Bt cotton and livestock: health impacts, bio-safety concerns and the legitimacy of public scientific research institutions
Since 2005, shepherds and farmers from different parts of India- particularly from the states of Andhra Pradesh, Haryana, Karnataka and Maharashtra have reported that their animals (cattle, buffaloes, sheep and goat) that have grazed on genetically modified cotton or have been fed genetically modified cotton seeds have fallen sick and in some instances have died. Despite several reports and representations to the concerned regulatory and research bodies alerting them to the seriousness of the issue, there has been a persistent reluctance amongst the scientific establishment to respond, investigate and research into the problem. On the contrary the reaction of the establishment has been bureaucratic, dismissive of people