India: GM rice rakes up controversy, Agro-Biodiversity committee wants pro-GM chairman out

The new genetically engineered rice named as “Designer Rice” is raking up fresh controversy. The difference of opinion has already started widening chasm among the members of the country’s watchdog on biodiversity, the Expert Committee on Agro-Biodiversity. 

P V Sateesh Kumar, an expert committeemember who also heads the Pastapur-based Deccan Development Society, has found fault with group chairman E A Siddiq for supporting the cause of the Designer Rice and has demanded his resignation as the head of the committee. In a letter sent to Siddiq, Sateesh wondered how he could continue to be the chairman of a committee assigned the task of advising us on protecting and preserving the country’s rich agro-biodiversity which was facing a grave threat from aggressive promotion of the GM technology. “It clearly shows conflict of interests,” he said.

Siddiq, while speaking at a recent international conference on “Designer Rice”, at ICRISAT had said, “The Designer Rice can be a possibility for the future generations and research is going on to produce the same.

Related on the SLP

Nigeria moves forward with nitrogen-efficient GMO rice Viewpoint: Agro-ecology agendas are trapping African farmers in poverty

Viewpoint: Dubious environmental fears: Why the AI buildout is critical to America’s ecological future

Vitamin D, omega-3 fish oil and glucosamine supplements could cause brain damage 

Child-monitoring apps: When the cure is worse than the harm—and how the technology could be tweaked

View the original article here: GM rice rakes up controversy