Wednesday, December 30, 2009

We have hope in you Mr Jairam Ramesh

Greetings from "My Right To Safe Food"

Now this analytical article below appears to make sense as following my much awaited meeting with Mr Jairam Ramesh on 23rd Dec 2009 in New Delhi, it left me wondering what the outcome of these intended stakeholder meets in a three and half hour dialogue each, in 7 states will bring about?

When I questioned and voiced grave concerns on Bt approval as a natural farmer on what my rights would be, should my fields be contaminated by the GM seed? "Why such daring rush to approve Bt Brinjal when the lives of over a billion were at stake"? He said lets get all the demons out of the critiques of GM foods heads. It may not be that bad after all. When I stated that US FDA was taken to court by one Mr Steve Drucker and 44,000 pages of scientific evidence poured out by their own scientists where research on safety was in question, this was kept hidden in the closet for reasons known to the Biotech industry and governments, he instantly surfed the net and found it, then requested his PA Rahul to make a note of this.

I urged him that if it has taken Monsanto probably 15-20 years to invent the GM seed after much research, then why not take another 10-15 years to conduct and invest in human public safety tests and declare it then safe for release? The answer was "Why wait for 15 years to pass by, the country may lose out on such progressive technology. We have to get it done and over with, why leave it pending!"

When I continued to pin this question "Why such hasty approvals, Sir?" Who said I am approving? First, Sangita please get me "The Tests to Establish Human Safety under two categories DONE and NOT DONE". Upon reciept, I will ensure we look into this and carry out the necessary tests to establish its health safety. To that I was much relieved, for in it, I saw a ray of hope and told him so. I said the nation would be deeply grateful, he would be always remembered as a wise and just Minister, should he consider the welfare of the public health of all us masses and that of our environment.

Being an optimist to the core, I sincerely hope Mr Jairam Ramesh stands to his word and pray he has enormous strength of conviction to stand for what is consciously right and not be swayed nor succumb by peer/industry pressure.

We look up to him for not letting our nation of unaware citizens down.

In solidarity

Sangita Sharma

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Bt brinjal: Jairam Ramesh trying to legitimise the GEAC fraud by Devinder Sharma
Thursday, December 31, 2009

India's Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh. He is trying to cover-up the lapses on the part of GEAC in according environment clearance to India's first genetically modified food crop -- Bt brinjal

In what appears to be a massive cover-up operation for the scientific swindle perpetrated in the case of the controversial approval granted by the Genetic Engineering Approval Committee (GEAC) to India's first poisonous food crop -- Bt brinjal, Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh is now trying to legitimise the fraud.

By announcing a series of stakeholder consultations at 7 locations across the country, Jairam Ramesh is simply trying to deflect attention from the more pressing need to open up the fraudulent manner in which the GEAC granted approval to Bt brinjal. By holding stakeholder consultations, he is deliberately trying to bury the scandal.

A news report in Business Standard (Ramesh to begin talks on Bt brinjal in January: http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/ramesh-to-begin-talksbt-brinjal-in-january/381153/) says, and I quote: During his month-long tour, Ramesh would seek views from scientists, agriculture experts, farmers’ organisations, consumer groups and non-government organisations (NGOs) on the report submitted by the Genetic Engineering Approval Committee (GEAC) on Bt brinjal in October.

The committee has recommended that Bt brinjal is safe for environment release in India. In accordance with the event-based approval mechanism, GEAC may approve all the Bt Brinjal hybrids and varieties containing event EE-I developed by Mahyco, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, and field tested so far.\

Informed sources told Business Standard that Ramesh had already announced that the proposed consultations aim at arriving at a careful decision in the public and national interest. The decision with regard to allowing Bt Brinjal for human consumption would be made after the consultation.

Therefore, the need for prescribing additional studies needs to be carried out on a case-by-case basis and consideration of data generated during the biosafety assessment. According to GEAC, raising the bar of the regulatory process based on hypothetical concerns and apprehensions would be highly detrimental for research and development in the area of agricultural biotechnology, especially for public sector institutions and the benefits to the society at large.

If you read the above paras carefully, you realise that the Ministry for Environment & Forests (MoEF) appears satisfied with its own regulatory process. This is nothing surprising, knowing that each Ministry tries to protect its actions (and officials), and it was primarily for the same reasons probably that the former Chief Minister of Haryana, Mr Om Prakash Chautala, did not initiate any action against its then Director General of Police S P S Rathore, who is now being charged with abetment of suicide of the Chandigarh-based minor girl, Ruchika.

I see a similarity because I think Jairam Ramesh is also trying to provide a cover-up for the wrong doings of the GEAC. Instead of holding a public dialogue on the dirty games played in the name of scientific regulation, he is very cleverly shifting the onus onto stakeholder consultations, which primarily means there was nothing wrong with the regulatory process.

This is where he goes utterly wrong. The report of the Expert Committee-II was a complete sham.

I am aware that Jairam Ramesh is basically trying to defend his Ministry's reply to an earlier Parliament question, which in my opinion was simply a part of the cover-up operation. If if you have missed the report, here it is: Indian Parliament misled by Ministry for Environment on Bt brinjal issue http://devinder-sharma.blogspot.com/2009/12/indian-parliament-misled-by-ministry.html

Bt brinjal approval was rigged. Jairam Ramesh cannot turn a blind eye to the charges made against the GEAC (and the EC-II). By doing so, he is simply playing the role Mr Chautala allegedly played in the Rathore case in Haryana (for readers outside India, I suggest you google SPS Rathore and you will get to know why the nation is outraged at what this former cop did to a minor girl who later committed suicide).

Like the public outcry is now bringing justice to Ruchika, the regulatory authorities have to be made answerable to the people. Like what the Haryana police (and government at that time) did to protect its Director General of Police, the MoEF cannot provide a cover-up to the wrong doings of the GEAC. Each and every action of the GEAC has to be publicly scrutanised. After all, the GEAC decisions impacts the masses.

If Jairam Ramesh has missed seeing the communications pointing to the unscientific manner in which the EC-II accorded environmental clearance to Bt brinjal, I draw his attention to my blog: India's GM scandal: Bt brinjal approval rigged (http://devinder-sharma.blogspot.com/2009/11/indias-gm-scandal-bt-brinjal-approval.html) These have to be responded to. He cannot simply dismiss it.

The MoEF has to first provide for an independent public scrutiny of the GEAC report, before any stakeholder consultations can be held across the country. I see no reason why Jairam Ramesh cannot hold a public audit of the GEAC report? Why can't he appoint a three member panel (a panel comprising distinguishing personalities) that should review the decision of the GEAC? And why not?

There should be a provision for a strict punishment for the GEAC members, if the panel feels that the approval process was rigged. I would suggest slapping Section 305 (abetment to a crime) against the GEAC chairman and his team. The time has come to hold the scientific regulatory system accountable.

Just for record, I draw Jairam Ramesh's attention to a statement arrived at by some of the most distinguished scientists: "Bt brinjal has not been properly tested for health or environmental safety. In feeding trials, numerous significant differences were noted compared to the best corresponding non-Bt controls.

Bt brinjal appears to contain 15% less kcal/100 g, has a different alkaloïd content, and 16-17 mg/kg Bt insecticide toxin poorly characterized for side effects, and produced by the plant genetically modified for this. In animals fed this GMO, several parameters were effected including blood cells or chemistry, with significant differences according to the period of measurement during the study or the sex of the animal. These include prothrombin (blood clotting) time, biochemical parameters such as total bilirubin (an indicator of liver health).

Alkaline phosphatase was also changed, as well as feed consumption and weight gain; milk production in cows was 10- 14% higher. There was more milk and more roughage dry matter intake as if the animals were treated by a hormone. Rats GM-fed had diarrhoea, higher water consumption, liver weight decrease as well as relative liver to body weight ratio decrease".

Interestingly, the EC-II treats these glaring health impacts as biologically insignificant, which even a biotechnology student will disagree with. How can the MoEF brush these shocking details under the carpet? Doesn't it point to the real motive behind the approval process?

And now let us look at how cleverly the GEAC has designed the consultation process. My information is that Jairam Ramesh has simply okayed what the GEAC proposed.

1. The consultations will be held in 7 cities: the first public consultation in Kolkata on January 13, followed by Bhubaneshwar on January 16, Ahmedabad on January 19, Hyderabad (January 22), Bangalore (January 23), Nagpur (January 27) and finally at Chandigarh on January 30. Why at these seven cities only? To this, Jairam Ramesh replies that these are the areas where brinjal cultivation is maximum.

The justification being proposed for these locations is flawed, and therefore smacks of an ulterior motive. Bt brinjal is a genetically modified food crop, which will be allowed for commercial sale after what Jairam Ramesh will gather from these consultations. This is simply a wrong approach.

Being the first genetically modified food crop, any assessment for its approval should be based on what the consumers have to say. The consultations should be therefore held in metros like Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, Bangalore, Ludhiana, Guwahati, Lucknow, and for that matter in all the state headquarters.

2. The consultation process itself is a joke. Each of the consultation will begin at 12 noon, and finish by 1530. In just three and half hours, Jairam Ramesh is wanting people to register their views. Isn't that a farce in the name of stakeholder consultation? Who are you trying to befool, Mr Jairam Ramesh?

3. The ICAR has already given its approval for Bt brinjal. We also know that the GEAC has only examined the data provided by the GM companies. Which means that the regulatory process has taken into consideration (and has also upheld) what the scientists and the industry had to say. So why bring the scientists and industry again into the stakeholder consultations? Isn't that an effort to scuttle the limited process?

Instead of asking the Centre for Environment & Education (CEE) to hold these consultations, I suggest you hand over the entire case to Central Bureau of Investigations (CBI). This scientific fraud must be exposed, and the guilty punished, for the sake of welfare and health of the billion-plus people.

Sunday, December 13, 2009

Feedback and Publicity following the public debates and lectures on GM foods in Bangalore - Dec 2009

Greetings from My Right to Safe Food"

Following the series of public debates and lectures on Food security & GM Foods which commenced from 4th Dec in Bangalore onwards, please read on....

4th Dec & 5th December 2009. -‘Be the Change’ Conference on Food, Health and Climate Change, the conference focused on the importance of becoming aware of our right to good safe food, steered by Seetha Ananthasivan, Director, Bhoomi Network. The conference was splendid. Organised with such finesse, fine attention to detail, be it in content and design it brought together powerful speakers with heads of educational institutes, teachers, educators, students, NGO's and lot others touching a deep inner chord of wanting to make that little difference and be the change. The support extended by Seetha and her team in a signature appeal to our Prime Minister " My Right to Safe Food - Our Right to Feed our children GM-Free Safe Food" is truly noteworthy.

4th Dec - “GM Crops in India-Hero or Villain? You Decide,’’ organised by the Bangalore International Centre, news related to this event was sent earlier.

5th Dec - Lumiere, Nature's partner is the first organic multi-cuisine restaurant launched in Marathalli, Bangalore, Inaugurated by Mr Devinder Sharma. Lumiere promotes safe holistic foods and takes great pride in growing organic vegetables and cereals. Mr Manjunath P R, and Mr Ashok masterminds behind this exquisite organic restaurant have set a new trend and precedent for others to follow in the standards of fine dining. Behind the scenes, i had the good fortune to witness the concerted tireless efforts taken by Mr Manjunath to ensure all ingredients that were not grown in his farms were outsourced from safe food growers, marginal farmers and like by stringently following the fair trade practices. The ambiance and decor in Lumiere reflected the painstaking efforts of tribal arts holistically portrayed by Mrs Nalini, an art activist whose humble demeanor was most touching. The well equipped kitchen dishing out aromas of delicate flavoured food, freshly baked breads and cakes was such a rare treat. My joy has no bounds. For once, i can visit a restaurant without having to worry where my oil, veggies, dairy and poultry produce and more comes from! Hope Lumiere ignites a chain of safe food cuisines throughout India.

7th Dec - The next public debate was "Genetically Modified (GM) Food Crop: How does this matter to a common man? was held at the Institute for Agricultural Technologies (IAT) at Bangalore on Dec 7, Organised by Civic, a Bangalore-based NGO. This charged interactive debate exceeded time frames due to interest ignited by the panel of speakers to consumers was made possible thanks to the dedicated efforts of Kathayani Chamaraj, Harish Poovaiah and Asha Kilaru of CIVIC.

7th Dec - A stimulating lecture by Devinder Sharma on “FOOD SECURITY AND GENETIC ENGINEERING IN AGRICULTURE” addressing IPR students was kindly organised by Dr Ramakrishna of the National Law School. Followed by the documentary film "Poison on the Platter". The impact of this brought together a group of concerned students... coming forward to carry the message of safe foods.

8th Dec - Thanks to Sr Albina, a dynamic and progressive principal of Mount Carmel College, my alma mator who gave us the privilege of addressing over 2000 students and faculty in a packed auditorium. “FATE OF FOOD” – “DO WE NEED GM FOODS?”followed by the film Poison on the Platter. Awakening these students on GM issues brought together yet another charged youth group, wishing to take the stride to stand up for their rights on safe foods. Faculty member Vimala, Head of Zoology extended warm support. Young Rithika who came charging out of the auditorium seeing our departure with a list of 28 core group students to strengthen the movement was most heartening.

These intense debates to give our Bangalore consumers informed choices and interviews carried with such ease by Devinder Sharma packed in so short a time frame was achieved thanks to allocation of his time, out of his hectic schedule.

All this and more, has given us further impetus to continue in our endeavor and not allow GM foods into our food chain. Young Pavithra Pasan, a final year biotech student volunteering at Ishana farms is in the process of finalising action plans drawing together all concerned groups from each of the lectures and debates attended.

Given the limited time frames, we will strive hard for our Bangalore voices to be heard by our Prime Minister, Sonia Gandhi and Jairam Ramesh.

In solidarity

Sangita Sharma
http://myrighttosafefood.blogspot.com/

Please find below the following news items covering by the respective media.

http://www.hindu.com/2009/12/08/stories/2009120861450400.htm

‘Genetically modified food crops will not improve productivity’
Staff Reporter


— Photo: Bhagya Prakash K.
(From left) Narayan Reddy, organic farmer; Devinder Sharma, chairman of the Forum for Biotechnology and Food Security; T.M. Manjunath, former director of Monsanto Research; and Ramanjini Gowda, Head of the Department of Biotechnology, UAS, Bangalore, at a public discussion in Bangalore on Monday.

BANGALORE: Expressing reservations on allowing commercial cultivation of Bt brinjal in the country, panellists at a public discussion stated that genetically modified (GM) crops would not improve productivity as claimed by some. They also urged the public to raise their voice against GM food crops, as it was in their best interests.

At a public discussion on “Genetically modified food: how does this matter to a common man,” organised here by CIVIC, chairman of the Forum for Biotechnology and Food Security Devinder Sharma said that introduction of GM crops might reduce crop loss to a certain extent, but would not increase productivity.

Stating that the global food production was sufficient, Dr. Sharma said that it was sufficient to feed 11 billion people, whereas six billion people inhabit the earth. “The argument in favour of introduction of GM food crops should not revolve around linking increased productivity and hunger,” he said. While there had been no human clinical trial conducted with respect to GM foods, no medical essay was available to treat any possible impact on genes, Dr. Sharma added.

He also said that agricultural scientists in India had been catering to the corporates than the public.

Why brinjal?

“If food security was an issue behind introduction of GM food crops, then why was brinjal chosen though it is not a staple diet? Why not pulses or cereals?” Narayan Reddy, a national award winning organic farmer questioned. He pointed out that a family used just about a kg of brinjal a week.

Bt brinjal may be resistant to fruit and borer disease, but not to many others. The introduction of GM food crops may create a monopoly situation, and farmers would not be able to purchase seeds, Dr. Reddy said.

“The Government should look into the foodgrains that were being lost in the FCI godowns if it wants to address the issue of hunger.” The problem in India was not about scarcity, but about wastage, he added.

However, justifying the introduction of GM food crops, the former director of Monsanto Research T.M. Manjunath said that research had shown that GM food crops had shown reduction in losses due to pests. Stating that Bt. cotton had become popular among the farmers, he said that from being a cotton importer India was now exporting it.

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‘Propagating GM crops a corporate ploy’

Express News ServiceFirst Published : 08 Dec 2009 05:02:00 AM IST


BANGALORE:
‘‘Scientists have become pawns at the hands of the corporates '' said noted agricultural scientist and food, trade policy expert Devinder Sharma.

While speaking at a public discussion on `` Genetically Modified (GM) Food Crop: How does this matter to a common man? organised by NGO CIVIC at Institution of Agricultural Technologists (IAT) on Monday, Devinder Sharma said, agricultural scientists in the country need to take responsibility for the farmer suicides as it is because of their faulty science that they have to commit suicide, he said.Devinder Said, contrary to what the corporates and scientists are telling us, there is no shortage of food in the country.On the other hand, India has produced around 65 million tonnes of surplus food in the year 2003.He said, 40 years back we were deceived into believing that green revolution will solve the country's farmers' problems and will make the Indian farmer rich.But he said, according to the National Survey Sample of 2004, the average monthly income of farmer's is a meagre Rs 2,115.

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3. http://www.deccanherald.com/content/40075/scientists-have-become-pawns-corporates.html

Their role in promotion of GM crops flayed
‘Scientists have become pawns of corporates’
Bangalore, Dec 7, DH News Service:

Agriculture scientists came in sharp criticism for their role in promoting genetically modified crops, at a public debate here on Thursday.


The debate with the theme “What Genetically Modified (GM) food crops mean to the common man” organised by CIVIC, a not-for profit organisation saw speakers charging agriculture scientists becoming pawns of corporates selling BT products.

The debate organised by the CIVIC, a not-for-profit organisation, had academicians and farmers discuss the raging issue of BT products, all set to flood the Indian markets.

Narayan Swamy, a farmer who used to produce BT cotton, said agriculturists like himself were at the mercy of corporates who could raise the prices of seeds as they wished. Such arbitrariness was now forcing agriculturists back to organic farming, he said.

Another speaker, Dr Devinder Sharma said: “For 40 years since the Green Revolution, agriculture scientists have been misleading the general public on the merits of GM crops. Their claims of helping the farmers have fallen short of assuring anybody of the validity of these products.” Sharma shared the figures of average income of a Indian farmer coming to only Rs 2,115 as per the NSS data of 2002-03.

He held farm scientists responsible for the current failure of cotton crops in the country. “The figures speak for themselves. Cotton production in the past four years is at its lowest this year,” he said.

He argued the only solution provided by the scientists to the problems of Green Revolution was another “Green Revolution” for enhancing yields.

Countering Sharma, Dr T M Manjunath, who was earlier associated with GM seeds producer Monsanto, said people who opposed the GM crops had not understood the meaning of BT and biotechnological advances in science. “As per the figures provided by the Government of India, cotton production has tripled since 1950-51. It is only due to BT cotton that it has been possible for India to become an exporter in the product from being an importer prior to the Green Revolution,” he said.

Sunday, December 6, 2009

Bt Brinjal tests inadequate: How safe is it? Rupashree Nanda / CNN-IBN

Greetings from "My Right to Safe Food"

Following the public debate at BIC 4th Dec 6.30pm, please find the a brief news report that appeared in New Indian Express. Public debates continue, to give consumers informed choices. Tomorrow 7th Dec, we proceed to the National Law School 9.30am and there after for a debate at IAT at 3pm. Please spread the message if you are truly concerned about the welfare of our children, health and environment.

http://www.expressbuzz.com/edition/story.aspx?Title=%60Corporates+behind+GM+Crop&artid=S8bwIGHAgLk=&SectionID=Qz/kHVp9tEs=&MainSectionID=wIcBMLGbUJI=&SectionName=UOaHCPTTmuP3XGzZRCAUTQ==&SEO=

`Corporates behind GM Crop'
Express News Service
05 Dec 2009 07:32:37 AM IST


BANGALORE: “Corporates are not interested to solve the food problem, instead they are hungry for profit,” said noted agricultural scientist and food, trade policy expert Devinder Sharma at the public interest debate “GM Crops in India-Hero or Villain? You Decide,’’ organised by the Bangalore International Centre on Friday. Sharma said that to understand the GM issue, one needs to know the politics of it first, where the whole agenda has been driven by corporates.He said, “We have been made to believe the country’s food requirement will shoot up, hence we need to go for GM technology, as it is assumed to increase the yield. This is completely false.” India has produced around 65 million tonnes of surplus food in the year 2003.Hence, he said, all this talk of food prices rising due to food shortage is an utter lie created by the traders. He said, it is a shame that scientists at the Indian Council of Agricultural Science are actually working for the corporate lobbies.Narayanan, MD, Metahelix Life Sciences and task force member of agricultural biotechnology, countered Sharma, saying in the next 15 years, India needs to produce 50 million tonnes of rice. He said with GM crops, the target could be met.

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This is the second part of the CNN IBN Exclusive story on Bt Brinjal Expert Committee...This story apparently played several times yesterday and many of us might have missed it. What the story does not dwell upon is what now appears to be a strategic decision on the part of the regulators - to move away from the January mandate given to the Expert Committee when the sub-committee was first announced, to what it actually majorly focused on: on compliance with guidelines and not on establishing safety!

The Chair of the expert committee, is heard admitting in this interview:

"Genetically Engineered food products will not be equal to the non-genetically engineered food products. That's for sure. Now, how much damage, we do not know at this stage"!

Please pass this around widely....As concerned citizens and groups, write immediately to Mr Jairam Ramesh straightaway, asking for an immediate withdrawal of the report - jairam@vsnl.com and jairam@sansad.nic.in, mosef@nic.in. Phone/Fax No.: 011-24361727, 23463958 ; 24362222 (fax). Mark copies to Prime Minister, Phone: 011-23018939/23011156;
Fax: 011-23015603, 011-23019545, 011-23016857, 011-23014255, Email:pmosb@pmo.nic.in, pmindia@pmindia.nic.in, manmohan@sansad.nic.in and Ms Sonia Gandhi, Chairperson, UPA at Phone: 011-23014161; 011-23012656 Fax: 011-23018651; 011-23017047; Email: 10janpath@vsnl.net, soniagandhi@sansad.nic.in

Just one line saying "BT BRINJAL CLEARED UNDER INFLUENCE OF PRESSURE & VESTED INTERESTS; SAFETY OF BT BRINJAL UNSURE AS PER THE EXPERT COMMITTEE CHAIR HIMSELF. WITHDRAW THE EC2 REPORT AND THROW OUT THE APPLICATION FOR COMMERCIALISATION OF BT BRINJAL IMMEDIATELY" should do.

(The earlier story link is at: http://ibnlive.in.com/news/controversy-continues-over-bt-brinjal-approval/106190-3.html)

http://ibnlive.in.com/news/bt-brinjal-tests-inadequate-how-safe-is-it/106477-3.html

CNN-IBN EXCLUSIVE


Bt Brinjal tests inadequate: How safe is it?

Rupashree Nanda / CNN-IBN
Fri, Dec 04, 2009 at 17:50, Updated on Fri, Dec 04, 2009 at 19:26 in India section

In October, an Expert Committee gave its approval to Bt Brinjal. Now not just activists or dissenters, even the chairman of that expert group concedes that necessary tests were not done. And without them, at this stage, we simply do not know whether Bt Brinjal is safe or not. CNN-IBN's Rupashree Nanda with this exclusive report.

Please click on the video link to hear Arjula Reddy speak to the correspondent, Rupashree Nanda.

http://ibnlive.in.com/videos/106477/bt-brinjal-tests-inadequate-how-safe-is-it.html

Wednesday, December 2, 2009

Public debate on GM foods in Bangalore

Greetings from " My Right to Safe Food"

“Right to choose safe food is a fundamental right of consumers in a democracy. Consumers must have informed choices.

To this effect, we have initiated a series of public debates on GM foods from 4th Dec 6pm onwards.

First interactive platform has been provided by BIC, a TERI initiative,
Please see their invite below, should anyone wish to register, please call 25359680 as the seating capacity is quite limited. It is First come First basis only.

Second initiative is courtesy The National Law School - 7th Dec 9.30am at their campus see invite below

Third, is courtesy CIVIC, organised at the IAT( queens road) on 7th Dec 3pm

Fourth, at Mount Carmels College on the 8th Dec 11.30am

Please join us and invite your network to understand the "Fate of our Food"

In solidarity

Sangita Sharma
http://myrighttosafefood.blogspot.com

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4th Dec 6pm at Bangalore International Centre, Auditorium, Teri Complex, 4th Main Road, 2nd Cross, Domlur 2nd stage, Bangalore


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CIPRA & MHRD Chair on IPR
National Law School of India University
Bangalore

In association with ‘My Right to Safe Food’ Bangalore


Invites you for a lecture on


“FOOD SECURITY AND GENETIC ENGINEERING IN AGRICULTURE”

By
Dr. Devinder Sharma
(Chairman, Forum for Bio-technology and Food Security)


Venue: I year LL M Class Room
Date : 7th December, 2009, (Monday)
Time: 9. 30 a.m. to 11.20 a.m.

Ms. Sangita Sharma,
Dr.T.Ramakrishna
Dr Jeevan Kumar

--------------------------------------------------------------

INVITATION
to a public discussion on

Genetically Modified (GM) Food Crop:
How does this matter to a common man?


On 14th October 2009, Genetic Engineering Approval Committee (GEAC) granted permission for Indian farmers to grow a transgenic version of Brinjal (Bt Brinjal). A day later, Mr. Jairam Ramesh, India’s minister of environment and forests, said that permission for its cultivation will be given only after consulting “all stakeholders”. Ramesh says that the ministry will seek public comments until the end of the year and that he “will have a series of consultations with scientists, agriculture experts, farmers’ organizations, consumer groups and NGOs” in January and February 2010 before deciding whether to go forward.

There are various views floated by scientists, industry, farmers and consumer groups on the pros and cons of GM food crops. We believe that the ultimate user, the consumer needs to know more – from both the sides. This public discussion will attempt to answer the following from the perspective of scientists, farmers/growers, industry and consumers.
1. What are GM Food Crops? What is its relevance for a common man or consumer?
2. Do we need GM Food/Crop in India? Will it help eradicate hunger?
3. How safe is GM Food? Has it been fully tested for its safety for human and animal consumption?
4. Is the regulatory systems fool proof enough to ensure total bio safety?
5. How is it faring in other countries?
6. What is Karnataka States position on this?

We have the following distinguished speakers who will throw more light and answer
the common man.

Dr T Manjunath Agri-Biotechnology Consultant, Chairman Ex Director – Monsanto Research &

Dr.P.H.Ramanjinigowda Head – Dept of Biotechnology University of Agricultural Sciences Bangalore

Dr Devinder Sharma Chairman - Forum for Biotechnology and Food Security
Dr Narayan Reddy National awardee organic farmer


Date: 7th December, 2009 Time: 3PM to 6PM
Venue: Institution of Agricultural Technologists (IAT), Queen's Road, Bangalore 52.


Programme schedule:
3PM - Tea. 3.30PM to 4.30PM: Speech by panelists. 4.30PM to 6PM - Open house.

ALL ARE WELCOME

CIVIC (www.civicspace.in) is an organisation working with urban issues since 1992. It is a neutral platform for discussion and dialogue between public agencies and people.
Email: info@civicspace.in Ph: 08-22110584, 22711001