Monthly newsletter of the South Asia Biosafety Program. Topics include: Bangladesh GM Food Safety Guidelines for public comment; BARI holds orientation and training for confined field trials of Bt Brinjal and late blight-resistant potato; DBT India published biology documents.

Monthly newsletter of the South Asia Biosafety Program. Topics include: Transgenic improvement of pigeonpea and chickpea; USDA contribution to R&D in Bangladesh; and Cream of the Web.

Monthly newsletter of the South Asia Biosafety Program. Topics include: Bangladesh National Institute of Biotechnology Act; Development of salt-tolerant rice; Benefits of Bt brinjal; and cream of the web.

Monthly newsletter of the South Asia Biosafety Program. Topics include: Biotechnology Research at the National Institute of Biotechnology, Bangladesh; Cream of the (Web) Crop: OECD-Biotrack; Gene Experts See Biotech Rice in Floodzones; Making Effective Use of Existing Data for Case-by-Case Assessments of Genetically Engineered Crops.

Monthly newsletter of the South Asia Biosafety Program. This month's issue is devoted to the SABP confined field trial study tour by Indian scientists to the United States.

Monthly newsletter of the South Asia Biosafety Program. Topics include: Biotechnology Research Activities in Bangladesh Rice Research Institute; Cream of the (Web) Crop: GMO Safety.

The debate on genetically modified (GM) brinjal variety continues to generate heat. Former managing director of Monsanto India, Tiruvadi Jagadisan, is the latest to join the critics of Bt brinjal, perhaps the first industry insider to do so.

NEW DELHI: With Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh's final decision on commercial cultivation of Bt Brinjal expected Wednesday, Indian scientists, politicians and environmental actitivists remain sharply divided over the issue of allowing the genetically modified vegetable to hit the market.

The CPI on Tuesday sought the Prime Minister's intervention to restrain Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh from announcing any decision favouring Bt Brinjal on Wednesday, saying the opposition of several state governments has not been considered.

As India decides on whether to approve its first genetically modified (GM) crop, three experts consider if GM offers a solution to the global food crisis or represents a threat to biodiversity and the future of agriculture.

HYDERABAD/BANGALORE: Even as Union environment minister Jairam Ramesh weathered slogan-shouting farmers, activists, consumers and scientists on the raging debate over Bt Brinjal in Bangalore on Saturday, the Andhra Pradesh government announced that it would not go for commercial cultivation of the vegetable and urged the Centre to defer its decision on the issue.

The Government's decision whether to allow or not allow commercial cultivation of Bt brinjal holds the key for further trials in genetically modified (GM) rice.

Bharat Krishak Samaj (BKS), a leading all-India organisation of farmers, has come out in support of genetically modified crops, saying their use will help cut down expenses on pesticides for better returns on yields.

The cutting-edge technology of Bt brinjal has had an unintended consequence. The public outrage that followed the regulatory clearance of the first ever GM food crop has forced environment minister Jairam Ramesh to adopt an innovation in public administration.

Almost every aspect concerning GM crops is under dispute, although a large part of the claims from both sides are exaggerated. Supporters of GM crops say that yields of crops are more than non-GM foods, while opponents deny this.

Bangalore -- Union Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh on Saturday lost his cool again in the last of the public consultations on the genetically modified Bt-Brinjal as he ordered removal of a protester, but later said he was tying to take a middle path on the controversial issue.

Chaos, anger, repartees and some scientific reasoning marked the seventh public hearing on Bt Brinjal here on Saturday with Union Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh

The controversy over Bt brinjal has brought the two political extremes — Leftist parties like the CPI and CPM, and Rightist organisations like the Swadeshi Jagran Manch — on one side.

The approval to genetically modified (Bt) brinjal seems to have been been given without adequately assessing long-term health risks, although with a stipulation that surveillance and long-term follow up should be conducted.

The controversy over the proposed introduction of genetically modified brinjal, also referred to as Bt brinjal, in India is making a big splash in the news.

CHANDIGARH: In the run-up to a visit by Union environment minister Jairam Ramesh to the city on Friday, a series of protests as well as whirl of debates are being carried out by those opposing popularization of Bt brinjal among Indian buyers.

BANGALORE: Foundation for Biotechnology Awareness And Education, a coalition of agricultural scientists, said commercialization of Bt Brinjal should be allowed immediately.

Union agriculture minister Sharad Pawar last week stood firm in his resolve to go ahead with commercially using Bt Brinjal.

As India's central government begins a series of public meetings across the country this month on the commercial release of genetically modified (GM) brinjal – or aubergine - in this country, activists and farmers' groups are mobilising to oppose such a plan.

Davao City -- Micronutrients are considered as "magic wands" as they are essential to growth, health, and wellness of all, especially the children and women. However, micronutrients deficiency is a global problem, contributing to world's widespread malnutrition and high rate of children and women's mortality.

After serving a mundane but essential multi-millennia function as a material for covering the Earth's post-Garden of Eden inhabitants, the plant's seeds may now be used to help feed folk, including malnourished millions in Asia and Africa.

HYDERABAD: International Chemicals major, DuPont, focuses its attention on developing hybrid varieties of rice at DuPont knowledge Centre (DKC) located in Hyderabad.

India okayed genetically modified cotton in 2002, its first tryst with genetically modified organisms (GMOs). Seven years later, the country is struggling to put in place a credible regulatory mechanism when it comes to edible GM crops.

New Delhi -- The genetically modified Bt Brinjal has been developed in compliance with international norms and experts evaluating it have found no danger in it, Minister of State for Environment and Forests Jairam Ramesh said here Tuesday.

“The GM technology cannot be avoided,” the Minister of State for Agriculture, Mr K V Thomas said, adding India cannot oppose the use of technology if it wants to increase yields and manage the present agricultural crisis.

NEW DELHI: In what is bound to raise the bar for the government to clear GM brinjal, the Supreme Court appointed observer on the GEAC has written to the environment ministry that his and two other members' dissenting voice was ignored while giving a hasty recommendation for the environmental release of the BT brinjal.