Field trials of GM mustard DMH-11 showed high yield, says Science Minister
2 years ago

Field trials of GM mustard DMH-11 showed high yield, says Science Minister

The Hindu  

Field trials of the transgenic mustard variety, DMH-11, revealed them to be higher yielding and they didn’t deter the pollination habits of honey bees, Union science minister Jitendra Singh said in Rajya Sabha in a written response to a query. “Extensive studies carried out on toxicity, allergenicity, compositional analysis, field trials and environmental safety studies of GM mustard lines vs. their non-transgenic comparators have provided evidence that they are safe for cultivation and for food and feed use. “Studies conducted during 2018-19 and 2019-20 indicated that there is no negative impact of Bt transgenic cotton cultivars on bees, brood rearing, pollen and nectar hoarding of Apis mellifera colonies as compared to non -transgenic cotton cultivars,” Mr. Singh explained. Replying to the questions by Parliamentarian Sushil Kumar Modi, on why DMH-11, which contains three foreign genes to make it amenable to creating more hybrid varieties, wasn’t classified as a ‘herbicide-tolerant’ seed despite the presence of the ‘bar’ gene, Mr. Singh said it was because farmers weren’t permitted to use herbicides, and they could only be used for ‘hybrid seed production’.

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History of this topic

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 …

Three States rebuff GM regulator’s directive to test transgenic cotton
1 year, 6 months ago

Three States rebuff GM regulator’s directive to test transgenic cotton

The Hindu  

Three states, Gujarat, Maharashtra and Telangana, have rebuffed a proposal, approved by the Centre’s Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee, to test a new kind of transgenic cotton seed. Following a GEAC meeting on May 17 – the minutes of which were only made public last week and have been viewed by The Hindu – the regulator wrote to Telangana, seeking its …

Regulations not violated during GM mustard approval: Centre
1 year, 11 months ago

Regulations not violated during GM mustard approval: Centre

The Hindu  

The Union Environment Ministry on Saturday rebutted the claims made by activists that statutory regulations were violated during the appraisal and approval of GM mustard in India, saying the product was conditionally cleared only after stakeholder consultation. Responding to the coalition's allegation that the Directorate of Rapeseed Mustard Research had received the seeds on October 22 last year before the …

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 …

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 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 …

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 …

Seeds of hope: The Hindu Editorial on GM crops and scientific consent
2 years, 1 month ago

Seeds of hope: The Hindu Editorial on GM crops and scientific consent

The Hindu  

After years of being in limbo, there is a surge of optimism around DMH-11, or Dhara Mustard Hybrid-11, a variety developed using genetic engineering techniques by Indian scientists and public funds. Despite decades-long trials, mustard hybrids have not made it to Indian farmers because of activists opposed to genetic modification technology in principle and some farmer groups that believe them …

Explained | The new hybrid variant of mustard
2 years, 1 month ago

Explained | The new hybrid variant of mustard

The Hindu  

The story so far: The Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee, India’s apex regulator of genetically modified plants and food products, has approved the environmental release of Dhara Mustard Hybrid-11, a genetically-engineered variant of mustard. DMH-11 is a hybrid variant of mustard developed by researchers at The Centre for Genetic Manipulation of Crop Plants, at the University of Delhi. DMH-1 was approved …

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 …

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 …

GM mustard will be ready for cultivation in three crop seasons: IARI Director
2 years, 1 month ago

GM mustard will be ready for cultivation in three crop seasons: IARI Director

The Hindu  

Welcoming the decision of the Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee to provide environmental clearance for genetically-modified mustard, the Indian Agriculture Research Institute director Ashok Kumar Singh said it would lead to find a science-based solution for a major challenge, the edible oil import. Talking to The Hindu, Dr. Singh said the environmental release of GM mustard would provide an opportunity for …

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. …

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