October 17, 2016 11:01 AM

Pope Francis has made his strongest attack yet on genetically modified plants and animals (GMOs) and the Biotech Industry (which includes companies such as Monsanto, Bayer, Dow, Du Pont, Syngenta and ChemChina), in a letter to the Director General of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) Professor José Graziano da Silva on World Food Day.

October 13, 2016 05:50 AM

NEW DELHI: The government will be guided by scientific evidence and "larger interests" of consumers and farmers in deciding commercial use of GM mustard even as it works to narrow the gap between opponents and supporters of the genetically engineered crops.

October 13, 2016 04:26 AM

CHENNAI: The State government has already taken a policy decision not to allow any GM crops. The commercial release of the GM mustard in Tamil Nadu is out of the question. However, that should not make the official machinery complacent; instead the authorities should tighten the measures to prevent its entry into the State and also promote measures to grow native varieties of mustard, said organic farming activists.

October 10, 2016 09:08 AM

NEW DELHI: The debate around genetically modified crops and a recent PIL in the Supreme Court may force the government to delay its final decision on GM mustard. With the transgenic variety of mustard unlikely to be released for the coming Rabi (winter crop) season, the focus will be on non-GM varieties to help increase production.

October 10, 2016 06:21 AM

As chief minister of Gujarat, Narendra Modi may have extolled the virtues of genetically modified (GM) crops, after his happy experience in the state, but as prime minister, he is finding it extremely tough to carry along even his party on the issue. Encouraged, and perhaps egged on, by the RSS and affiliate Swadeshi Jagran Manch’s (SJM’s) opposition to GM crops, various BJP-ruled states like Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan have upped their protest against GM mustard even though the bio-safety panel of the Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC) has approved Dhara Mustard Hybrid-11 developed by the scientists led by former Delhi University vice-chancellor Deepak Pental.

October 10, 2016 12:45 AM

Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS)-affiliated organisations are increasingly lending their voice to those at the other end of the ideological divide on certain issues where there’s a meeting of minds. These include opposition to the government’s move to sell the land of closed public sector undertakings (PSUs) and allow genetically modified (GM) seeds.

October 10, 2016 12:21 AM

Prime Minister Narendra Modi appears keen on genetically modified (GM) mustard if it is found to be foolproof, despite opposition from the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), the BJP’s ideological parent.

October 09, 2016 05:57 AM

Chennai, An environmental activist from the city has filed a new writ petition at Supreme Court which is specific to the appraisal and public consultation processes being adopted for GM Mustard.

October 08, 2016 12:30 AM

The Supreme Court on Friday stayed the commercial release of genetically modified (GM) mustard crop in India and asked the central government to first take suggestion and views of the public on the controversial subject.

October 07, 2016 08:09 PM

The Supreme Court on Friday stayed the commercial release of Genetically Modified (GM) Mustard crop for ten days and asked the Centre to take public opinion on such seeds before releasing it for cultivation purpose, even as government approval is awaited.

October 07, 2016 04:44 PM

The Supreme Court on Friday stayed the commercial release of Genetically Modified (GM) variety of Mustard till October 17 after a petition was filed arguing such a release may have severe consequences on the environment and human health.

October 07, 2016 12:30 PM

The Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC) in India met on August 11 this year to review a safety report by its sub-committee discussing genetically modified (GM) mustard crops and the possibility of introducing them to Indian soil. The Dhara Mustard Hybrid-11 or DMH-11 is indigenously developed and, if implemented, would be the second GM crop to gain free approval for cultivation in the country. The GEAC has not granted full approval yet and instead was soliciting comment, feedback, and suggestions. The last day for submissions was October 5. With the deadline behind us, farmers, activists, and corporations alike now await a final decision.

October 07, 2016 06:01 AM

The Supreme Court on Thursday agreed to hear a plea against commercial release of genetically modified mustard seed as it may cause irreversible damage to the domestic variety.

October 07, 2016 01:47 AM

The Supreme Court on Thursday agreed to hear a plea seeking a stay on commercial release of genetically modified (GM) mustard crop.

October 07, 2016 12:45 AM

On Friday, the Supreme Court is expected to hear a petition by anti-GMO (genetically modified organism) campaigner Aruna Rodrigues, who argues that the Centre’s preliminary clearance to GM mustard, named Dhara Mustard Hybrid-11 (DMH-11), contravenes a 2013 report by a Supreme Court-appointed technical expert committee.