Indian Onions in Danger

A Bangalore-based NGO fighting against genetically modified food says biopirates from overseas are having it easy in accessing India’s bio-diversity.

Environment Support Group (ESG), a Bangalore-based NGO fighting against genetically modified food, says biopirates from overseas are having it easy in accessing India’s bio-diversity. After introducing Bt brinjal (eggplant), which generated heated debates and opposition, an MNC now wants to access a variety of homegrown onions to genetically modify this vegetable.

ESG feels that emboldened by weak regulation by the National Biodiversity Authority (NBA), Monsanto Holdings has now applied for access to a variety of onions grown in India for potential hybridisation, commodification and commercial release. ESG’s Leo F Saldanha says the NBA has forwarded Monsanto’s application to relevant state regulatory authorities and biodiversity manage­ment committees at the panchayat and nagarpalika levels, with a note that the application be cleared by 27 August 2011.

“The NBA, which was leaden-footed in dealing with a complaint of biopiracy against Mahyco and Monsanto with regard to eggplant, seems to have acted very fast in processing Monsanto’s application to access onions. It is imperative for the NBA to enforce India’s biodiversity protection laws. We fear that such lax behaviour on the part of a key regulatory agency encourages such businesses to continue untrammelled by any fear of punitive action for violating India’s biodiversity protection laws and for compromising India’s sovereign control over its biological resources,” he says.

ESG is currently running an e-cam­paign and is planning to hold a series of meetings on the course of action to stop what it calls biopiracy of indigenous varieties.