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Home>>Independent studies & Papers on GM crops in India>>Bt Brinjal |
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Brinjal is a crop of great socio-cultural significance to Indians. India is the Centre of Origin and Diversity for Brinjal. Scientific papers record that Brinjal was one of the favourite dishes of Lord Krishna. The National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources (NBPGR) in India holds more than 2500 accessions of Brinjal from India, reflecting the vast diversity that has evolved here. It is argued that special brinjal varieties like Mattu Gulla from Karnataka have to be protected under the principle of genius loci. It is with this brinjal that tampering in the form of Bt Brinjal, supported by Americans (USAID, Cornell University and Monsanto), is taking place in India right now. Read more about Bt Brinjal in this briefing paper. Transformation work and trials on this brinjal have been underway since 2000 in India. Open air trials began in 2002. In 2008 Kharif, second year large scale trials are underway in NARS centres of Mahyco's Bt Brinjal. There are other entities experimenting with GM Brinjal too, including University of Agricultural Sciences-Dharwad, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University and Sungro Seeds. All of them have Monsanto's technology, however. It is being claimed by Mahyco that Bt Brinjal is "bio-safe" through studies done by the company or commissioned by it. There is no independent research on the safety of this Brinjal and the biosafety data is not being put out for public, independent scientific scrutiny by the regulators. An independent expert committee set up by Centre for Sustainable Agriculture & Thanal, to look into issues related to Bt Brinjal, found that DBT guidelines were not always followed by the developers of transgenic brinjal. It found that some tests as laid down by the DBT were not taken up in the safety evaluation or test protocols were not as per the specifications laid down in the guidelines. The Committee acknowledged that recent published evidence on the genes and vectors used in evolving Bt Brinjal show that caution needs to be exercised in using these materials in plants and plant products meant for human use. Results of some toxicity tests show that unless raw data is examined and full report seen, it is not possible to arrive at any meaningful conclusions regarding safety of the product. On the agronomic trials, Bt Brinjal is not compared with the best agronomic and pest management practices available nor have trials been taken up for at least three years. Committee observed that parameters prescribed in the DBT’s permission letter were not always meticulously followed by the company. Committee found that data from the company is insufficient for any conclusion to be drawn about the efficacy of Bt Brinjal. From AICRP data, there is not much hope for Bt Brinjal, the Committee noted. Committee made several relevant observations which need to be taken cognizance of, on the protocols used for other studies like pollen flow, cooking studies, aggressiveness & weediness, soil impacts study etc. Committee noted that impact assessment beyond biosafety, including addressing issues like genius loci, of IPR regime on farmers’ rights etc. is important. The Committee called for a holistic approach rather than a reductionist approach here. The Committee noted that the issue of the Indian sub-continent being the Centre of Origin for brinjal is of considerable relevance and that need for Bt Brinjal should be re-examined against this background. Given that there is uncertainty and variability in the risk assessment process and given that satisfactory methodologies to measure possible long term health effects or unintended/unexpected adverse effects of GM foods are yet to be evolved, the Committee noted that it is prudent to follow a precautionary approach. Read the full report of the Independent Expert Committee's Report on Bt Brinjal here. |