Indian government’s indecision on GMO trials stranding research in labs

The government’s continued flip-flopping over field trials has disappointed Indian research scientists. Delhi University has spent 18 painstaking years developing high-yielding GM mustard only to run into bans on field trials.

Its developer, Deepak Pental, says that trials with good biosafety protocols are safe and should be allowed, although he concedes that GM mustard could naturally cross with non-GM varieties, once released commercially.

So will the Indian government grasp the GM nettle? Asked this question at a public meeting in August, environment minister Prakash Javdekar remained cautious — and cryptic — saying:  “We are not saying no to science. We have to take proper caution. We have to take proper action.”

Such non-committal statements confirm a sad fact. Facing powerful lobbying and indecisive safety evidence, the government’s hands are tied on GM. Until it can undo the knot, India’s scientists dedicated to finding GM solutions to the nation’s food insecurity will be wasting their time.

Read the full, original article: Indian government still ‘flip flopping’ on GM trials

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