Pawar not with Ramesh: GM key to food security,need pvt sector research too

“Since land and water resources will remain limited,we will have to increase productivity by means that do not damage our environment,livestock and public… To increase productivity,we have to follow modern science and technology that includes biotechnology as well,” he said.

Without naming Ramesh,Pawar disagreed with the view that the private sector should not drive bio-technology initiatives in the seeds sector.

“Whether it is government,semi-government,universities and colleges,or the private sector,everybody has the right to drive research in this field (agricultural biotechnology). And whatever is found good,will have to be accepted,” he said.

He told the conference that “the recent decision regarding Bt brinjal must not be seen as a setback in our efforts,but a challenge which we need to surmount… research efforts have to be doubled to ensure that all misgivings regarding GM crops is removed comprehensively from the minds of policymakers and the common public.”

Last November,the Genetic Engineering Approval Committee — the GEAC is an official panel of scientists and experts — approved the first GM crop,Bt brinjal,for commercial cultivation. After protests by activists,Ramesh decided to hold back the crop’s release.

Pawar said “we will respect the decision taken by the Environment Ministry which can give us the ultimate guidance” but maintained that the GEAC was the safest body for approval of GM crops. “This (GEAC) is the safest machinery set up by the government for the release of GM crops. Its advice is very important for us.”

The GM technology,he said,helps increase crop yields,lower production costs,conserve biodiversity,increase stable production and help alleviate poverty in poor and developing countries.

Meanwhile,the GEAC today met for the first time after Ramesh overruled its decision on Bt brinjal.

“All materials collected by the (Environment) Minister that went into his final decision on the issue would be provided to all members (of GEAC) to analyse before the next meeting on the next course of action,” Arjula Reddy,GEAC co-chairperson,told The Indian Express.

Some GEAC members,who did not wish to be named,expressed concern over the future of the GEAC,pointing out that Ramesh intended to bring it down from an “approval” authority to merely an “appraisal” authority.