Bt brinjal trial at Centre's bidding
The Tamil Nadu Agricutlural University (TNAU) has denied that its trial on Bt brinjal is based on an MoU or an agreement with private seed companies like Monsanto and Mahyco. Reacting to the remarks mady by Selvam, secretary, Erode Organic Farmers Collective, the TNAU said Genetically Engineered (GE) trials were being conducted in more than seven agricultural universities across the country on the instruction of the Centre. The GE trial in TNAU is a network research project in which many universities and research centres are involved. The GE research is closely monitored by the ICAR. The allegation that cultivation of Bt cotton or Bt brinjal will affect the soil adversely is totally unscientific and wrong. It is also wrong that Bt food is a slow poison. Moreover, the farmers can grow Bt brinjal without applying pesticides, an offi cial release said.