Nasar comments briefly on Bt Brinjal

COMMENT on

1. Group hails PM’s take on Bt Brinjal

SATURDAY, 25 FEBRUARY 2012 00:32 PNS | NEW DELHI

The Pioneer

http://www.dailypioneer.com/nation/45400-group-hails-pms-take-on-bt-brinjal.html

and

2. Manmohan blaming NGOs for Bt brinjal moratorium criticised

THE HINDU

HYDERABAD, February 28, 2012

http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/article2943368.ece

Hon'ble Prime Minister is right in supporting the "use of genetic engineering to increase the productivity of our agriculture”. No one denies "the need for science-based decisions on agri-biotechnology" either. 

Regrettably, however, the case of Bt brinjal satisfies neither "science-based " nor need-based decision for its commercial release. A biopiracy case under BD Act is pending decision by a SBB and NBA on court orders. Let Bt lobbyists kindly inform us about the locus/loci of 'their' cry gene/genes on brinjal chromosomes. Does their 'panacea-of-all FSB destruction' gene jump within and out of brinjal genome? Why, despite being a Bt crop, it should require insecticide sprays? What is the fate of the surviving pest infesting a Bt crop? And, so on. 

Why do the 'owners' of Bt brinjal shy away from labeling 'their' products? Are they prepared to pay compensation for contamination of other than their 'own' genome or metagenome? 

NO to Bt brinjal of Monsanto-Mahyco for now!

S.K.T. Nasar

Posted on: Mar 15, 2012