond

Decision Rendered by MoeF

Conclusion

Bibliography

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INTRODUCTION

The survey is based upon the invention of Bt Brinjal. The agro-biotechnology product was

introduced into the public domain to have a disease resistant product. The scientists claim it to be

an invention for the welfare of the farmers and people whereas strict opposition was given by the

general people. The positive and negative aspects of it have been dealt in this survey.

The objective of the survey is to bring forth the prospects of agro-biotechnology product and to

present the view of the common people. The controversy regarding Bt Brinjal has been in thepublic domain since it was introduced. The future prospect of agro-biotechnology product has

also been dealt. The initiatives taken by the Government to arrive at a common conclusion has

also been discussed.

The survey was carried out by referring to books and journals. Valuable information regarding

the survey was gathered by referring to different websites. Important advice was also given by

NABARD administrators.


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WHAT IS Bt BRINJAL?

Bt Brinjal is a transgenic brinjal created by inserting a gene cry1Ac from the soil bacteriumBacillus thuringiensis into brinjal. This is said to give the brinjal plant resistance against

lepidopteran insects like the brinjal fruit and shoot borerLeucinodes orbonalis and fruit borer

Helicoverpa armigera.1

WHAT IS THE CONTROVERSY ABOUT?

Bt Brinjal has generated much debate in India. The promoters say that Bt Brinjal will be

beneficial to small farmers because it is insect resistant, increases yields, is more cost-effective

and will have minimal environmental impact. On the other hand, concerns about Bt Brinjal relate

to its possible adverse impact on human health and bio-safety, livelihoods and biodiversity.

WHAT IS THE OFFICIAL RESPONSE TO THE CONTROVERSY?

The Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoeF) has a statutory body called the GeneticEngineering Approval Committee (GEAC) which has recommended the environmentalrelease of Bt Brinjal in India based on the recommendations of the Review Committee on

Genetic Manipulation (RCGM), a statutory body and two expert committees constituted by the

GEAC between 2006 and 2009. However the Minister of State (I/C) for Environment andForests, responding to strong views raised both for and against the introduction of the Bt Brinjal,

has called for public consultations across the country before taking a final decision on this issue .

1Available at http://www.biotechnologyonline.gov.au/topitems/glossary.html last visited on 04/06/2011


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WHY IS THE BRINJAL IMPORTANT TO INDIA?

The brinjal Solanum melongena is said to have originated in India

and is known to have been cultivated for over 4000 years. Second

only to the potato in terms of the total quantity produced,the brinjal continues to be an important domestic crop cultivated

across the country accounting for 9% of total vegetable productionand covering 8.14% of the land under vegetable cultivation. There

are approximately 2500 varieties of brinjal in India of various

shapes extending from oval or egg-shaped to long or clubshapedand colours ranging from white, yellow, green and purple to nearly black. Many popular

commercial varieties of brinjal available today are derivatives of older varieties from India and

China. The brinjal is low in calories and fats and contains mostly water, some protein, fibre and

carbohydrates. It is also an excellent source of minerals and vitamins and is rich in water solublesugars and amide proteins among other nutrients. The brinjal is a popular component of the

Indian diet across the country. It is an important ingredient in Ayurvedic medicine and is ofspecial value in the treatment of diabetes and liver problems. The brinjal is known to be

consumed both cooked and raw. Some of the most well-known brinjal dishes in India include thebegun bhaja of Eastern India, the gutti vankaya kura of Andhra Pradesh, the katharikai

kozhambu of Tamil Nadu, upperi in Kerala, vangi bath in Karnataka, wangyacha bharit in

Maharashtra, olo, bharatu in Gujarat and baingan jhonga in Bihar. Folk songs in different partsof the country such as Guthi vankya kooroyi baava in Andhra Pradesh, Konkani songs in

Maharashtra, Jaina in Karnataka, Bihu folk songs in Assam often allude to the brinjal.2

The role of brinjal in religious rituals is best exemplified by one of the traditional varieties inUdupi District of Karnataka called the Mattu Gulla. This particular variety has been cultivated in

the region for at least 500 years and is used as an offering to the main deity of the region at theSode Matha temple.

2Series of Crop Specific Biology Documents, Biology of Brinjal, available at http://

dbtbiosafety.nic.in/guidelines/brinjal.pdf last visited on 04/06/2011

Kingdom : Plantae

Class: Magnoliopsida

Subclass : Asteridae

Order : Solanales

Family : Solanaceae

Genus : Solanum

Species : melongena


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WHAT ARE THE KNOWN FEATURES OF THE BRINJAL CROP IN

INDIA?

The brinjal is usually self-pollinated. However, it has been reported that the extent of cross-

pollination can range from 2% to as high as 48%. It is thus classified as a cross-pollinated crop.While the biological structure of the anthers favours self pollination, the stigma projects beyond

the anthers, thus providing ample opportunity for cross-pollination. The genotype, location, and

insect activity further determine the actual rates of natural cross-pollination. Pests affecting thebrinjal crop include the brinjal fruit and shoot borer, the brinjal stem borer, the mealy bug, lace

wing bug, leaf hopper, leaf rollers, red spider mite, leaf-eating beetle, jassids, aphids, white fly

and root knot nematodes. Amongst these the brinjal fruit and shoot borer is the greatest threatand can cause a major loss in the marketable yield.

The brinjal crop is typically grown in small plots or as inter crop. The major brinjal producing

states in India are West Bengal, Orissa, Bihar, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Uttar Pradeshand Andhra Pradesh. Depending on the variety and the season, the average yield of brinjal varies

from 15 to 30 tonnes per hectare. Many of the hybrid varieties have shown a potential yield of

upto 50 tonnes/ha. The brinjal is generally considered a high value crop yielding high net

benefits for the farmer. Studies have shown an input-output ratio of 1: 2.01. The total area underbrinjal cultivation in 2006 according to the National Horticulture Board was 0.55 million

hectares, with a total production of 9.13 million tonnes. In 2007-08, India exported 338 tonnes of

brinjal worth Rs 1.92 crores. The United Kingdom is the largest importer (258.84 tonnes worthRs 1.38 crores) followed by countries like Saudi Arabia, France and Germany.

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GENETICALLY MODIFIED CROPS AND THE Bt BRINJAL

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What is Genetic Engineering?

It is a technique involving transfer of a selected piece of genetic material capable of performing

new functions from one organism to another. Genetic Modification (GM), Genetic Manipulation

and Genetic Engineering (GE) all refer to the same thing. It is also known as recombinant DNAtechnology.

4

What are Genetically Modified (GM) crops?

A genetically modified (GM) crop is a plant that has been altered by an external process which

alters the genetic make-up of the cells. The modification is accomplished by the insertion of a

gene from a different species through genetic engineering. The process of traditional breedinginvolves finding individual plants with favorable characteristics and crossing them with each

Other. The final plant variety or breed of plant will have the desired traits inherited from its

ancestors along with the associated genes for those traits. GM technology is used because it can

change the genes of an organism in a way not possible through traditional breeding technology.Consequently only GM can engineer totally new plant varieties with traits that range from the

ability to survive adverse environmental conditions and pest attacks to a longer shelf life and

enhanced nutritional value.

What is the history of GM crops in India?

In the 1980s, the Indian government took proactive steps to build up the country's R&D

capacities in biotechnology through setting up the Department of Biotechnology [DBT].

Recognizing the potential risks in the indiscriminate use of modern biotechnology in healthcare,

agriculture, environment and process industries, the Ministry of Environment and Forests

(MoEF), Government of India notified the rules 1989 of the Environment Protection Act(EPA) 1986 to regulate products derived from modern biotechnology. The belief that agro-

biotechnology tools like Genetic Engineering could help increase agricultural production in acountry where agriculture is the mainstay for the majority of its population has strongly driven

government funding and promotion of Genetic Engineering and GM crops. GeneticallyModified Organisms (GMOs) were first put on the global market in the early 1990s. Over the

past two decades the development of biotechnology tools like Genetic Engineering and MarkerAssisted Breeding have opened up new possibilities in increasing agricultural production. The

new techniques for understanding and modifying the genetics of living organisms have led to

large investments in agro-biotechnology research and development.

While Bt cotton is the only transgenic crop which is being commercially cultivated in thecountry, according to currently available information, 12 crops (11 of which are food crops) are

under different stages of development.5

4Available at http://www.indiagminfo.org last visited on 05/06/2011

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The focus of GM research in India is to develop crops that can withstand6:-

Biotic stress: Pest and disease resistance crops and management of weeds

Abiotic stress: Crops tolerant to flood, drought and salinity

Product improvement

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HOW PLANTS ARE GENETICALLY MODIFIED?

Genetic modification involving the copying and transfer of genes from other organism to a plant

is possible because of the presence of a molecule called deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) in every

cell of all the organisms. Genes are discreet segments of DNA that encode a set of instructions in

the cell and contain all the information concerning the form and functions of all living cells thatgive characteristics to an organism including plants. The complete set of genes in any plant is

called the plant genome. All the cells in a plant carry an identical and complete genome, which

means every cell contains at least one copy of every gene, although it may not be active. Byswitching different combinations of genes on or off cells develop into different types e.g. leaf,

root and flower cells in plants.7

The first step is to identify a particular characteristic from any organism (plant, animal ormicroorganism) and find out which gene or genes in the organism are responsible for producing

that characteristic. Once a gene has been isolated, a gene construct is prepared consisting of a

promoter sequence, a termination sequence and a marker gene for successful integration and

expression in the plant genome. The next step is the plant transformation i.e. uptake andestablishment of introduced DNA. There are two main methods for transformation of plants i.e.

theAgrobacterium mediated method and the gene gun method.

There are a number of ways through which genetic modifications of plants are accomplished.

Essentially, the process has five main steps:

Isolation of the genes of interest

Insertion of the genes into a transfer vector

Transfer of the vector to the organism to be modified

Transformation of the cells of the organism

Selection of the genetically modified organism (GMO) from those that have been

successfully modified8

Following the gene insertion process, plant tissues are transferred to a selective mediumcontaining an antibiotic or herbicide, depending on which selectable marker was used. Only

plants expressing the selectable marker gene will survive and it is assumed that these plants will

also possess the transgene of interest. Thus, subsequent steps in the process use these survivingplants. To obtain whole plants from transgenic tissues such as immature embryos, they are grown

under controlled environmental conditions in a series of media containing nutrients and

hormones by tissue culture. Once whole plants are generated and they produce seeds, evaluation

of the progeny begins. To verify whether the inserted gene has been stably incorporated withoutdetrimental effects to other plant functions, product quality, or the intended agro ecosystem,

initial evaluation includes attention to activity of the introduced gene, stable inheritance of thegene and unintended effects on plant growth, yield, and quality. The plant is then crossed withimproved varieties of the crop because only a few varieties of a given crop can be efficiently

transformed, and these generally do not possess all the producer and consumer qualities required

of modern cultivars. The initial cross with the improved variety must be followed by several

7Available at www.csaindia.org/downloads/GE/bt_brinjal_briefing_paper.pdf last visited on 06/06/2011

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cycles of repeated crosses to the improved parent, a process known as backcrossing. The goal is

to recover as much of the improved parent's genome as possible, with the addition of the

transgene from the transformed parent. The next step in the process is multi-location and multi-year evaluation trials in greenhouse and field environments to test the effects of the transgene

and overall performance. This phase also includes evaluation of environmental effects and food

safety

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WHAT IS THE HISTORY OF THE DEVELOPMENT OF Bt BRINJAL IN

INDIA?

Chronology of the development and approval of Bt Brinjal

2000 Transformation and greenhouse breeding for integration ofcry1Ac gene intobrinjal hybrids and seed purification.

2001-2002 Preliminary greenhouse evaluation to study growth, development and efficacyof Bt brinjal.

2002-2004 Confined field trials to study pollen flow, germination, aggressiveness andweediness, biochemical, toxicity and allergenicity studies and backcrossing

into the regular breeding programme.

2004 RCGM approves conducting multi-location research trials of seven Bt brinjal

hybrids.

2005 Through a MoU under the aegis of Agribiotechnology Support Programme II

(ABSP II) of USAID Mahyco shares the technology with TNAU, DAU and

IIVR to develop open pollinated varities of Bt Brinjal. Back crossing andintegration of EE1 into 4 varities of TNAU, Coimbatore and 6 varities of

UAS, Dharwad is done.

2004-2005 Biosafety data on the effects of Bt brinjal on soil micro-flora, efficacy against

fruit-shoot borer, pollen flow, germination, aggressiveness and weediness;toxicity and allergenicity studies, chemical composition etc submitted to theReview Committee on Genetic Modification (RCGM). RCGM recommends

large scale trials to the GEAC.

2006 Mahyco submits bio-safety data to Genetic Engineering Approval Committee

(GEAC) and seeks permission for large scale trials.

GEAC posts the biosafety data on Bt brinjal on GEAC website

GEAC constitutes a sub committee to look into the concerns raised bycivil society.

Supreme Court stops ongoing field trials of GM crops due to a PILfiled by civil society representatives.

2007 The subcommittee submits its report, recommends that 7 more studies on bio-

safety be repeated for reconfirmation of data generated during confined multi-

location trials but gives a green signal for large scale trials.

Supreme Court lifts ban on GM crop field trials subject to conditionssuch as isolation distance etc.

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GEAC approves large scale trial.

As per GEAC direction, Indian Institute of Vegetable Research [IIVR]takes up the responsibility of large scale trails of Mahyco's Bt Brinjaltrials at 10 research institutions across the country in 2007 and 11 in

2008 .

2009 January- IIVR submits the results of the large scale trails. Due to concernsraised by several stakeholders including some national and international

experts, GEAC constitutes a 2nd

sub-committee [Expert committee 2 or EC2]to look into adequacy of biosafety data generated as well as the concerns

raised by all stake holders.

2009 Oct 14t

The Subcommittee submits its report based on which GEAC approves the

environmental release of Bt Brinjal containing the event EE1.

2009 Oct 15t

Responding to strong views expressed both for and against the release of the

Bt Brinjal, the Minister of State for Environment and Forests (I/C) (to whom

the GEAC reports) announces a nationwide consultation in January andFebruary of 2010 pending a final decision on this issue.

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10Available at www.mahyco.com last visited on 06/06/2011


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WHAT ARE SOME OF THE ARGUMENTS FOR AND AGAINST THE

RELEASE OF Bt BRINJAL IN INDIA?

The development of Bt brinjal and the regulation process so far have caused a raging debate inthe country on the relevance and need for a Bt brinjal. This debate has revolved and evolved

around issues of its safety to human health, environment, farmers' seed rights, consumer choiceetc. Industry promoters as well as public and private sector scientists consider Bt Brinjal a

breakthrough in agricultural research and development in India. On the other hand opponents

including scientists, civil society groups, farmers unions and even some political parties arguethat the risks far exceed the benefits.

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Arguments made in favour of Bt

brinjal

Arguments made against Bt brinjal

Brinjal cultivation involves usage of hugeamounts of pesticide. 60% of plant protectioncost is for controlling fruit and shoot borer.

Effective non-pesticide pest management andIntegrated Pest Management exist and is beingpracticed by farmers.

Small and marginal farmers use 25-80 sprays

of pesticides in Brinjal cultivation

The question of internal destruction of pests is

dangerous to the health of the consumer. Theintegrated pest management systems, in

combination with good farming practices, are

the only healthy solution to good crops. A

healthy farm ecosystem is the key to pestmanagement. This includes selection of good

seeds, appropriate irrigation system and

improving soil qualityThere is no threat to wild brinjal germplasm as

brinjal S. melongena, the cultivated variety,

does not cross naturally with any of the wild

relatives to produce fertile offspring

India is a centre of origin and diversity of

brinjal which has been cultivated here for over

4000 years. There are about 2000 varieties

grown across India.

Bt brinjal does not exhibit any different

agronomic or morphological traits compared to

non-Bt brinjal that may give it a competitive

advantage over other species in the ecosystem.

The transgene transfer to local and hybrid

varieties of brinjal will effectively destroy our

brinjal diversity. As a general rule GM crops

should not be cultivated in the center of originas it could lead to the loss of original varieties

by transgenic cross pollination.

Bt brinjal has been found to be safe for humanconsumption and safe for the environment.

Inadequacy of tests :No third party orindependent tests have been conducted so far

on the Bt impact on human health

Human health concerns due to pesticide use

can be reduced with this transgenic brinjal andits in-built resistance to pests.

The longest study has been a 90 day sub-

chronic test on a healthy adult rat. This doesnot address the possible health impact on

11Available at http://www.indiagminfo.org last visited on 06/06/2011


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humans of Bt brinjal as brinjal is a regularly

eaten vegetable

Farmers will be able to continue to save and re-

use their seeds for the hybrids varieties.

Majority of the farmers in India are small and

marginal farmers, so the possibility formaintaining isolation distances is inexistent.

Mahyco, the developer of the technology, says

they have shared it with three Indian publicsector research institutions, Indian Institute of

Vegetable Research, Tamil Nadu Agricultural

University and Dharwad AgriculturalUniversity, to create Open Pollinated Varieties

(OPVs) which would help the small and

marginal farmers benefit from the technology

at a low price.

While Mahyco shared the truncated gene

cry1Ac construct they developed with thepublic sector research institutions, there are

conditions in the MoU stopping these

institutions from developing their own hybridsor having a free hand in marketing of the

OPVs.12

12Supra n12
http://www.ndtv.com/news/india/the_pros_and_cons_of_bt_brinjal.php


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Against Bt Brinjal-----

IS Bt BRINJAL A THREAT?


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BRINJAL AND BEYOND

The Genetic Engineering Approval Committees recommendation that Bt brinjal be

commercialized is a significant marker in the countrys slow and somewhat hesitant embrace of

agro-biotechnology. The nod has come a full seven years after approval for the countrys first

transgenic cropBt cotton. But Bt brinjal is the countrys first approved genetically modified(GM) food crop and the decision of the GEAC, the high-level committee under the UnionMinistry of Environment and Forests, may be read as an affirmation of a key principle. It is

that transgenic seeds will be approved for commercialization as long as they adhere to the biosafety and other requirements demanded by the regulatory process. This may well spur the

process for clearance of other transgenic food crops at different stages of the regulatory and

approval process. It is imperative that Union Minister for Environment and Forests Jairam

Ramesh, who says he will study the GEACs recommendation in depth before giving a fin alstamp of approval, bases his decision solely on the body of scientific data, culled from Bt brinjal

trials. He should ignore the huge pressure from organizations that have no time for the scientific

evidence while claiming to speak for the environment and the public. It is not just the organic

movement but also the pesticide industry lobby that is viscerally opposed to Bt crops, whichacquire a pest-resistant character with the introduction of a gene derived from a common soil

bacterium ( bacillus thuringiensis).17

Introduced commercially in the United States in the mid-1990s, genetically modified crops have

expanded substantially in recent years. An estimated 125 million hectares were under such coverin 2008 in 25 countries, including China, Brazil, Egypt, and Australia. Even in GM-phobic

Europe, seven countries, including Germany and Portugal, grow genetically modified maize

commercially. It is nobodys case that the massive spread of agro-biotechnology is proof of its

safety. Indias regulatory process must continue to put transgenic plants through a battery ofrigorous tests for toxicity, allergenicity, bio safety, agronomic worth, and so forth before

recommending commercial release. It is also important that the country addresses issues such aslabeling GM products through an independent regulatory process that commands publicconfidence. Legislation must be speedily introduced to set up a National Biotechnology

Regulatory Authority, as recommended in 2004 by a task force led by eminent agricultural

scientist M.S. Swaminathan. In a country where agricultural productivity and food security arevital issues, agro-biotechnology holds great promise. We need to regulate its application, not

allow it to be strangled by misconceived or motivated campaigns.18

17Available at www.thehindu.com last visited on 08/06/2011

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DECISION RENDERED BY MoeF

Bt brinjal will not make it to your dinner table for now. The Environment Ministry announced its

decision to impose a moratorium on the release of the transgenic brinjal hybrid developed by

Mahyco, a subsidiary of global seed giant Monsanto.

The moratorium will last till such time independent scientific studies establish, to the

satisfaction of both the public and professionals, the safety of the product from the point of

view of its long-term impact on human health and environment, including the rich genetic

wealth existing in brinjal in our country, said Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh.19

Public consultations

The Ministers decision comes after a month of public consultations in seven cities, which wereattended by approximately 8,000 people. They were organized after widespread protests against

the Genetic Engineering Approval Committees (GEAC) recommendation of approval of Btbrinjal in October 2009.

Mr. Ramesh attributed the decision to several factors:

the lack of clear consensus among the scientific community

opposition from 10 State governments, especially from the major brinjal-producing States

questions raised about the safety and testing process

the lack of an independent biotechnology regulatory authority

negative public sentiment and fears among consumers and the lack of a global precedent

My decision is both responsible to science and responsive to society, he said adding he didnot come under pressure from any quarter in arriving at the decision.

Fresh studies

Mr. Ramesh said the moratorium period would be used to commission fresh scientific studies

and reform the testing process. If you need long term toxicity tests, then you must do it, no

matter how long it take there is no hurry. There is no overriding urgency or food security

argument for Bt brinjal, he said. Our objective is to restore public confidence and trust in

the Bt brinjal product. If it cannot be done, so be it . The moratorium period should also be

used to operationalise an independent regulatory authority and hold a parliamentary debate on

private investment in agricultural biotechnology. I dont believe India should be dependenton the private sector seed industry, said Mr. Ramesh. I believe seeds are as strategic toIndia as space and nuclear issues.

20

19Available at www.thehindu.com last visited on 08/06/2011

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CONCLUSION

The dispute over Bt Brinjal still continues and a proper decision has not yet been reached neither

by the Ministry Of Environment And Forests nor by the general public and scientists. The

invention of Bt Brinjal is a work of research and biotechnology. With the recent development inscience and technology Bt Brinjal was introduced into the public domain to benefit them.

The invention was introduced to have a brinjal plant resistance against lepidopteran insects andto have better yield through which the farmers of India would benefit. The transgenic brinjal

hybrid is developed by Mahyco, a subsidiary of global seed giant Monsanto. The key

argument used by those who support BT brinjal is that it will boost yields while reducing

dependence on pesticides. On average, a brinjal crop undergoes between 50-80 rounds ofpesticide spraying.

The invention rather being accepted was hugely criticized by the general public, NGOs and

Government. Large scale protests were held all throughout India against it. Consumption of BtBrinjal would affect arguing that the genes were toxic and would affect the health of the

consumers. Several studies on Bt crops in particular and GM crops in general show that there aremany potential health hazards in foods bio-engineered in this manner. GM-fed animals in various

studies have shown that there are problems with growth, organ development and damage,

immune responsiveness and so on.

The debate still continues whether Bt Brinjal should be used for human consumption or not. The

biotechnology techniques that are introduced into agricultural products for the benefit of

common people still need to be answered and dealt properly. The decision rendered by Union

Minister of State for Environment And Forests Jairam Ramesh, to put a suspension on Bt

Brinjal until proper investigation is done is justified as public safety is more important.


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BIBLIOGRAPHY

1. http://www.biotechnologyonline.gov.au/topitems/glossary.html

2. Centre for Sustainable Agriculture (2006). Briefing Paper on Bt Brinjal. Centre for Sustainable

Agriculture, Secunderabad, www.csaindia.org/downloads/GE/bt_brinjal_briefing_paper.pdf

3. Information on GM crops/foods and related issues in India. Accessed at

http://www.indiagminfo.org

4. Kapoor, L., D (1990). Handbook of ayurvedic medicinal plants. CRC Press LCC, Florida,

USA.

5. Kavitha, K and G. V. Ramanjaneyulu (2008). Genetic Engineering in Indian Agriculture: An

Introductory Handbook (For private circulation only). Centre for Sustainable Agriculture,

Secunderabad.

6. Report of the Expert Committee (EC-II) on Bt Brinjal Event EE- 1.: (2009) Developed by:

M/s Maharashtra Hybrid Seeds Company Ltd. (Mahyco), Mumbai, University of AgriculturalSciences (UAS), Dharwad and Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU), Coimbatore.

Genetic Engineering Approval Committee, Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government

of India, New Delhi

7. http://moef.nic.in/downloads/publicinformation

8. Sadashivappa, P and M. Qaim, (2009). Bt Cotton in India: Development of Benefits and theRole of Government Seed Price Interventions. Agro BioForum, 12(2): 172-183.

9. Shukla, V and L.B. Naik (1993). Agro-techniques of solanaceous vegetables, In Advances in

Horticulture', Vol. 5, Vegetable Crops, Part 1 (edited by K. L. Chadha and G. Kalloo). MalhotraPublishing House, New Delhi, p. 365 (sic).

10. Series of Crop Specific Biology Documents, Biology of Brinjal.

11. http://dbtbiosafety.nic.in/guidelines/brinjal.pdf