News on Bt Brinjal (eggplant) + Farm Minister On GM Crops

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TNAU plans field trial of transgenic version of Bt brinjal http://www.financialexpress.com/fe_full_story.php?content_id=141973 ASHOK B SHARMA Posted online: Saturday, September 30, 2006 at 0007 hours IST NEW DELHI, SEPT 29: Even before the controversy over the proposed field trials of Bt brinjal hybrids developed by Mahyco seed company, to be resolved, the Tamil Nadu Agriculture University (TNAU) has planned to go ahead with its programme for the transgenic version of the same crop. Speaking to FE, TNAU’s centre for molecular biology, director, P Balasubramanian said, “We have chosen four elite brinjal genotypes keeping regional preference of brinjal types in the mind. These elite genotypes - CO2, KKM1, MDU1 and PLR1 - are backcrossed to ingress cry 1 Ac gene. Currently, we are

generating BC3F1 seeds. We propose to conduct field trials in early 2007. When these lines are approved for commercial cultivation, these lines will probably be the first GM edible crop. It will be the first of its kind which is derived out of public-private partnership in India.” Balasubramanian’s words are not clear whether TNAU’s Bt brinjal would be the first food crop to be approved in the country or the transgenic brinjal hybrids developed by Mahyco. The proposed field trials of Mahyco’s Bt brinjal has entered into a controversy and the Genetic Engineering Approval Committee (GEAC) has set up an inhouse panel to review the company’s claims. The NGOs too have set up a panel of independent scientists to study the hazards connected with Bt brinjal hybrids. Bt technology of the US seed multinational, Monsanto, was transferred to the public sector institutes in India under the

Agricultural Biotechnology Support Programme-II funded by US Agency for International Development (USAID) and led by Cornell University. TNAU, University of Agricultural Sciences, Dharwad, Indian Institute of Vegetable Research, Lucknow, and Mahyco are a part of the ABSP-II network. TNAU has plans to develop tobacco streak virus resistant groundnut, late blight resistant potato and drought and salinity tolerant rice. According to government sources, a number of transgenic crops are in the pipeline like Bt rice, leaf curl resistant and delayed ripening tomato, potato with enhanced levels of essential amino acids, GM mustard and bollworm resistant pigeaonpea. The chairman of Agricultural Scientists Recruitment Board, CD Mayee who has been recently elected as a full board member of ISAAA claimed the succes of Bt cotton in the country. The regulatory affairs officer of

Monsanto, Roy L Fuchs claimed that Bt cotton has covered an area of 8.5 million hectare in the current season across the country.-- Pls see (from para 3) what Indian agriculture minister says about GM Crops.... No duty free wheat import after Dec 31 http://www.financialexpress.com/fe_full_story.php?content_id=141936 ASHOK B SHARMA ECONOMY BUREAU Posted online: Saturday, September 30, 2006 at 0000 hours IST NEW DELHI, SEPT 29: Agriculture minister Sharad Pawar on Friday denied any possibility of extending the concession of duty-free import of wheat by private trade beyond the scheduled date of December 31, 2006. He also said the government would not import any more wheat beyond the contracted 5.5 million tonne. The quantities of wheat contracted on government account were arriving as per schedule, he said. Inaugurating a conference on agricultural biotechnology organised by the International Life Sciences Institute, the minister stressed the need for researches and development of transgenic crops. He said, “Biotechnology can add value to Indian agriculture. If agriculture is considered the engine of the Indian economy, then biotechnology is only one such tool that can help reduce poverty, improve food security, reduce malnutrition and improve the livelihoods of the rural poor if used in a responsible manner.” He, however, said, “Biotechnology should not be taken as a substitute of the conventional plant breeding methods, rather it should be treated as a

supplementary tool available to the scientists for crop improvement - quantity as well as quality of the produce needs to be enhanced.” Calling for a gene revolution in the country, the minister said according to the global data generated so far, genetically modified (GM) foods were no different than their conventional counterparts in terms of health and environment safety. However, confidence needed to be built among the consumers than GM foods were safe and eco-friendly.---