Charging the Indian government with allowing itself to be swayed by foreign manufacturers of potentially unsafe genetically modified (GM) foods, already rejected by the US and European markets, US-based food expert John Fagan, who is Associate Director, Institute of Science and Technology and Public Policy, Iowa, today warned the government of serious health and climactic hazards posed by these crops. He was delivering a lecture on ‘Food safety and food security in the era of climate change and biotechnology’ at Guru Nanak Dev University.

The lecture is a part of ‘I am no lab rat’ campaign started by the Kheti Virasat Mission, in collaboration with the All India Pingalwara Charitable Society (AIPCS). “Having been forced out of the market place due to widespread consumer rejection in the West, these foreign multinational biotech companies have influenced Indian politicians to promote GM crops in the country,” he said.

“The often-heard refrain is that India would be left behind and lose its competitive position if it does not open its doors to GM crops is a serious overstatement of facts. In the broader scientific community, the health and environmental safety of GM crops continues to be highly controversial,” he said.