GM crops | Supreme Court worried over effect on livelihood of women farm labourers
2 years ago

GM crops | Supreme Court worried over effect on livelihood of women farm labourers

The Hindu  

The Supreme Court on Wednesday expressed concern about the plight of thousands of women agricultural labourers in rural areas, traditionally engaged in de-weeding, who will be part of the human cost if the government permits the commercial cultivation of herbicide-tolerant crops such as GM mustard in India. ‘Not meant for India’ "The Supreme Court's own Technical Expert Committee had said that these GM crops were not meant for agriculture in the Indian context. He said the Supreme Court-appointed member of the GEAC, Pushpa M Bhargava, had said the commercial cultivation of GM Mustard would open the door wide for multinational corporations. He said GM mustard, if approved for commercial cultivation, would be the first genetically modified food crop available to Indian farmers.

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History of this topic

Rakesh Tikait writes to PM, seeks ban on genetically modified seeds in India
3 weeks, 4 days ago

Rakesh Tikait writes to PM, seeks ban on genetically modified seeds in India

India Today  

Farmer leader Rakesh Tikait wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, urging a complete ban on genetically modified seeds in India. The letter references historical instances where the introduction of genetically modified crops, such as Bacillus thuringiensis cotton, raised concerns about their potential adverse effects on human health and the environment. Tikait also addressed the growing challenges faced by farmers, including …

Activists slam union government over illegal sale of GM maize, processed foods
1 month ago

Activists slam union government over illegal sale of GM maize, processed foods

New Indian Express  

Environmental activists have raised concerns about the illegal cultivation of genetically modified maize in Tamil Nadu and its presence in commercially sold processed foods and unprocessed maize grains across India. The study uncovered evidence of illegal GM maize cultivation and the presence of GM maize in processed foods. Furthermore, ATR-FTIR spectroscopy indicated that 20% of the maize grains shared functional …

Need for pragmatism, not ad hocism, on GM
4 months, 4 weeks ago

Need for pragmatism, not ad hocism, on GM

Hindustan Times  

A two-judge bench of the Supreme Court delivered a split decision on the environmental release of indigenously developed genetically modified mustard but was unanimous on India’s need for a national policy on bio-safety protocols for genetically modified organisms. A deep suspicion of GM crops has thrived in India alongside the rising need to turn to technological solutions, including genetic modification, …

Supreme Court delivers split verdict on nod for GM mustard
5 months ago

Supreme Court delivers split verdict on nod for GM mustard

The Hindu  

The Supreme Court on July 23 pronounced a split verdict on the validity of the Centre’s 2022 decision granting conditional approval for environmental release of genetically modified mustard crops. The Bench of Justices B.V. Nagarathna and Sanjay Karol however asked the Centre to formulate a national policy with regard to GM crops for research, cultivation, trade and commerce in the …

Supreme Court Delivers Split Verdict On Challenge To Approval For Genetically Modified Mustard Cultivation
5 months ago

Supreme Court Delivers Split Verdict On Challenge To Approval For Genetically Modified Mustard Cultivation

Live Law  

In a crucial development, the Supreme Court today delivered a split verdict on petitions challenging the approval given by the Union Government to release genetically modified mustard. Justice Nagarathna, in her judgment, held that the approval given by the Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee on 18.10.2022 and the subsequent decision dated 25.10.2022 regarding the environmental release of transgenetic mustard are "vitiated" …

How Genetically Modified Organisms Will Destroy Non-GMO Agriculture in India
9 months, 3 weeks ago

How Genetically Modified Organisms Will Destroy Non-GMO Agriculture in India

The Quint  

The evidence provided here is a distillation of the critical inputs of those 60+ submissions based on the affidavits and studies of leading, independent scientists and experts of international renown. However, there is a serious and proven conflict of interest among our regulators, the Ministry of Science and Technology and the Ministry of Agriculture along with the Indian Council of …

Supreme Court Begins Hearing Pleas To Ban Cultivation Of GM Mustard
11 months, 1 week ago

Supreme Court Begins Hearing Pleas To Ban Cultivation Of GM Mustard

Live Law  

The Supreme Court on Tuesday began hearing afresh a batch of petitions challenging the central government's decision to commercially cultivate genetically modified mustard. Yesterday, a bench of Justices BV Nagarathna and Sanjay Karol began hearing the clutch of petitions seeking a ban on the commercial cultivation of indigenously developed genetically modified mustard, christened 'HT Mustard DMH-11', which in October 2022, …

Policy paralysis in GMO crops
1 year, 2 months ago

Policy paralysis in GMO crops

Hindustan Times  

The government’s Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee has recommended the environmental release of transgenic Dhara Mustard Hybrid-11 for testing in farmers’ fields and seed production. During the past 20 years, anti-GMO activists have been campaigning to halt the commercial release of GM crops on the grounds of environmental and food safety, if it continues there is a danger of halting GMO …

A GM crop decision that cuts the mustard
1 year, 3 months ago

A GM crop decision that cuts the mustard

The Hindu  

The adoption of science-based technologies for crop improvement such as genetic engineering for developing genetically modified crops as a supplement to conventional breeding methods has become an absolute necessity to address the burgeoning and complex challenge of achieving global food and nutritional security under the fast-changing climate. More crops under GM Genetic modification of crops using the available and vast …

‘Cannot reverse harm to environment’: SC defers hearing on GM mustard
1 year, 3 months ago

‘Cannot reverse harm to environment’: SC defers hearing on GM mustard

Hindustan Times  

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Tuesday expressed concerns over the release of genetically modified mustard, saying any harm to the environment cannot be reversed. With the second sowing season for GM mustard round the corner, the top court refused permission to the Centre to proceed with the sowing of the seeds and posted the matter for hearing on September …

A push for GM mustard disregarding science, the law
1 year, 5 months ago

A push for GM mustard disregarding science, the law

The Hindu  

A determined battle by environmentalists in the Supreme Court of India against Delhi University’s genetically modified herbicide-tolerant mustard is all that stands between GM food and Indian farmers and consumers. Thus there are two reports concerning GM food from the highest legislative body in the country — one by the Standing Committee on Agriculture in 2012 during Manmohan Singh’s government, …

GM Mustard | Will Insert Additional Safeguards If Existing Conditions Are Found Insufficient: Supreme Court
1 year, 10 months ago

GM Mustard | Will Insert Additional Safeguards If Existing Conditions Are Found Insufficient: Supreme Court

Live Law  

Additional conditions will be added to the regulatory framework governing the environmental release of genetically modified crops if the existing conditions fail to broadly account for all shortcomings or dangers associated with the exercise, the Supreme Court orally said on Tuesday. A Bench comprising Justices Dinesh Maheshwari and B.V. Nagarathna was hearing a batch of petitions seeking a ban on …

Activists allege regulatory lapses in approving GM mustard
1 year, 11 months ago

Activists allege regulatory lapses in approving GM mustard

The Hindu  

The Coalition for a GM-Free India, a platform that’s fighting a case in the Supreme Court against the trials of genetically modified mustard, released a report in New Delhi on Friday to showcase at least 15 instances of alleged regulatory lapses in the appraisal and approval of Delhi University’s GM “Herbicide Tolerant or HT” mustard. The platform alleged that the …

‘Can’t Ignore GM Mustard’: PSA Prof Sood on Why Debate Over GM Crops Should Be Scientific, Not Driven By Fear
1 year, 11 months ago

‘Can’t Ignore GM Mustard’: PSA Prof Sood on Why Debate Over GM Crops Should Be Scientific, Not Driven By Fear

News 18  

Amid a raging debate over proposed introduction of Genetically Modified Mustard, government’s scientific advisor Professor Ajay Sood said it is time for the country to adopt the technology which could help tide over future challenges of food security. But the debate over GM crops must be scientific, and not driven by fear or emotions, as it is happening now,” said …

GM Mustard and the Chemical Imbalance of Our Farms: The Emerging Chemical ‘Locha’
2 years ago

GM Mustard and the Chemical Imbalance of Our Farms: The Emerging Chemical ‘Locha’

News 18  

A recent newspaper report highlighted that the use of DAP fertilizer has risen by 16.9 percent in the country, while the sales of other fertilizers like MoP have fallen by 47.9 percent. Every GM seed creates a unique chemical supply chain of pesticides and fertilizers. Research shows that Herbicide resistant weeds are a reality across farms growing GM crops and …

Why GM mustard is cost effective for farmers and neither a threat for biodiversity nor harmful for consumers
2 years ago

Why GM mustard is cost effective for farmers and neither a threat for biodiversity nor harmful for consumers

Firstpost  

The ongoing debate on Genetically Modified Mustard variety is raising many questions on policy formulation relating to the use of technology in agriculture. Relating to the biodiversity argument, to some extent with the adoption of GM mustard, on-farm genetic diversity of mustard crop may reduce, as it may replace some traditional mustard varieties as it happened in case of Bt …

Interview| GM fundamentalists can’t even give one valid argument, says SJM's Ashwani Mahajan
2 years ago

Interview| GM fundamentalists can’t even give one valid argument, says SJM's Ashwani Mahajan

Firstpost  

“We don’t need GM mustard to improve yields, we just have to rely on varieties that are already growing in India,’ says Mahajan The cold winter breeze returns to Delhi, making it harder for yellow sun rays to penetrate the smog and warm young mustard saplings. Meanwhile the Supreme Court for the past two days had been hearing the PIL …

India says GM technology important for food security, import reduction
2 years ago

India says GM technology important for food security, import reduction

Live Mint  

India said on Thursday it was important for it to adopt farming technologies like genetically modified crops to ensure food security and cut a reliance on imports, as it tries to boost the output of edible oils for its huge population. The environment ministry in October granted environmental clearance for indigenously developed GM mustard seeds, potentially paving the way for …

Is there a compelling reason to release GM mustard, SC asks govt.
2 years ago

Is there a compelling reason to release GM mustard, SC asks govt.

The Hindu  

The Supreme Court on December 1, 2022 asked the government whether there is a "compelling reason" for it to press forward with the release of GM mustard, asking if the Indian agriculture will be "doomed" if not for GM crops. "Is there a compelling reason to release this hybrid DMH-11 now… Can you not take into account bringing more safeguards, …

"Is There A Compelling Reason To Release GM Mustard Now?": Supreme Court Asks Centre Reasons For Deviating From Expert Committee's Opinion
2 years ago

"Is There A Compelling Reason To Release GM Mustard Now?": Supreme Court Asks Centre Reasons For Deviating From Expert Committee's Opinion

Live Law  

Is there a compelling reason for the environmental release of the genetically modified herbicide-tolerant mustard crop at this stage, and will such release have an irreversible adverse effect on the environment, the Supreme Court of India asked the Centre on Wednesday. A Division Bench comprising Justices Dinesh Maheshwari and B.V. Nagarathna was hearing a batch of petitions seeking a ban …

'Genetically Modified Mustard Will Lead To Irreversible Contamination' : Activists Urge Supreme Court To Apply Precautionary Principle
2 years ago

'Genetically Modified Mustard Will Lead To Irreversible Contamination' : Activists Urge Supreme Court To Apply Precautionary Principle

Live Law  

As the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change is moving ahead with its plan of releasing a genetically modified herbicide-tolerant crop, christened "HT Mustard DMH-11", activists opposing this on Wednesday implored the Supreme Court of India to intervene urgently. Appearing for one of the petitioners, Advocate Prashant Bhushan argued, "On one hand, we have the spectre of irreversible …

Section of experts, farmers not in favour of genetically modified mustard
2 years ago

Section of experts, farmers not in favour of genetically modified mustard

Hindustan Times  

Even as the Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee of the Union environment ministry has cleared the proposal for the commercial cultivation of genetically modified mustard, a section of experts and farmers say that the GM mustard is not a solution to deal with the issue of poor yield. They said the higher yield claims made on GM mustard variety DMH-11, which …

Suman Sahai | Slipshod way of approvals for GM crops very alarming
2 years, 1 month ago

Suman Sahai | Slipshod way of approvals for GM crops very alarming

Deccan Chronicle  

There is a furore over the approval granted to India’s first food crop, GM Mustard. Thereafter follow strange and highly objectionable developments, Dr Pental wrote to the GEAC on May 10, 2022, asking for approval of GM mustard without conducting the tests directed by the GEAC. So, in a shocking violation of its own rules and guidelines, the Central government …

Grant Of Environmental Clearance To Genetically Modified Mustard Seeds Beyond Judicial Review : Centre Tells Supreme Court
2 years, 1 month ago

Grant Of Environmental Clearance To Genetically Modified Mustard Seeds Beyond Judicial Review : Centre Tells Supreme Court

Live Law  

The Supreme Court is not competent to inquire into the grant of environmental clearance for indigenously developed genetically modified mustard seeds beyond the limited questions of whether an adequate regulatory mechanism governing this field exists and if the government has materially complied with such mechanism, submitted the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change in an affidavit. Last month, the …

Science-Wise: Govt Proposes, Farmer Disposes – Will GM Mustard Meet Same Fate as Bt Brinjal?
2 years, 1 month ago

Science-Wise: Govt Proposes, Farmer Disposes – Will GM Mustard Meet Same Fate as Bt Brinjal?

News 18  

Nearly three decades ago when Prof Deepak Pental and his team first showed that Indian mustard ‘Varuna,’ if crossed with an East European variety, can produce a new hybrid, which can perhaps “out-yield” the best Indian varieties available, the scientists knew they were adopting a technology, which would face stiff resistance in years to come. The team from the Delhi …

Scientific community welcomes environmental clearance to GM mustard
2 years, 1 month ago

Scientific community welcomes environmental clearance to GM mustard

The Hindu  

Scientists associated with the National Academy of Agricultural Sciences and the Trust for Advancement of Agricultural Sciences welcomed the recent approval by the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change for environmental release of genetically modified mustard hybrid for cultivation. “The GM technology for hybrid seed production developed by the University of Delhi will play an important role in reducing …

Explained | Genetically modified crops and their regulation in India
2 years, 1 month ago

Explained | Genetically modified crops and their regulation in India

The Hindu  

October 31, 2022 01:22 pm | Updated November 01, 2022 07:08 pm IST The story so far: On October 18, the Environment Ministry’s Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee cleared the proposal for the commercial cultivation of genetically modified mustard. Acts and rules that regulate GM crops in India include: Environment Protection Act, 1986 Biological Diversity Act, 2002 Plant Quarantine Order, 2003 …

GM mustard not ‘Swadeshi’, extremely dangerous: RSS affiliate to Union Minister
2 years, 1 month ago

GM mustard not ‘Swadeshi’, extremely dangerous: RSS affiliate to Union Minister

The Hindu  

Genetically Modified mustard is dangerous and not ‘swadeshi’ at all, said Ashwani Mahajan, national convener of Swadeshi Jagran Manch, an affiliate of Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh. Swadeshi Jagran Manch is the second RSS affiliated body that has opposed the GM mustard since its approval was given by the Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee that works under the environment ministry. Mr. Mahajan, in …

All India Kisan Sabha welcomes GM mustard, demands extensive testing of hybrid seeds
2 years, 1 month ago

All India Kisan Sabha welcomes GM mustard, demands extensive testing of hybrid seeds

The Hindu  

Even as RSS-supported organisations such as the Bharatiya Kisan Sangh and the Swadeshi Jagaran Manch opposed the Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee ’s green signal to commercially cultivate genetically modified mustard, Left wing farmers’ organisation All India Kisan Sabha welcomed the development. AIKS general secretary Hannan Mollah, however, said the control of the technology should remain with the governments and the …

Explained: What is GM mustard and what is the controversy surrounding it?
2 years, 1 month ago

Explained: What is GM mustard and what is the controversy surrounding it?

Firstpost  

India’s regulatory body for genetically modified organisms has approved DMH -11, paving the way for its commercial release. This herbicide-tolerant mustard variety has been developed by crossing an Indian mustard variety ‘Varuna’ with an East European ‘Early Heera-2’ mutant The Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee recommended the “environmental release” of indigenously developed genetically modified mustard seeds on 18 October. GEAC– India’s …

RSS’s farmer body opposes GM Mustard, alleges that it can cause cancer
2 years, 1 month ago

RSS’s farmer body opposes GM Mustard, alleges that it can cause cancer

The Hindu  

A day after the Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee that functions under the Union Environment Ministry cleared the proposal for the commercial cultivation of genetically modified mustard, Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh farmer body Bharatiya Kisan Sangh opposed the move and said that it could cause cancer and is injurious to health. Mr. Mohini Mohan Mishra, All India General Secretary of BKS, told …

Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee approves commercial cultivation of genetically modified mustard yet again
2 years, 1 month ago

Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee approves commercial cultivation of genetically modified mustard yet again

The Hindu  

The Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee that functions under the Union Environment Ministry has yet again cleared the proposal for the commercial cultivation of genetically modified mustard. “The environmental release of mustard hybrid Dhara Mustard Hybrid for its seed production and testing as per existing ICAR guidelines and other extant rules/regulations prior to commercial release,” the minutes of the meeting said. …

Review of Genetically Modified Democracy — Transgenic Crops in Contemporary India: Calling out the genes
2 years, 2 months ago

Review of Genetically Modified Democracy — Transgenic Crops in Contemporary India: Calling out the genes

The Hindu  

In the midst of all the excitement over the ‘immense possibilities’ of gene-edited crops, here comes a shocker. Scientists at the Tel Aviv University in Israel have warned that “the gene-editing technology, despite its substantial advantages, is not always safe and that sometimes rearranging pieces of DNA compromises genomic stability, possibly trigger cancer in the long run.” While several countries, …

Bayer revives plan to introduce new GM cotton seeds in India
2 years, 10 months ago

Bayer revives plan to introduce new GM cotton seeds in India

Live Mint  

Germany's Bayer has applied to cultivate its next generation of genetically modified cotton seeds in India, government sources said, reviving plans to bring the high-yielding, herbicide-tolerant variety to the country. The GM cotton seed variety could cut the cost of cultivation in India, boost crop yields and act as an antidote to the pink bollworm pest, farm policy experts said. …

Explained | Is genetically modified rice grown in India?
3 years, 2 months ago

Explained | Is genetically modified rice grown in India?

The Hindu  

The story so far: A French manufacturer of rice flour claimed it had found unauthorised genetically modified rice in a consignment of 500 tonnes of broken rice imported from India this June. It said the EU was not sure of the exact source of contaminant, added that contamination could have occurred during the processing of the rice flour in Europe, …

Plugging the leak: The Hindu Editorial on the GM rice controversy
3 years, 2 months ago

Plugging the leak: The Hindu Editorial on the GM rice controversy

The Hindu  

Since June, the export of about 500 tonnes of rice from India has triggered an uproar in several European countries on the grounds that it was genetically modified rice. This emerged during a check by the European Commission’s Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed that was testing rice flour by the French company Westhove. In June, France had issued …

India asks European Commission to back GM-rice claims with proof
3 years, 2 months ago

India asks European Commission to back GM-rice claims with proof

The Hindu  

The Centre has identified a Maharashtra-based exporter as the source of the broken rice flagged in Europe as contaminated with genetic modifications earlier this year, the Commerce Ministry said on Wednesday. Singh told The Hindu that the European Commission must share details of specific genetic markers found in the consignment, so that it could be tracked to ascertain whether there …

EU food recall linked to GM rice exports from India
3 years, 2 months ago

EU food recall linked to GM rice exports from India

The Hindu  

When candy giant Mars Wrigley carried out a mass recall of several batches of its Crispy M&Ms across Europe this August, it was due to the use of one ingredient: rice flour with genetically modified contamination that allegedly originated in India, according to notifications on the European Commission’s rapid alert system. However, the Commerce Ministry pointed out that GM rice …

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