clarifications provided by FBAE on the Bt brinjal issue

Foundation for Biotechnology Awareness and Education (FBAE)

These are some clarifications provided by FBAE on the Bt brinjal issue:

• Bt brinjal helps in reducing the cultivation expenses on the use of synthetic pesticdes up to 77 percent, benefiting millions of farmers by enhancing marketable yield. The consumer gets health fruit and value for money paid. It also greatly reduces the risk from synthetic chemicals to the farmers, consumers, non-target organisms, soil, water and environment in general.

• Bt brinjal has passed through the prescribed mandatory bio safety tests according to Indian regulations. Two expert committees reviewed the bio safety dossier. The second committee concluded on October 8, 2009, that the Bt brinjal with event EE-1 ( Cry 1 Ac) has been extensively tested for its bio safety and no additional studies/review are necessary. Based on this, on October 14, 2009, the Genetic Engineering Approval Committee (GEAC) approved Bt brinjal for commercialization.

• However, the Minister of State for Environment and Forests (MoEF), had opted for further consultation with different stakeholders, which virtually overrides the decision of the GEAC. All the stakeholders had already involved themselves on the issue of Bt brinjal for about five years.

• The stand taken by the MoEF has created a lot of regulatory uncertainty for no valid scientific or environmental concern. No technology developer can afford to operate in the country to develop any biotech crop with such an uncertainty of an approval process that is not based on science.

• The charge sheet by activist include several issues, such as that a) genetically engineered (GE) crops are toxic and allergenic, b) they harm non-target organisms, c) gene flow from transgenics eliminates related varieties/species, d) they become super weeds and eliminate all vegetation, e) they negatively impact ecology and bio diversity, f) there is a terminator gene in GE crops affecting farmers' interests, etc. They even attribute farmer suicides to failure of GE crops. There is extensive scientific literature that amply demonstrates that there is no truth in any of the above charges and allegations.

• The activist make an emotional argument that India is the country of origin of brinjal, for which there is no scientific evidence.

• The opposition to Bt brinjal means to India nothing but a reduced marketable yield, an increased use of pesticides (with economic as well as health damage to farmers, consumers and environment). The government should decide whether to help Indian farmers or pesticide producing corporations.