Round-table Discussion on "Genetically Modified Foods - Progressive or Pernicious?"

 

 

Social Cause

(Regd. No.614/2003)

 

Cordially invites you and your friends to a Round-table Discussion on

 

Genetically Modified Foods – Progressive or Pernicious*

 

Speakers:

 

Dr. S.J. Rahman

Principal Scientist & Head,

All India Coordinated Research Project on Biological Control of Crop Pests & Weeds,

Acharya N.G. Ranga Agricultural University (ANGRAU)

 

Dr. B. Dinesh Kumar

Sr. Deputy Director, PCT - National Institute of Nutrition (NIN);

Group Leader, Food and Drug Toxicology Research Centre;

President, Indian Pharmacological Society (IPC)

 

Dr. P. Ananda Kumar

Director, Institute of Biotechnology,

Acharya N.G. Ranga Agricultural University (ANGRAU)

 

Dr. G.V. Ramanjaneyulu

Executive Director, Centre for Sustainable Agriculture (CSA)

 

 

Date & Time:

14^th March, 2015 (Saturday) at 10.00 a.m.

 

Venue:

ICSSR Conference Hall, General Library Building, Osmania University Campus, Hyderabad

 

All are welcome. Participants can contribute to discussion subject to availability of time.

 

* Science and technology has changed the way man secures his food supply. Genetically modified (GM) foods have been the subject of controversy and intense debate in recent years. Only GM cotton (non-edible crop) is grown in fields as of now in India. India’s biotech regulator, the Genetic Engineering Approval Committee (GEAC) gave the green signal for field trials of genetically modified (GM) rice, mustard, chickpea, brinjal etc. Environment Ministry had permitted field trials in some transgenics with a condition requiring separate NOCs from states for such trials. So far, four states in India - Maharashtra, Punjab, Delhi and Andhra Pradesh approved some open field trials in GM crops whereas  Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Haryana, Bihar, West Bengal, Orissa, Tamil Nadu and Kerala are among the states which denied permissions for such field trials. Some news reports suggest that Telangana and Gujarat are likely to permit field trials of GM crops soon. There have been concerns regarding cultivation of GM food crops which could potentially harm health. Is genetic modification really the key to ensuring that the world does not grow hungry or does tampering with the natural makeup of animals and plants unleash unwanted possibilities and horrific consequences to (y)our health?