Genetic engineering
Biotechnology : To improve the breeding process
Marker Assisted Selection
Genetic Modification, particularly transgenes, is a very unpredictable and dangerous process. There is strong opposition because ethical and health issues are involved. Scientists themselves admit it is not very accurate. That is why a new system is being advocated, called Marker Assisted Selection (MAS). This technique does not involve insertion of genetic material but it aims to identify the gene responsible for a particular trait.
Health risks of Genetically Engineered food
Author Jeffrey Smith1, known from the international bestseller 'Seeds of Deception' visited Bhubaneswar in January 2008 to launch the Indian edition of his book 'Genetic Roulette'2. Living Farms organised a press conference to inform the media, ngo's, farmers organisations and government about the health risks of Genetically Engineered food.
The background of Genetic Modification in Agriculture
The technology of Genetic Modification in agriculture is another way by which multinationals to take threaten people's food sovereignty. It is the greatest threat to agriculture and biodiversity ever posed during mankind's long history on this planet. Through its proven and observed power of contamination this technology can very effectively put an end to the crop biodiversity nurtured by centuries of careful natural adaptation. Living Farms realised this threat very early on and observed its effect on food sovereignty as a whole.
This technology allows a few multinationals to have total control over agriculture thus displacing the farmer.
Read more: The background of Genetic Modification in Agriculture
After Pesticides - GM Brinjal (egg plant)
After Pesticides Orissa to have Genetically Poisoned Food
What will you think if you were told that Bt Brinjal would be available in Orissa very soon? Maybe you will not give it much thought. It is after all brinjal in another name. However this very variety of brinjal and its proposed introduction into Orissa has food safety activists up in arms. They point out that it is a genetically modified (GM) food and not enough safety studies have been done by the government before introducing it into the food chain. The government has relied on the tests conducted by Mahyco, a seed company that is introducing this variety of genetically modified brinjal into the country. Orissa is one of the targeted states.
