Laxmi Prasanna | THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Scientists and Greens in Kerala have raised concerns over the entry of Genetically Modified (GM) mustard for commercial cultivation as it is close to approval by the Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC). This is despite the public outcry against entry of GM food.
GM Mustard called `Dhara Mustard Hybrid 11' was developed by Centre for Genetic Manipulation of Crop Plants (CGMCP), University of Delhi with support from Department of Biotechnology (DBT) and National Dairy Development Board (NDDB). GM Mustard was created by genetically engineering bacterial genes into selected mustard parental lines to create male sterile parent plants and to induce herbicide tolerance. GM crops are already banned in Europe, Japan, China and Gulf countries. Over 54 farm organisations from mustard growing places in the country including Rajasthan, Haryana, Punjab, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Delhi have raised their protest.