Bt Brinjal
National Consultations on
Bt Brinjal
A primer on concerns, issues and prospects
National Consultations on
Bt Brinjal
A primer on concerns, issues and prospects
Contents
1. Introduction 2. Brinjals in India 3. Genetically Modified Crops and the Brinjal 4. Bt Brinjal: Prospects and Concerns 5. Glossary 6. References 1 3 5 13 19 20
Disclaimer: This booklet has been compiled by the Centre for Environment Education (CEE) as a primer for discussants at the national consultations and does not in any way express the views of the Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of India or of the Centre for Environment Education.
Introduction
What is Bt Brinjal?
Bt Brinjal is a transgenic brinjal created by inserting a gene cry1Ac from the soil bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis into Brinjal. This is said to give the Brinjal plant resistance against lepidopteran insects like the Brinjal Fruit and Shoot Borer Leucinodes orbonalis and Fruit Borer Helicoverpa armigera.
What is the controversy about?
Bt Brinjal has generated much debate in India. The promoters say that Bt Brinjal will be beneficial to small farmers because it is insect resistant, increases yields, is more cost-effective and will have minimal environmental impact. On the other hand, concerns about Bt Brinjal relate to its possible adverse impact on human health and bio-safety, livelihoods and biodiversity.
What is the official response to the controversy?
The Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) has a statutory body called the Genetic Engineering Approval Committee (GEAC) which has recommended the environmental release of Bt Brinjal in India based on the recommendations of the Review Committee on Genetic Manipulation (RCGM), a statutory body and two expert committees constituted by the GEAC between 2006 and 2009. However the Minister of State (I/C) for Environment and Forests, responding to strong views raised both for and against the introduction of the Bt Brinjal, has
Bt Brinjal
A primer on concerns, issues and prospects
National Consultations on
Bt Brinjal
A primer on concerns, issues and prospects
Contents
1. Introduction 2. Brinjals in India 3. Genetically Modified Crops and the Brinjal 4. Bt Brinjal: Prospects and Concerns 5. Glossary 6. References 1 3 5 13 19 20
Disclaimer: This booklet has been compiled by the Centre for Environment Education (CEE) as a primer for discussants at the national consultations and does not in any way express the views of the Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of India or of the Centre for Environment Education.
Introduction
What is Bt Brinjal?
Bt Brinjal is a transgenic brinjal created by inserting a gene cry1Ac from the soil bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis into Brinjal. This is said to give the Brinjal plant resistance against lepidopteran insects like the Brinjal Fruit and Shoot Borer Leucinodes orbonalis and Fruit Borer Helicoverpa armigera.
What is the controversy about?
Bt Brinjal has generated much debate in India. The promoters say that Bt Brinjal will be beneficial to small farmers because it is insect resistant, increases yields, is more cost-effective and will have minimal environmental impact. On the other hand, concerns about Bt Brinjal relate to its possible adverse impact on human health and bio-safety, livelihoods and biodiversity.
What is the official response to the controversy?
The Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) has a statutory body called the Genetic Engineering Approval Committee (GEAC) which has recommended the environmental release of Bt Brinjal in India based on the recommendations of the Review Committee on Genetic Manipulation (RCGM), a statutory body and two expert committees constituted by the GEAC between 2006 and 2009. However the Minister of State (I/C) for Environment and Forests, responding to strong views raised both for and against the introduction of the Bt Brinjal, has
References: Biotechnology Online Glossary. http://www.biotechnologyonline.gov.au/topitems/glossary.html Accessed on 7 January 2010, Centre for Sustainable Agriculture (2006). Briefing Paper on Bt Brinjal. Centre for Sustainable Agriculture, Secunderabad. Available at: www.csaindia.org/downloads/GE/bt_brinjal_briefing_paper.pdf Information on GM crops/foods and related issues in India. Accessed http://www.indiagminfo.org on 7 January 2010 Kapoor, L., D (1990). Handbook of ayurvedic medicinal plants. CRC Press LCC, Florida, USA. p 304 306. Kavitha, K and G. V. Ramanjaneyulu (2008). Genetic Engineering in Indian Agriculture: An Introductory Handbook (For private circulation only). Centre for Sustainable Agriculture, Secunderabad. Report of the Expert Committee (EC-II) on Bt Brinjal Event EE1.: (2009) Developed by: M/s Maharashtra Hybrid Seeds Company Ltd. (Mahyco), Mumbai, University of Agricultural Sciences (UAS), Dharwad and Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU), Coimbatore. Genetic Engineering Approval Committee, Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of India, New Delhi Available at: http://moef.nic.in/downloads/publicinformation/Report%20on%20Bt%20brinjal.pdf Sadashivappa, P and M. Qaim, (2009). Bt Cotton in India: Development of Benefits and the Role of Government Seed Price Interventions. AgBioForum, 12(2): 172-183. Shukla, V and L.B. Naik (1993). Agro-techniques of solanaceous vegetables, In Advances in Horticulture ', Vol. 5, Vegetable Crops, Part 1 (edited by K. L. Chadha and G. Kalloo). Malhotra Publishing House, New Delhi, p. 365 (sic). Series of Crop Specific Biology Documents, Biology of Brinjal. http://dbtbiosafety.nic.in/guidelines/brinjal.pdf Accessed on 7th January 2010, 20 CEE Centre for Environment Education Nehru Foundation for Development, Thaltej Tekra, Ahmedabad 380 054 - India Phone: (079) 2685 8002 - 09 Fax: (079) 2685 8010 Email: cee@ceeindia.org Website: www.ceeindia.org