If I am understanding this correctly, India has become the first country to ban genetically a modified crop on safety grounds. This, according to BBC. Here is a quote that’s making me feel like I live on a different planet: “Public sentiment is negative. It is my duty to adopt a cautious, precautionary, principle-based approach,” Mr Ramesh said. The precautionary principle is: you err on the side of safety. Apparently this puts production of all GMO crops in India on hold. I am not tracking the things that are happening for the first time as Chiron moves up on Neptune for the third and last time for this orbit — but we really have a fine example here. Here is the article, straight from the Beeb:
India has deferred the commercial cultivation of what would have been its first genetically modified (GM) vegetable crop due to safety concerns.
Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh said more studies were needed to ensure genetically modified aubergines [eggplants] were safe for consumers and the environment.
The GM vegetable has undergone field trials since 2008 and received approval from government scientists in 2009.
But there has been a heated public row over the cultivation of the GM crop.
The BBC’s Geeta Pandey, who was at the news conference in Delhi, says Mr Ramesh’s decision has put any cultivation of GM vegetables in India on hold indefinitely.
Gauri,
Even if your suspicion is correct, I would take heart all the same – so long as there’s no backpedalling later when nobody’s looking, of course. And given what you say, it will be important to keep paying attention to what happens next. Regardless of the real reason behind the new policy, India has taken a stand against the GM industry. That’s major. If they’re puting an altruistic spin on an ass-saving move, so be it. That’s politics. But if it holds and brings about a positive effect, who cares why they did it? It could be a very good case of the ends justifying the means.
Wow, it’s wonderful to hear of an official taking this issue as seriously as I do.
Pandora’s box is open with GM crops – we humans have absolutely no idea how messed up things could get.
Thanks for cool links.
Hi Eric,
As you know I’m from India (originally, now in US). I have done quite bit of research on this subject and I have even written about it on my blog.
Here’s the link, if anyone wants to read it:
http://www.beinformedjournal.com/beinformed-journal/2010/1/28/suicide-epidemic-among-farmers.html
The bottom line is, India’s agriculture problems are dire and in desperate need of reform. Indian farmers are committing suicide at the alarming rate of ONE EVERY 32 MINUTES. Most of this is because of financial problems that are directly due to using GM seeds, which the government has favored, and encouraged for more than two decades.
So, this whole thing about India banning GM crop all of sudden now, stinks of a publicity stunt.
I’m with Kyla 1,000%.
Spain cranks out GM foods to beat the band and the region I live in (Catalunya) is the country’s top producer. Pretty funny when you think of how well they’ve marketed Catalan food as the greatest gift to mankind; not so funny when you know what’s going into it. Would you want to eat a variety of tomato called “Long Life”?
I’ve lived here going on five years. When I first arrived – from a rabidly anti-GM region in Italy where the food was out of this world – I was shocked at what was being pawned off here as fresh produce. It’s inedible in the way that you can just tell something’s not right about it (yes, you can tell the difference). I was constantly complaining about the quality of food here and I didn’t exactly make friends. Once I learned the reach of the GM industry I took to buying from the farmers’ market. I look for non-uniform shapes and sizes and evidence of wildlife. If even a bug wouldn’t touch it, why would I?
Fresh produce is one thing, processed food is another. Because there’s no way to know if they contain GM ingredients, Greenpeace maintains country-specific lists of ‘safe’ vs. ‘non-safe’ processed food brands. In Spain it’s called the Guia Roja y Verde (Red & Green Guide); here’s the link: http://www.greenpeace.org/raw/content/espana/reports/gu-a-roja-y-verde.pdf. There used to be a U.S. version, called the Guide to True Foods, but I can’t for the life of me find it anymore on the Greenpeace website, US or international. Vanished into thin air. Worrying. IF someone can locate it and give the link here, that would be great.
Oh wow. This is so cool. India no less! Well, blessings on Minister Ramesh’s house, may he flourish and thrive for taking this stand.
yes it does feel like a different planet.