IndiaGMInfo

In today’s Supreme Court hearing in the PIL on GMOs, the Government of India, through its representative from the Ministry of Agriculture (and not the Ministry of Environment & Forests which has the jurisdiction on regulation of GM crops), opposed the scientifically sound recommendations of the Technical Expert Committee to ... Continue Reading

In the case of Aruna Rodrigues Vs. Union of India ( Writ Petition (Civil) No. 260 of 2005)   November 8, 2012 To:   Hon'ble Justices Swatanter Kumar & S.J Mukhopadhyay Supreme court of India In the case of Aruna Rodrigues Vs. Union of India (Writ Petition (Civil) No. 260 of 2005)   Respected Sirs, Sub: Request to accept the interim ... Continue Reading

Before the crucial hearing on 9th November on the interim report of the Court-appointed Technical Expert Committee (TEC) in the GMOs PIL in the Indian Supreme Court, major farmers’ unions across the country have sent letters to the Court, urging it to put an end to field trials of GM ... Continue Reading

Coalition for a GM-Free India's letter to Ms Jayanti Natarajan: 6th November 2012 To Smt. Jayanthi Natarajan, Hon’ble Minister for Environment & Forests Government of India. Dear Madam, Sub: MoEF should accept the Technical Expert Committee’s interim report on GMO field trials and safety assessment Greetings! As you are well aware, that the Supreme Court has a crucial hearing ... Continue Reading

On the eve of the Supreme Court Hearing in the PIL related to GMOs (Writ Petition (Civil) No. 260 of 2005, by Aruna Rodrigues and ors) which is to look into the interim report of the Technical Expert Committee appointed by the Court, the Coalition for a GM-Free India condemned ... Continue Reading

"10-year Moratorium on field trials of Bt food crops, Moratorium on field trials of Herbicide Tolerant crops (till independent assessment of impact and suitability) and Ban on field trials of GM crops for which India is Centre of Origin/Diversity"   In an Interim Report signed off on 7th October 2012 (D.No.1944/2005/SC/PIL in ... Continue Reading

MOP exposes real safety concerns of GM crops; Coalition demands that India should not allow any open-air field trials or release of GM crops. A comprehensive Biosafety Law be enacted with strict liability and redress provisions. The CBD MOP6, has for once, exposed the Global Biotech industry’s attempts to ... Continue Reading

Today (October 2nd 2012), civil society, particularly from the host country India, urged global leaders at the MOP6 on Biosafety Protocol to follow the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), in letter and spirit, to ensure that our biodiversity and with it the access of the local people to their biological ... Continue Reading

’GM lobbyists’ claims of yield advantage for GMOs unfounded, state international scientists’ Hyderabad, September 27th 2012: GM crops do not provide a solution to current and coming challenges. These include climate change, increased losses from pests, increasing population, scarce water and expensive energy and fertilizers. Analysis of Monsanto’s new drought-tolerant ... Continue Reading

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 ... Continue Reading

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 ... Continue Reading

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 ... Continue Reading

The Ministry of consumer affairs in an extra ordinary gazette notification, made an amendment to bring in GM food labeling 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 ... Continue Reading

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 ... Continue Reading

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 ... Continue Reading