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On the eve of Government of India's approval for large scale Monsanto-Mahyco Bt brinjal trials |
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June 13, 2006 PRESS INVITATION
New Delhi: Genetic Engineering Approval Committee (GEAC), under Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF), Government of India, is on the verge of approving large scale seed production and field trials of Bt Brinjal, developed by M/S Mahyco.
Brinjal has been cultivated in India for more than 4,000 years and India is a Centre of Origin and diversity for the crop. This is for the first time in the country that a food crop might be given such a permission.
A civil society delegation comprising of people from more than ten states [major Brinjal growing states] are meeting Dr Anbumani Ramadoss, the Union Minister for Health on 14th June at 4 pm to discuss the issue with him. The delegation, drawn from a loose network called Coalition for GM-Free India, consists of representatives from leading farmers' organisations, consumer organisations, organic farming groups, unions, NGOs working on sustainable agriculture, representatives from the medical fraternity and so on.
There will be a Press conference to brief the media about the deliberations with the Minister and the serious concerns with regard to Bt Brinjal. Members of the delegation would address the press conference at 5.30 pm, after meeting the Minister.
Speakers: Devinder Sharma, Forum for Biotechnology & Food Security, Delhi
Vijay Jawandhia, Shetkari Sanghatan, Maharashtra
Dr Ramanjaneyulu, Centre for Sustainable Agriculture, Andhra Pradesh
Yudhvir Singh, Bhartiya Kisan Union UP, Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan
& other members of the delegation
Venue: Indian Women's Press Corps, Windsor Place, Janpath (23325366), Delhi
Time: 5.30 pm, June 14th 2006
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