DESPITE NATIONAL APPROVAL, BIOTECH EGGPLANT GENERATES

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 CHENNAI 000343

SENSITIVE

SIPDIS

USDA PASS FAS/OSTA/EPORTER, FAS/OCRA/FERUS/BEAN/RADLER

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAGR ECON SENV PGOV EINV IN
SUBJECT: DESPITE NATIONAL APPROVAL, BIOTECH EGGPLANT GENERATES
OPPOSITION IN SOUTH INDIA


1. (SBU) Summary: India's Genetic Engineering Approval Committee
(GEAC) approved on October 14, 2009 the use of a biotech eggplant
("brinjal" to most Indians) variety as safe for environmental
release. The GEAC has forwarded its recommendation to the Central
government for a final determination. The decision has sparked a
controversy in South India, however, as farmers, NGOs, and some
politicians have lined up in strong opposition, claiming that the
biotech eggplant poses risks to humans and the environment. These
groups intend to lobby state governments to reject the GEAC's
guidance and ultimately ban the use of this product. Much of the
debate on this issue is emotional, and opinions on the subject are
strongly held.
End Summary.

Fears of toxicity tops list of concerns
--------------


2. (U) The Indian firm Mahyco developed the Bt eggplant (brinjal)
biotech product at the center of this debate by inserting gene
characteristics for the creation of specific proteins from Bacillus
thuringiensis (Bt),a common soil bacterium, into an eggplant seed.
(In India, Monsanto was the original Bt technology provider to
Mahyco, but Bt brinjal development, approval and eventual
commercialization was Mahyco's own initiative.) Bt produces a
complex protein in the resulting plant that is toxic to fruit- and
shoot-boring pests that sometimes destroy as much as seventy percent
of an Indian farmer's brinjal crop. According to the decision
announced by the GEAC, Bt brinjal is safe and poses no known risk to
humans. (Note: Bt corn and other crops have been grown in the U.S.
for almost two decades without any known side effects. However, Bt
eggplant is not yet approved for planting or human consumption
anywhere in the world, including the U.S. End note.)


3. (SBU) Some critics of Bt brinjal allege that its long-term
effects on humans remain unknown. Anbumani Ramdoss, a former Union
Health Minister and a leading political figure in one of Tamil
Nadu's smaller political parties, told us that Bacillus
thuringiensis (Bt) occurs naturally in the soil, but is not
generally consumed by humans. He opined that introducing Bt
directly into the brinjal cells will allow its toxin to enter the
digestive system, with potentially negative effects. The director
of a consumer advocacy group explained similarly that neither
long-term toxicity experiments nor tests for carcinogenicity have
been carried out by a publicly-funded, credible laboratory.

Concerns about the business model
--------------


4. (SBU) Some critics object to the possibility of "big business"
seizing control of India's agriculture, a very sensitive political
issue here. Opposition groups have expressed concerns that large
agribusiness companies will protect their investments in biotech
through suppression of seed regeneration or contracts requiring
farmers to buy seed only from them, year after year. This, critics
argue, would allow firms like Monsanto to obtain monopolistic
control over the eggplant seed market. Some opponents also point
out that some countries prohibit the importation of biotech crops,
thus reliance on biotech products in India might harm the country's
ability to export in the future.

Environmental concerns
--------------


5. (SBU) Fear of uncontrollable biotech seed germination and wild
variety contamination is another concern. Currently, there are
thirty to forty varietals of brinjal grown across Tamil Nadu, each
with distinct characteristics and taste. Some critics say the
current brinjal diversity would be negatively affected, leaving only
a few biotech varieties remaining.

Proponents face an uphill struggle
--------------


6. (SBU) The research on Bt brinjal, which indicates that it is safe
and effective in reducing pesticide use and increasing yields, is
available in the public domain. However, proponents are still
finding a substantial amount of skepticism among the populace and
continued misinformation reported by the media. Even with
scientific research readily available, influential opinion leaders,
including policy makers, too often form their views from emotional
arguments routinely portrayed in the news, or even appear to be
uninformed.


7. (SBU) Following the GEAC's announcement, for example, Karnataka's
Environment and Ecology Minister told the press he was "not

CHENNAI 00000343 002 OF 002


interested" in the issue. The state's Agriculture Minister admitted
he was "not aware of the technical details" but noted that he gets
his information through the media. The Health Minister also told
the press that he was "not aware of specifics" but revealed that he
had learned through the media that "Bt brinjal was not safe."


8. (SBU) Politicians in Kerala are particularly opposed to biotech
products. The state's Agriculture Minister told the audience at a
"Brinjal Festival" in Trivandrum hosted by anti-biotech NGOs that he
would take the lead in encouraging his counterparts in other states
to oppose biotech crops (often referred to in India as "GM" or
"genetically modified" crops). He explained that his ultimate aim
was for Kerala to take the lead in making India a "GM-free country."


Comment
--------------


9. (SBU) State governments still need to approve Bt brinjal seeds
before they can be marketed in South India. Based on the initial
reaction to the GEAC's decision, Bt brinjal has few supporters
willing to publicly advocate for its introduction in the South. The
public is generally skeptical of the government's ability to
properly evaluate and regulate most things. The GEAC's decision has
done little to address concerns about the alleged risks continually
drummed into public consciousness by biotech critics. South India's
public has heard little of the potential benefits of biotech
products, but many people are aware of the criticisms and
allegations against them. As long as this remains the case, it will
be difficult for state policy makers to approve -- and even harder
for the public to accept -- biotech food products, including Bt
brinjal. End Comment.

SIMKIN