In a new report, Greenpeace India says that Bt. Brinjal poses a threat to ecological balance and plant diversity. “One major concern is the potential for transgene flow from Bt brinjal to wild, weedy and cultivated relatives. As a consequence, selective advantage gained by the Bt pest resistance gene could enable these relatives to become aggressive weeds,” says the report authored by John Samuels, an independent researcher.

It has other implications too, according to the study. “These include the creation of problematic, insect-resistant weeds, and contamination of traditional cultivars and landraces, impinging on farmers’ rights.”

The study also highlights that transgene from Bt Brinjal can contaminate wild relatives of Brinjal. It also said, “The Bt transgene provides a plant with resistance to certain insect pests. This gives the plant a selective advantage that might encourage unnaturally aggressive growth. Coupled with the strong tendency for these brinjal relatives to sprout where not planted, such GE contaminated plants could become overbearing weeds.”

According to the National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources data, India has 2,782 landraces and 532 wild and weeds accessions of Brinjal. The study says that the Bt Brinjal has the potential to destroy this diversity.

However, after various consultations, the environment minister in 2010, Jairam Ramesh, put a moratorium on Bt Brinjal till such time as research proved its safety for consumers. However, Greenpeace India says, “There have been continued efforts by biotech seed companies and their cronies in the government to bring back Bt Brinjal.” In February 2012 a conference in Bangalore organised by the Foundation for Biotechnology Awareness and Education (FBAE) adopted a ‘Bangalore declaration’ urging the government to lift moratorium on Bt Brinjal.

Read the report