According to the ministry of environment and forest, tests are under way on cauliflower, tomato, cabbage, potato, corn, bhindi, brinjal, sorghum, groundnut, cotton and rice.
Even as research on seven genetically modified (GM) vegetables, rice and cotton varieties is being carried out in the country, the government on Wednesday said there was no reason to ban field trials as procedures were being followed.
According to the ministry of environment and forest, tests are under way on cauliflower, tomato, cabbage, potato, corn, bhindi, brinjal, sorghum, groundnut, cotton and rice, but none of these crops needs three years before commercial use.
While replying to a question in the Lok Sabha on safety measures being taken to avoid contamination of soil and traditional crop varieties due to field trials, minister for environment and forest Jairam Ramesh said procedures were being followed and there was no need to ban field trials.
Anti-GM crop activists have been demanding that the government carry out research to check if field trials of Bt Brinjal had contaminated the soil and traditional crops.
“The government doesn’t plan to ban field trials and research on genetically modified crops as procedures laid down are adequate to avoid contamination of soil and traditional crops,” Ramesh said.
The minister added that scientists were following Indian minimum seed certification standard norms. Ramesh said biological barriers were created by planting border rows around experimental plots.
“The norms laid down are adequate to minimise contamination of soil and other traditional crops due to gene flow,” Ramesh said, adding that according to Supreme Court directions, field trials form an integral part of research and development of genetically modified crops.
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