Genetically Modified Crops and Monsanto in India

About Monsanto: Monsanto is the largest company that manufactures genetically modified seeds. In last quarter alone they reported a net sales of $4.2 billions and profit of around $1000 million. Corn, soybeans and cotton are the most common GE crops in US. around 90% of these crops are produces by GM seeds in US.

BRAI Bill: Biotechnology Regulatory Authority Bill

• There are growing protests to ban Monsanto from India, since it is hurting commercial interest of the farmers at the same time fiddling with the environment.
• Earlier Monsanto has been banned from Europe on the same lines.
• Prior to this there was a lot of debate on introduction of GM Bt Brinjal in Indian fields. The concern was that the genetically engineered Bt Brinjal would soon become a weed, hence would pose threat to biodiversity.
• Philippines Supreme Court has recently banned open field trials of Bt Brinjal.
• Supreme Court of India appointed a Technical Expert Committee (TEC)
• Then, TEC recommended 10 years suspension of on field trails of GE food crops.
• While people supporting GM crops believe that conventional agricultural methodology is not sufficient to meet the growing demands of our population.

Note:We must note that our food insecurity is not majorly because of production shortfall but is due to a poorly managed supply chain system where a big chunk of foodgrains rot in our godowns.