To:
1. The Chairperson
National Dairy Development Board
PB No.
40, Anand - 388 001 (Gujarat).
Fax: +91-2692-260157, 260165
Email: tvb@nddb.coop
2. The Managing Director
National Dairy Development Board
PB No. 40, Anand - 388 001 (Gujarat).
Fax: +91-2692-260157, 260165
3. The Executive Director
National Dairy Development Board
PB No. 40, Anand - 388 001 (Gujarat).
Fax: +91-2692-260157,
260165
Dear Shri T Nandakumar, ShriDilipRath and ShriSangramChaudhary,
Sub:
NDDB’s support to transgenic mustard DMH11 – serious concerns and objection to
the same – reg.
Greetings! We have looked up to NDDB as a
pillar of India’s Food Sovereignty, rural livelihood security and our
philosophy of co-operation.In the past, we have joined hands with NDDB when
unfair trade rules have threatened the livelihoods of our small farmers and
milk producers in India.
We write this letter with great concern that in
supporting the transgenic mustard research of Dr Deepak Pental and team in
University of Delhi South Campus (UDSC), NDDB is departing from its commitment
to promote interests of small farmers and dairy producers, and to bring to
Indian consumers healthy and safe food.
The GM mustard research and the rush to commercialise it are
riddled with controversy and grave dangers.The UDSC’s
GM mustard is based on the same traits as those in the Bayer – Pro-Agro R&D
effort on a transgenic GM mustard hybrid that was rejected in 2002; Bayer
withdrew its herbicide resistant GMO mustard application at that time.How can
the same genetic modification in mustard that failed biosafety in 2002 be
considered safe today?
The Government of India’s Department of Science and
Technology has revealed that it has no idea where the GM lines in this high
profile case come from, and who gave permission for research. Meanwhile, as you are aware, DrPental has also
been accused of plagiarism by a colleague.
We are deeply concerned with the biosafety of GM mustard in
the context of India’s rich biodiversity, with India being a Centre of
Diversity of BrassicaSp, and the fact
that our farms are small.Introducing GMO mustard with sterility-creating genes
and herbicide tolerant genes is a recipe for genetic contamination and
destruction of our small farm ecology and economy.The transgenes in the GMO
mustard include the sterility-inducing barnase. This could “leak” and
contaminate our Brassica
biodiversity.
When asked about contamination of other (wild) species by the GM
mustard, the then Vice Chancellor Dr Deepak Pental admitted in an interview to
journalists from Down To Earth magazine that non-transgenic Brassica junceaas well as Brassica rapagrown in eastern India
can ‘receive’ these genes (from GM mustard). He also says that “it is wrong to claim that transgenes won’t move to
non-transgenic material. If you have a selection over it like a herbicide, then
they spread very quickly....GM Brassica
juncea can cross with non-GM juncea”.If DrPental knows that contamination is inevitable, he is in
effect accepting that in the Indian context, GMO mustard cannot pass the test
of safety.The Indian Supreme Court, in the ongoing case on GMO field trials has
expressly ordered that the regulators should ensure that no such contamination
takes place.
The Supreme Court as well as the Central Information
Commission had also ordered several years ago that all Biosafety information
should be put in the public domain. This order has been blatantly violated in
the GM mustard (DMH11) case, where everything that should be transparent is
shrouded by a cloud of secrecy.
Importantly,
our concern is also with our food and nutritional security. There is much
evidence on the harmful effects of GM foods on our health. Mustard is both an
Oilseed crop and a vegetable. Sarsonka
Sag is one of the most popular dishes of north India, and is the basis of
health and identity here.Contamination and genetic pollution will rob Indians
of a major source of safe green leafy vegetables and pure oil.
Meanwhile,
the claim that genetic engineering of mustard increases yields is false.
Firstly, it is wrong to compare the yield of the GMmustard hybrid with a
variety. A valid comparison would be of the GM hybrid with the non-GM hybrid. Secondly,
there are non-GM hybrids in the market and for increasing yields through
hybridization, hazardous technologies like GM technology are not needed. This
is a trait that is being introduced to facilitate the business of seed
producers and not meant for farmers. Unlike in the
largescale industrial agriculture in the West, in the small farms of India,
mustard is frequently grown intercropped with wheat, and the productivity of
wheat plus mustard is always higher than the productivity of wheat or mustard
alone. There are agronomic practices based on sustainable agro-ecology like
System of Mustard Intensification which can be deployed to improve productivity
rather than opt for irreversible, uncontrollable and irresponsible options like
transgenics.
Further,
the UDSC GM mustard is herbicide-resistant and will facilitate the backdoor
entry of herbicide tolerant crops into India. The TEC of the Supreme Court has
clearly stated that Herbicide tolerant GM crops and GM crops of which we are
the Centre of Diversity should not be introduced in India.
Given
all the above, we request you to follow the recommendations of independent
leading scientists of India in the TEC, and stop supporting this project on
scientific grounds of biosafety, to protect our biodiversity and farmers’
livelihoods and to uphold consumer right to safe food and food of their choice.
This
GM mustard is unneeded, unwanted and unsafe. We look forward to receiving a
confirmation that you will not be promoting the commercialization of GM mustard
hybrid DMH11. Since developers of this transgenic mustard, who you have
supported, is trying to rush the commercialization, it is urgent for the
national interest and public interest, that the people of India receive a clear
message from NDDB by the middle of September.
If
we fail to hear from you about your withdrawal of support to GMO mustard by 15th
September, we will be compelled to call for a boycott of Dhara, as part of the
SarsonSatyagraha,to defend the rights of India’s farmers and consumers,
beginning with Gandhi’s birth anniversary, 2nd October 2015. The All
India Coordination Committee of Farmers Movements has already given a call that
NDDB stop supporting GMO mustard.
On
behalf of outfits and organisations that represent lakhs of citizens of India,
we want to continue to be proud of NDDB and support all the ethical brands it
has promoted. Please do not let GMO mustard come in the way of your own legacy,
and your being a lighthouse of the cooperative spirit that serves the Indian
producers and consumers.We will be happy to come and discuss these issues
personally with you.
Sincerely,
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