ASKS GOVERNMENT TO IMMEDIATELY STOP ALL FIELD TRIALS. ALSO DEMANDS GOVT THROW OUT THE BRAI BILL AND BRING IN A BIOSAFETY STATUTE, AND STOP CALLING BT COTTON IN INDIA A SUCCESS New Delhi, August 9, 2012: Calling the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Agriculture’s report on GM crops a historic, comprehensive and well-grounded document, the Coalition […]
‘Studies’ that hype Bt cotton benefits, don’t show how Bt technology contributed to yields: a brief critique
The following is a brief critique in the context of two ‘studies’ that claim great benefits, especially to smallholders, from Bt cotton in India. http://www.pnas.org/content/early/2012/06/25/1203647109.full.pdf+html http://farmersforum.in/policy/study-on-socio-economic-impact-assessment-of-bt-cotton-in-india/ Has Bt technology improved cotton yields in India? Though studies after studies are being brought out by the biotech proponents and industry, claiming that they have findings to show […]
Bihar to continue ban on GM seeds
PATNA: Over 500 varieties of different crop seeds were on display at Gandhi Museum here as agriculturists from all over the country descended on the state capital to take part in the ‘Seed Festival’ being organized to promote the practice of saving seeds by farmers. “Seed is the basic input and is the lifeline of […]
Why genetically engineered food is dangerous
http://earthopensource.org/files/pdfs/GMO_Myths_and_Truths/GMO_Myths_and_Truths_1.1.pdfNew report by genetic engineers Press release for immediate release Earth Open Source 17 June 2012 Contact: Claire Robinson +44 (0)752 753 6923 (UK) claire.robinson@earthopensource.org Dr John Fagan +1 312 351 2001 jfagan@earthopensource.org Dr Michael Antoniou +44 (0)20 7188 3708 michael.antoniou@kcl.ac.uk LONDON, UK – Aren’t critics of genetically engineered food anti-science? Isn’t the debate over GMOs (genetically modified organisms) a spat between […]
GM label on packaged food soon in India…. MCA issues notification
The Ministry of consumer affairs in an extra ordinary gazette notification, made an amendment to bring in GM food labeling [see page no 6] under G.S.R. 427 (E) 2 (b) (ii) after sub rule 6, the following sub rule shall be inserted with effect from 1st day of January 2013, namely (7) Every packaged containing […]
Is adoption of Bt cotton an indicator of its success?
IS ADOPTION OF Bt COTTON AN INDICATOR OF ITS SUCCESS? Very often, it is argued by biotech proponents and others that the very adoption of Bt cotton in India is an indicator of its success. This is a short response on such arguments. Adoption cannot be an indicator of success or desirability of a technology […]
Time for a comprehensive evaluation of the Bt cotton experience: Jairam Ramesh
THE FOLLOWING IS A CLARIFICATORY MAIL SENT BY UNION MINISTER MR JAIRAM RAMESH TO ABLE-AG, AFTER A PRESS RELEASE WAS PUT OUT BY THE INDUSTRY LOBBY GROUP QUOTING THE MINISTER OPPORTUNISTICALLY AND “APPROPRIATE HIS REMARKS TO ITS ADVANTAGE”. From: Jairam Ramesh To: seetharama@ableindia.org Cc: Kavitha Kuruganti ; Pushpa Mittra Bhargava Sent: Wednesday, 13 June 2012, […]
BT COTTON FAILED THE MAJORITY OF COTTON FARMERS IN INDIA: EXPERIENCE NEEDS TO BE REVIEWED COMPREHENSIVELY
Ten years of Bt cotton in India: Review findings (Annexure to Press Note released by CEE/CSA/CSD on June 13th 2012) A 10-year review process of Bt cotton in India was initiated by Centre for Environment Education (Ahmedabad), Centre for Sustainable Agriculture (Hyderabad) and Council for Social Development (New Delhi), through a national conference organized in […]
Right time to review a decade of Bt cotton: National conference questions the success claims
“RIGHT TIME TO REVIEW TEN YEARS OF Bt COTTON” – NATIONAL CONFERENCE ON Bt COTTON QUESTIONS THE SUCCESS CLAIMS: EXPRESSES CONCERN ON THREAT TO OUR SEED SOVEREIGNTY New Delhi, June 12, 2012: A two-day national conference to review ten years of Bt cotton experience in India, by various stakeholders including farmers’ groups, regulators, industry and […]
On what basis is GEAC deciding to woo state govts on GM field trials?
Coalition for a GM-Free India New Delhi 7th May 2012 To, Smt. Jayanthi Natarajan The H’ble Minister, MoSEF (Independent Charge) Government of India. SUBJECT: YOUR STATEMENT IN PARLIAMENT ON 27 MARCH 2012: ‘DELAY IN NOCS FOR GM CROPS TRIALS’ Dear Madam Minister, Greetings from the Coalition for GM-Free India. In your statement in the Rajya […]
Dismal picture of cotton in Madhya Pradesh in the past decade
A report released by Beej Swaraj Abhiyan and Hamara Beej Abhiyan in Madhya Pradesh on March 31st 2012, also including data from a primary survey taken up in 2012, to look at the comparative performance of Bt cotton with a set of sample farmers in Kharif 2011 as compared to their experiences in Kharif 2011, […]
Bt cotton hype in Karnataka exposed
A report released on the occasion of a one-day workshop called “10 years of Bt cotton in Karnataka: Whither other cotton?”, with partial support from the Karnataka State Biodiversity Board on March 29th 2012 is available here. This report exposes the reality of fluctuating yields of cotton in the state, increasing use of chemical pesticides […]
10 years of Bt Cotton – False Hype and Failed Promises Exposed
The false hype and failed promises of Bt cotton in India were exposed by the Coalition for GM-Free India with a special report released in a press conference here today. As the 10th anniversary of Bt cotton’s regulatory approval in India approaches, the Coalition, using data from government institutions, highlighted that the hype around Bt […]
(Rajasthan) Government bans GM trials, to burn standing crop
The Rajasthan government has put on hold all trials of genetically modified (GM) crops in the state. In an order dated 13 March, the Principal Secretary, Agriculture, government of Rajasthan stated “..no trials of GM crops should be conducted in the State until final decision in this matter is taken.” “The issue (of permitting trials […]
New report damns India’s GM crop regulation
An explosive new report on the safety asseessment of Bt brinjal (eggplant/aubergine) by Prof. Jack Heinemann has been submitted to India’s Minister of Environment and Forests. Its findings suggest the regulation and official expertise brought to bear on GM crops are either grossly incompetent… or worse. Latha Jishnu’s article below spells out the details. Aruna […]