More than a year after former environment minister Jairam Ramesh put an indefinite moratorium on commercial introduction of Bt brinjal in the country, the Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC) has asked for additional tests on the ayurvedic qualities of the genetically modified brinjal.
GEAC has asked Maharashtra Hybrid Seeds Co (Mahyco) to conduct the tests which would be assessed by the National Institute of Nutrition.
?There is an apprehension in certain quarters that the wild variety of brinjal has certain medicinal qualities which would be adversely impacted following the introduction of the genetically modified brinjal,? said P Ananta Kumar, director, national research center for plant bio-technology (NRCPBT).
Mahyco has developed a Bt brinjal variety with technological assistance from US-based multinational Monsanto.
Monsanto had given the technology free to the Tamil Nadu Agriculture University and the University of Agricultural Science, Dharward, for commercial use after due regulatory approval.
Mahyco had claimed that by producing a toxin the plant would be able to kill the major insect pest in brinjal, the Fruit and Shoot Borer.
?Over the next few months, we will have clarity on the Bt brinjal issue,? said Kumar. He said despite the government?s inability to approve any more GM crops besides BT cotton for commercial cultivation, there were 54 GM crop ?events? at various stages of development prior to the regulatory approval. He added that around half of these were under development at public sector institutions such as the Indian council for agricultural research, state agricultural universities and other autonomous bodies.
?Within next four to five years, there is a possibility of development of GM pigeon peas and chick peas which would take care of the country?s growing need for pulses,? Kumar said at a press interaction organised by the association of biotech led enterprises ? agriculture group (ABLE-AG).
Bt brinjal is a genetically-modified vegetable which is infused with the Cry1Ac gene from a bacterium, Bacillus thuringiensis, to make the plant resistant to the Fruit and Shoot Borers and certain pests.
State governments, particularly from the key brinjal growing states of West Bengal, Orissa and Bihar, and environmental groups have been opposed to Bt brinjal, saying there are enough number of indigenously developed brinjal varieties in the country and the government should not use Bt crop without ?satisfying? itself about its health impact on human beings.