New Delhi, India
October 14, 2005
By Ashok B Sharma,
Financial Express via
Checkbiotech
The controversy over the
performance of Bt cotton in India is far from over.
The Genetic Engineering Approval Committee (GEAC) tried to
mediate over the controversy arising out of the publication of a
research paper in July edition of Current Science written by Dr
KR Kranthi and others of the Central Institute of Cotton
Research (CICR).
It deliberated twice in two
successive meetings in August and September and failed to give a
clear verdict. It came to the conclusion “that there is a
possibility of variation in the Cry 1Ac protien expression in
specific tissue of the plant depending on the genetic background
of the host and the environment in which it is deployed.”
The scientific paper itself is a study on “temporal and
intra-plant variability of Cry 1Ac expression in Bt cotton and
its influence on the survival of the cotton bollworm,
Helicoverpa armigera.” The inserted transgene Cry 1Ac is
designed to counter pests like bollworm.
The GEAC by admitting the “possibility of variation in the Cry
1Ac expression in specific tissues” depending upon the genetic
of the host has indicated the possibility of failure of Bt
cotton under certain conditions.
The GEAC also admitted: “It is also a fact that Bt technology
does not confer 100% elimination of bollworms and, therefore,
there is a need to follow the prescribed integrated pest
management (IPM) approach.”
Playing safe about its approval of Bt cotton varieties, the GEAC
said: “Taking into consideration the above fact, the GEAC has
taken a decision to approve the Bt hybrids on a case-by-case
basis. All hybrids approved by the GEAC for release have been
tested at several sites in various zones.”
It suggested that information on IPM should be included in the
seed packet. It also concluded that the present practice of
reviewing the performance of released Bt cotton hybrids after
every three years should continue.
However in the meeting on August 10, GEAC defended Bt technology
and said: “It does not mean that the Bt technology is inadequate
to confer protection from bollworms in cotton plants.” It
suggested CICR and Dr Kranthi to “take necessary action to
counter the allegations and put the issues in proper perspective
as the findings of CICR are being quoted by NGOs all over the
world.
© 2005 Indian Express Newspapers (Mumbai) Ltd. |