Two Andhra Pradesh based NGOs have demanded comprehensive scientific research into the impact of the Bt cotton cultivation on human, animal and soil health. They have advised the Government against relying on the Genetic Engineering Approval Committee (GEAC) for information and have also dismissed the biotech companies’ claims about the increase in yield after introduction of Bt cotton.  Read more...

Temporary UN ban on terminator technology under threat --

A UK based international development organisation Progressio has, in its latest report, criticised the UK and EU for not doing enough to prevent the rampant commercialisation of ‘Terminator’ seeds in the developing world. Biotech companies claim that 'Terminator'  technology would prevent contamination between GM and non-GM crops. But the Progressio report argues that if commercialised, Terminator would put an end to the practice of seed-saving, so essential to livelihood security of 1.4 billion of the world's poorest farmers who save and re-plant seeds from one year to the next to feed their families and earn a living. The highly controversial technology is currently under a temporary UN ban.    Read more...

Pakistan’s Punjab province to promote Bt cotton

The Punjab Agriculture Department in Pakistan has constituted two sub-committees for the promotion of Bt cotton in the province. The sub-committees will hold negotiations with Monsanto Pakistan to work out the modalities of their partnership with the Punjab government. They will also develop a regulatory regime and a process for approval of varieties.   Read more...

French legislators passed controversial  GMO bill

After being blocked once, the bill to regulate the cultivation of GM crops in France, was passed by French legislators  by 289 to 221. Environmentalists say that the bill  blurs the line between natural and GM foods to the detriment of farmers and consumers. Read more...

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