GMWatch / Reuters, 5 February 2016

Source: http://gmwatch.org/news/latest-news/16700-india-no-decision-on-gm-mustard-after-protests-outside-meeting-venue

India has not yet made a decision to allow commercial cultivation of what would be its first GM food crop, mustard, environment minister Prakash Javadekar said

The claim in the Reuters article below that GM mustard “promises better farm yields” is a piece of nonsense. There’s no published evidence that this GM mustard variety yields better than non-GM mustard.

The lack of published scientific data on this GM mustard is a key reason why so many Indians are opposing it.

Javadekar says no decision on GM food after protests outside meeting venue

By Mayank Bhardwaj
Reuters, 5 Feb 2016
Source: http://in.reuters.com/article/india-gmo-meeting-idINKCN0VE0P6

India needs more data before deciding whether to permit commercial growing of its first genetically modified food crop, Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar said on Friday, but indicated it would not stand “in the way of science” despite protests.

Javadekar said the evaluation process would continue before the country moves ahead with the use of a technology that promises better farm yields but sharply divides public opinion. […]

[…] Some farm economists have said India should speed up efforts to embrace GM foods after China took a giant leap towards GM with its bid for Swiss transgenic seed developer Syngenta.

But public and political opposition to transgenic food remains strong amid fears they could compromise food safety and biodiversity.

About 200 placard-holding protesters shouted anti-GM slogans outside Javadekar’s office earlier on Friday.

Kapil Mishra, a minister in Delhi state who met Javadekar, called it a win for those resisting GM crops.

“(A) small victory but a long battle ahead,” he said on Twitter. […]

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