Greenpeace India slams approval for Monsanto's stacked gene GM corn

30 January, 2013

An independent investigation and study by Greenpeace India has revealed that the test data provided by US biotechnology giant Monsanto to Indian regulatory organizations related to its stacked gene Genetically Modified (GM) corn was misleading. With the release of its latest findings Greenpeace has also launched a fresh campaign against genetically modified food in India.

The data and the scientific analysis carried out by Testbiotech, commissioned by Greenpeace India, was released on January 29, and has exposed serious loopholes in the assessment of GM biosafety as carried by regulatory organizations in the country, says Greenpeace India.

In the eye of the storm is the stacked gene GM corn (MON89034xNK603), which has herbicide tolerance and bacterial genes for pest resistance. The stacked gene GM corn has undergone several field trials in the last four years.

Things began roling when Greenpeace got hold of field trial and biosafety data of the corn via RTI applications after filing them with the Department of Biotechnology (DBT) and Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC), which is the central agency for all environmental releases of genetically modified organisms in India. While Greepeace was trying to get the requisite information, the Chief Public Information Officer of DBT was pulled up by the Appellate Authority for giving out information to Greenpeace.

“On one hand the GM regulatory system in our country tries to hide crucial public information like the biosafety data of GM crops and on the other hand allows open field trials of them, which can lead to contamination of our food and seed supply chain. These field trials have been permitted for the last four years without biosafety studies being completed,” said Shivani Shah, Sustainable Agriculture campaigner, Greenpeace India.

A scientist working with the Indian Council of Agricultural Research told this citizen journalist, on the condition of anonymity, that toxic genes in GM corn are dangerous for both human and animal consumption. Lobbying at the political level and inadequate checks and balances is probably why the US company is getting away with infringing global norms in India.

The Greenpeace India's analytical study has indicated that the data and conclusions provided by Monsanto lack strict scientific evalutaion. Even more shocking is the Greenpeace India allegation that the data by Monsanto to Indian authorities was not for the stacked gene variety of Monsanto's corn though this is the one given in their application. Almost no study was made available for GM corn (MON89034xNK603) - another very serious issue.

While permission was given to Monsanto for GM corn (MON89034xNK603), but on the basis of data provided by Monsanto, the regulatory bodies should not have taken a decision on the safety of the plants - due to missing data and insufficient investigation - thereby posing environmental and health risks.

In 2011, Greenpeace India made public serious violations of field trials rules for the same variety of corn by Monsanto in Karnataka's Bijapur district. Greenpeace has demanded that Jayanthi Natarajan, the Union minister for Environment and Forest, under who GEAC falls, halt all 'open releases' of GM crops, including those meant for field trials.