The Foundation for Biotechnology and Awareness (FBA) has urged the government to lift the moratorium on Bt brinjal and accept the recommendations of the Genetic Engineering Approval Committee (GEAC) which recommended its commercial release in 2009.
FBA, which consists of leading biotechnologists, also demanded that permission from state governments for field testing of biotech plants approved by the regulator should be withdrawn immediately. It also strongly opposed legal action being taken against the use of indigenous germplasm to develop indigenous biotech crops.
Both these constraints are acting as major impediments in the development of Indian agri biotech industry, they claimed. Once the Biotechnology Regulatory Authority of India is in place, following the passing of the BRAI Bill in Parliament, these controversial issues will be dealt by it.
But NGOs warn that emboldened state governments are not going to concede their right to grant permission to test BT products.
Suman Sahai, who heads Gene Campaign, warns, “Consulting state governments on field trials of GM crops is a must because, if permission is withdrawn, it will be a direct violation of the Constitution. Agriculture is on the concurrent list and every state government must have a say on this vital issue. In this age of decentralisation and panchayati raj, why will states accept that power be centralised in one authority?” Ms Sahai asked.
Scientists cited the examples of soyabean, corn, cotton and canola being cultivated in 19 developing and 11 developed nations as examples of how biotech crops conform to both biosafety and environmental norms.
They also said that the ambitious Food Security Bill will require procurement of over 65 million tonnes of food grain annually and that biotechnology will help meet the need.