VZCZCXRO0999
RR RUEHAST RUEHBI RUEHCI RUEHDBU RUEHLH RUEHNEH RUEHPW
DE RUEHCG #0343/01 3430401
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 090401Z DEC 09
FM AMCONSUL CHENNAI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 2549
RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI 3924
INFO RUCNCLS/ALL SOUTH AND CENTRAL ASIA COLLECTIVE
RUEHRC/DEPT OF AGRICULTURE WASHDC
RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHINGTON DC

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