| Genes in a twist | 30-OCT-09 |
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| It can be no one’s case that the greatest of caution should not be used while evaluating the safety of genetically modified (GM) crops or that we be blinded to the impact of these crops on reducing bio-diversity. But there has to be a limit to everything. Nine years after the gene-altered brinjal was first developed, and after over five years of the country’s biotech regulator scrutinising test reports of field trials, Bt-brinjal is still far from being commercialised. Bt-brinjal, which carries the insect-killer gene, cry1Ac, borrowed from a common soil bacteria (Bacillus thuringiensis,Bt) has been cleared by the Genetic Engineering Approval Committee (GEAC), the apex body for approving GM products. However, under pressure from the anti-biotech lobby, the environment ministry wants a fresh public debate on Bt-brinjal before finally approving it. |
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| Farmers' resounding no to Bt brinjal | 22-OCT-09 |
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| It was the biggest line-up of farmers’ organisations and they came to Delhi from all parts of the country with one clear message: they did not want to grow the genetically modified (GM) version of one of the country’s most popular vegetable, the brinjal. The leaders looked mild enough but they said they would resort to “direct action ” if their voice was not heard and they said they represented 200 million farmers in the major brinjal-growing states. |
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| Letters: Monster food | 12-OCT-09 |
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| This refers to Dr Usha Barwale Zehr’s letter (July 31) on my Q&A (‘GM food can cause the biggest health crisis’, July 18). Zehr has challenged some of my assertions, but these are incorrect. She says that all reports on the studies on the Bt Brinjal were signed by the institutes — this can easily be verified from the official files of Bt brinjal (that were on the Ministry of Environment website in India). As stated in my report, they were not signed in the first official pages by the researchers. It is also well explained in the report that the insecticide in the Bt brinjal is not Cry 1Ac but a chimeric protein. So the assertion that the protein which is in the Bt brinjal plant is the exact protein that got tested in the toxicity studies is incorrect. |
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| Ready for Bt-brinjal | 25-MAY-09 |
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| Amidst unrelenting opposition from environmentalists and consumer activists, the gene-altered hybrid of a widely consumed vegetable, the brinjal or egg plant, developed by the Maharashtra Hybrid Seeds Company (Mahyco), seems set to get the government’s approval for commercial cultivation. |
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| Monsanto to introduce nextgen cotton tech | 24-APR-09 |
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| Mahyco-Monsanto Biotech, the 50:50 joint venture of US biotech major Monsanto and Maharashtra Hybrid Seed Co (Mahyco), is looking at introducing roundup ready flex (RRF) technology for its Bollgard II cotton variety in the Indian market soon. |
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| Bt brinjal may be released commercially by year-end | 15-APR-09 |
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| Bt brinjal, the country’s first genetically modified (GM) edible product, is in the final stage of getting a clearance from the Genetic Engineering Approval Committee (GEAC), the biotechnology regulatory body of the Government of India. |
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| Bollgard cotton brings higher yield, incomes | 08-NOV-08 |
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| Higher yields, higher incomes and a lifestyle makeover are some of the things that about 235 farmers in the district are experiencing after cultivation of Bollgard Bt cotton here. |
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| Cotton farmers take a fancy to Bollgard-II | 03-NOV-08 |
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| Adoption of the Bollgard-II version of the genetically modified (GM) cotton has increased four-fold since its commercial launch in 2006. Improved yield and better control of pests have resulted in the |
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| Campaign against Bt brinjal picks up | 27-OCT-08 |
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| A campaign is gaining momentum against the introduction of genetically modified food crops, particularly Bt brinjal, the first-ever transgenic food crop, which is now undergoing trials. |
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| Bt cotton acreage rises 20% | 23-SEP-08 |
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| Bollgard Bt cotton is India’s first biotech crop technology approved for commercialisation in India in 2002.
Indian farmers seem to have taken to Bacillus thurengiensis (Bt) cotton seeds in a |
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| Monsanto to dabble in pulses, wheat | 26-NOV-07 |
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| Monsantos business strategy for India is not just confined to genetically modified cotton as the biotech major is also open to look at key grains such as wheat and pulses. Monsanto is the worlds |
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| Bt cotton acreage up 130% in K`taka | 26-NOV-07 |
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| Mahyco Monsanto Biotech (MMB) India Ltd has announced that Bollgard cotton acreage has risen 130 per cent from 2006, in Karnataka, to 2.92 lakh acres in 2007.
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| Monsanto to launch new cotton variant | 16-NOV-07 |
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| US-based biotech major Monsanto is planning to launch a new hybrid version of cotton in India for commercial cultivation by 2011, notwithstanding the criticism over its existing products in the |
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