State mum on nod for GM crop trials

16 firms/institutions have been allowed to conduct experiments by panel

The government’s non-chalance over the issue has raised concerns in many quarters. It has been over two months since the Genetic Engineering Approval Committee (GEAC) gave its approval to 16 companies and research institutions to conduct open air/field trials on 13 crops and 38 Genetically Modified Organisms in Karnataka.

Food processing bodies seek ban on GM crops

Not to accept such crops from this month

The Kerala Roller Flour Millers Association and the All Kerala Bread Manufacturers Association have called for an immediate ban on open air releases of genetically modified (GM) food crops.

The call comes in the wake of reports that the controversial Biotechnology Regulatory Authority of India (BRAI) Bill will be tabled in the coming winter session of Parliament.  

State nod for GM crop trial hits research, says Biotech body

With the Genetic Engineering Approval Committee (GEAC) making it mandatory for the agri bio-tech companies to get no-objection certificate (NOC) from the states prior to the launch of any trial of GM crops has been termed as ‘regressive’ by a consortium Association of Bio-tech Led Enterprises - Agriculture Group (ABLE-AG) consisting of 12 companies has also said that getting nod from the states has put back research in genetically modified (GM) crops by many years.

GM crops have not lived up to their promises, say NGOs

Genetic engineering has failed to increase the yield of any food crop but has vastly increased the use of chemicals and the growth of “superweeds,” according to a report by 20 Indian, southeast Asian, African and Latin American food and conservation groups representing millions of people.