The Bt brinjal issue refuses to die. Several experts participating in a Genetic Engineering Approval Committee (GEAC) meeting have favoured “limited release of Bt (brinjal) seeds to identified farmers under strict supervision”.
Though this is not the last word on the issue, non-governmental organisations opposing introduction of Bt technology in food crops, say this stand could lead to dangerous consequences.
In a recent special meeting convened as a follow-up to last year's stormy Public Hearing on Bt brinjal, experts discussed additional studies to assess the safety of Bt food crops. Most experts were of the view that studies prescribed under the current regulatory system and those conducted with Bt brinjal were adequate.
Dr P. M. Bhargava, noted scientist; Dr Ram Vishwakarma, Director of Indian Institute of Integrated Medicine (Jammu); and representatives of Ayush, however, opposed this view and called for additional studies.
“Cry1Ac protein has been used extensively in global agriculture and has gone through bio-safety clearances in so many countries. There should be no doubt about safety,” minutes of the meeting said, quoting those who opposed additional studies.
Mr G. Ramanjaneyulu, Executive Director of Centre for Sustainable Agriculture, said Mr Jairam Ramesh, Union Minister of State for Environment, had asked GEAC to conduct the meeting to discuss additional studies on the subject.
“The idea is not to discount fears and turn down pleas for additional studies. The outcome of the meeting does not augur well and sounds dangerous. Any release, limited or otherwise, would contaminate,” he said.
GEAC said it had asked the experts to send a half-page recommendation on the way forward. It would conduct another meeting in this regard.