 "NGO alleges tests rigged to prove GM mustard by DU high yielding")
The variety has been developed by the Centre for Genetic Modification of Crop Plants (CGMCP) at Delhi University. The centre claims their transgenic seed, Dhara Mustard Hybrid (DMH-11), increases yields by nearly 25-30 per cent over existing varieties.
The developers, after conducting field trials had recently applied to the environment ministry for commercial release of the variety. When the news leaked of its being appraised secretively without the bio safety data being made public many environmental groups and RSS-affiliated Swadeshi Jagran Manch opposed the move. Consequently the ministry put the decision on hold.
The group, Coalition for GM free India, on Thursday disclosed that it had access to data from independent tests done by ICAR which support their claim. Sharad Pawar, a researcher who had been involved with the testing of DMH varieties under the National Dairy Development Board, was present at the group's media release and said the data was not in the public domain. He added that being part of the same research administration at Nagpur University helped him gain access to the data.
The NGO claimed that the GM mustard variety had been intentionally tested against old low productivity varieties in an unscientific fashion.
Between 2005 and 2010, the DMH-11 variety was tested against older varieties of mustard crop - Varuna, developed in 1975 and Kranti (1982). However, the NGO says it should have been tested against the superior variety of RL-1359, which was the benchmark variety of seeds mandated for all trials.
After 2010, the trials started using the RL-1359 variety for comparison but by then a newer variety called NRCDR-2 had been designated as the benchmark.
Deepak Pental, genetics professor and head of CGMCP, when contacted, told Business Standard that efforts were ongoing to defeat the introduction of GM crops in the country. On whether DMH-11 generated higher yields, he said yield growth was an ongoing process and seeds bearing greater yield has been developed by him since.
However, in its release the NGO said, "There are no results presented to claim that transgenic mustard hybrid is superior in seed yield against best available mustard hybrids and varieties used as national and zonal checks currently, and DMH-11 is shown superior only against old checks/comparators." Checks refer to benchmark seed varieties used for testing new ones.
Presenting data, the group said the developers had suppressed unfavourable data and findings besides not following statutory conditions and laid down scientific protocols.
The data shared by the coalition came from tests conducted by ICAR. The trials, held at eight locations across the country over four years, did not check the performance of DMH-11 against other mustard hybrids as is mandated but consistently against older varieties of the crops, said Kavita Kuruganti, Co-Convenor for the Coalition, presenting data from ICAR.
"Even then it was proved to have had only 9 per cent higher yield, on an average than one of the varieties. Compared with other extensively tested cultivars, GM mustard actually produces 10.4% to 27.5% lesser yields," Kuruganti added.
She also mentioned that under current guidelines from ICAR itself, no GM variety can be considered for further trials and promotion if it does not produce at least 10 per cent higher yield.
The fact that funds used for developing the mustard came from the NDDB and the Department of Biotechnology was reason enough to bring the issue to a public eye, said Pawar.
