Dr Gurdev Singh Khush, a world-renowned rice breeder and geneticist, has led the rice development programme at the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), Manila, for more than 35 years and developed over 320 varieties of rice, sown in 60 per cent of the world rice land.

The humble vaingan has sparked a virtual war between those who oppose the introduction of the first genetically modified (GM) vegetable, and those who see it as a new horizon of hope for increasing brinjal output by over 50 per cent. The Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis) Brinjal, a genetically modified version of the vegetable, is waiting in the wings to be commercially marketed.

Three days before the Centre

Surinder Sud / New Delhi February 8, 2010, 0:56 IST

Jairam Ramesh Bharat Krishak Samaj (BKS), a leading all-India organisation of farmers, has come out in support of genetically modified crops, saying their use will help cut down expenses on pesticides for better returns on yields.

HIGH price and not bio-safety concerns is likely to be the key deterrent to the commercial acceptance of Bt brinjal, a January 2010 IFPRI (International Food Policy Research Institute) study has suggested, even as the environment ministry gears up to take a final decision on whether to accept an expert panel

VOICING protest against introduction of Bt Brinjal in India, founder of Isha Foundation Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev on Sunday said there seems to be some commercial motive behind bringing in the genetically modified (GM) food into the country.

Dun/Bengaluru, : Uttarakhand on Friday became the first state in India to announce a ban on Bt brinjal even before the Centre takes a final decision on introduction of the controversial genetically modified crop.

With the debate over genetically modified crops and no consensus among scientists, the Government must look at various scenarios that may emerge in the event of any decision (for or against) and do a cost-benefit analysis for each of them, says G. CHANDRASHEKHAR.

The questionis not only of food security but also of nutrition security.

Union Minister for Environment and Forests Jairam Ramesh in all probability will be hearing more of nays than yeses at the interaction session he has convened on Bt brinjal on Saturday in Bangalore.

UP IN ARMS: Farmers staging a demonstration in the city on Friday.

MADURAI: Members of the Tamil Nadu Farmers