GMO Eggplant Will Not Be Grown in India: Environment Minister Blocks First Genetically Modified Food Crop
Feb 10, 2010 Victoria Anisman-Reiner
In an unprecedented decision, India's Environment Minister has suspended the introduction of GMO "BT brinjal" eggplant due to public concerns about safety.
Concerns about the safety of genetically engineered foods are very common, but real action from today's governments to honor these concerns is something outside the ordinary. India is drawing attention for its precedent-setting decision to put GMO aubergine or eggplant on hold until further studies can prove the crop's safety to both the scientific community and the public.
GM Eggplant (BT Brinjal) Will Not Be Planted in India
Making news around the world, Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh has put the concerns of India's people first in making policy about genetically modified foods or GMOs (genetically modified organisms)."Public sentiment is negative. It is my duty to adopt a cautious, precautionary, principle-based approach," Minister Ramesh told BBC reporter Geeta Pandey at a news conference in Delhi where his decision was made public on February 9, 2010.
Good for them! Too bad our government agencies didn't adopt a more cautious stance, instead, they climbed into bed with Monsanto.