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New Delhi: The Indian government on July 14 announced its plans to introduce Genetically Modified (GM) vegetables like tomato, brinjal and cauliflower in the country in the next three years, said Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar in the Lok Sabha.
The Indian Council of Agricultural Research and Department of Biotechnology have approved the three transgenic crops that are in various stages of tests and development in institutes across India. After tests, the final clearance for cultivation of GM crops in India is given by the Review Committee on Genetic Manipulation and the Genetic Engineering Approval Committee, which has been accused of conflict of interest and favouring the biotech industry.
India has only allowed GM cotton, a non-food crop till date. The use of GM cotton has grown and has been successful, but so has the controversy around it. However, GM food products are a different game, with international opinion divided on whether they should be allowed to be eaten or grown.
According to the critics, enough safety tests have been done and their results are not shared to prove that GM foods are safe to eat. The debate on whether GM crops would impact the ecosystem, making pests immune to the inserted gene and rendering the crop useless, continues in the scientific and green community.
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