The Hindu Business Line : Greenpeace cries foul over Bayer's GMO trials

ACTIVISTS of the environmental NGO Greenpeace chained themselves to the front doors and to the fence of Bayer House in Powai, Mumbai on Thursday. They were protesting the alleged field trials by Pro Agro (wholly owned subsidiary of Bayer) of the genetically modified organism (GMO), Cry9C, as well as the company's refusal to answer critical questions repeatedly posed by the NGO.

Greenpeace says it has asked the company in India to clarify certain issues including why Bayer was using the same gene to feed people in India that the US Environmental Protection Agency had said was only fit for animal feed. Greenpeace also asked what bio-safety and health safety assessments have been conducted and what their results were; what Bayer did with the GM plants, seeds and produce from these fields; and whether they can provide an assurance that the GMO has not already entered the food chain.

Unfurling banners that said `Bayer stop poisoning our food,' the activists said they were determined to stay chained till the senior level management answered these questions. Greenpeace says the matter is not an issue limited to agro-science, but one that is crucial to public health safety since the Cry9C gene protein is suspected of being a human allergen.

In the US, the field trials were abandoned when a Cry9C-laced corn found its way into taco shells and other items meant for human consumption. This Cry9C corn was owned by a subsidiary of Bayer CropScience, Aventis and was marketed under the name StarLink. Cry9C had made an appearance on the Indian scene in March 2003, when a food aid shipment from two US-based aid agencies was suspected of being contaminated with StarLink corn. At that time, the Genetic Engineering Approval Committee demanded that the US and the aid agencies provide certification stating the consignment did not contain StarLink corn. The Indian Government rejected the shipment when no certificate was forthcoming.

A press release from Bayer CropScience called the allegations by Greenpeace "baseless" and stated that "the Cry9C technology developed by AventisCropScience was not a part of the acquisition contract between Bayer and Aventis." The press statement also said, "Aventis had abandoned any development activities with this technology globally since the year 2000."

Mr Aloke Pradhan, Head of Corporate Communications, told Business Line, "I can categorically say we have never done any trials involving Cry9C." Ms Divya Raghunandan, GE Campaigner, Greenpeace India, said there is documentary evidence in the form of an article in Current Science dated February 10, 2003 in which the Department of Biotechnology (DBT) has disclosed that ProAgro PGS (India) Ltd (Gurgaon) has conducted field trials of cabbage and cauliflower with Cry9C.

It was late in the evening when the company issued a statement to Greenpeace, which was similar to the press release. Calling the statement "lies," Greenpeace says the matter has not ended and they will confront the company with the DBT report at an agreed on meeting on Wednesday.

More Stories on : Bio-tech & Genetics | Health | Environment | Maharashtra

Article E-Mail :: Comment :: Syndication :: Printer Friendly Page

Stories in this Section
Banks to extend loans to 2.8 lakh farmers in Kerala

Act on contract farming soon

Block rubber shoots up as exports spurt

Rubber rates depressed on selling pressure

Andrew Yule's tea unit sees better days ahead with prices looking up

Gold may test resistance levels

Greenpeace cries foul over Bayer's GMO trials

Haryana wants Nabard fund for all irrigation projects

Jute exchange awaits FMC nod to resume futures trading

Cashewnuts from Panama

Marginal increase in cardamom prices