Why India does not need GM Technology and Genetically Modified Crops?

Tweet

In early June, Intelligence Bureau (IB), an intelligence agency under the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India submitted a report to Prime Minister Office and other Government agency with a subject captioned, 'concerted efforts by select foreign funded NGOs to take down India development projects'. Though the report is marked as 'secret' but it was leaked to media. IB has identified at least six developmental sectors (viz. Nuclear Power, Coal Fired Powered Project, Genetically Modified Organisms, Mega Industrial Project, Hydel projects, Extractive Industries) which have been affected by the agitation of certain NGOs.

With regard to Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO), IB reports that anti GMO activities in India are led by five Indian activists and six NGOs.

Read : Anti GMO Activists and NGOs in India Under the Intelligence Bureau Lens and Govt Scanner

After the availability of IB report in public domain, anti GMO activists and NGOs responded to it and clarified their stand through press release and/or through social medias. 'Indian Botanists' tried to extract the answer from their response as, 'Why India does not need GM Technology and Genetically Modified Crops?' Here are the excerpts.

Role of local forest-dwellers in the IUCN World Heritage Outlook assessment programme with regards to Great Himalayan National Park

Tweet

During the past week the UNESCO World Heritage Committee had gathered in Qatar to discuss and take decisions on World Heritage sites. The Advisory Body on nature, were there to give advice to the Committee, which consisted of 21 States Parties. Around 20 specialists of World Heritage conservation make up the IUCN delegation this year. They were from diverse backgrounds and different regions of the world – and IUCN gave us the opportunity to pick their brains. IUCN asked to send in our burning World Heritage questions on Twitter.

Conserving Indigenous Food and Food Habit for Sustainable Food Security

Tweet

Arpita Bhattacharjya

Washington DC

@greenfork on twitter

Author completed her M.Phil in Economics from Punjab University, India

Worked as consultant for The World Bank

Editorial Handling: Geetanjali Singh, Section Editor, Indian Botanists

Abstract
    Across the world, there are communities that rely on plant sources available locally in their environment for food and income. They have developed a unique knowledge base about plants that can grow on marginal lands, under difficult climate conditions, and provide a crucial part of their diets through cultivation or foraging. As globalization spreads, the pattern of life which valued and used indigenous foods is breaking up and crucial insights into these sources of nutrition are being lost. This issue assumes more important in the context of feeding a growing population in a planet where the existing food production system is under threat from climate change.

India- Born Padma Shree Dr Sanjaya Rajaram Wins 2014 World Food Prize Laureate

Tweet

Padma Shree Dr Sanjaya Rajaram

Kenneth M. Quinn, President of the world Food Prize Foundation today (18th June 2014) announced that The World Food Prize Borlaug Centennial Laureate – born in India and a citizen of Mexico – is Dr. Sanjaya Rajaram.

The 2014 World Food Prize Laureate is an individual from India who worked closely with Dr. Borlaug in Mexico and who then carried forward and extended his work, breaking new ground with his own achievements. As the head of CIMMYT’s wheat-breeding program for several decades, our Laureate developed 480 high-yielding disease- and stress-resistant

IUCN recommends India’s Great Himalayan National Park Conservation Area as World Heritage

Tweet

At the 38th annual World Heritage Committee meeting, which opens today (15th June, 2014) in Doha, Qatar, IUCN recommends four new sites for inscription on the World Heritage List, including India’s Great Himalayan National Park Conservation Area. Other three sites are Botswana’s iconic wetland the Okavango Delta, Philippines’ Mount Hamiguitan Range Wildlife Sanctuary and Denmark’s Stevns Klint.

Anti GMO Activists and NGOs in India Under the Intelligence Bureau Lens and Govt Scanner

Tweet

Intelligence Bureau (IB), an intelligence agency under the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India in a report dated 3rd June, 2014 has warned that a significant number of NGOs including anti genetically modified organism (GMO) activists and NGOs funded by foreign countries are stalling Indian Development Projects.

The report has mentioned five activists and six NGOs running anti GMO campaign. It says that these NGOs and activists are stalling mega industrial projects like POSCO and Vedanta.

Priorities of Modi Government for Agriculture and Environment Sector

Tweet

President Pranab Mukherjee addressed a joint sitting of Parliament on Monday (9th June 2014), outlined the roadmap of the new government headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. In his customary address, delivered in the first session of Parliament on behalf of the government, the President listed the priorities of NDA government.

Download Admit Card, Search Form Number - Joint CSIR-UGC NET Examination 22 June 2014 (Sunday)

Tweet

JOINT CSIR-UGC TEST FOR  JRF AND ELIGIBLILITY FOR LECTURERSHIP (NET)

JUNE 2014

EXAM DATE : 22 JUNE 2014 (SUNDAY)

***********

Some Important Journals - Pharmacognosy, Phytochemistry and Ethnopharmacology

Tweet

Bhagyashree Kamble
Lecturer
Department of natural Products
National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER)

Ahmedabad, India

Every year, hundreds and thousands of scientists conduct experiments, using natural products originating from plants, such as crude plant material as such, plant extracts, and phytocostituents. These plant materials, plant extracts can be studied for its pharmacognosy, phytochemistry and pharmacology. Scientists obtain results, and draw conclusions, about the experiments they have conducted. These experiments and their outcomes need to be disclosed to scientific community in the form publications so as to generate the ample data for the upcoming researchers. Here we are giving list of few reputed journals where work related phytochemistry, pharmacology and pharmacognosy can be published. 

Botanical Illustration, painting plant species the scientific way- a dialogue with Hemlata Pradhan.

Tweet

Ms Hemlata Pradhan

As a student of botany we often need to depict the form, colour, and details of plant species. Although botanical illustration is an art, its main concern is scientific accuracy. The illustration is taken as reference and thus it requires keen observation of the species which makes the subject plant different from other plant species. Taking career as Botanical Illustrator is not just meant for aesthetic purpose but also serves to bridge the gap between art and science. Also, it helps in conservation by raising public awareness of the flora and fauna.  Team Indian Botanists speaks to Ms. Hemlata Pradhan, a renowned botanical illustrator, to understand more about the subject, her experiences and the scope of botanical illustration.