Biocon’s Mazumdar-Shaw backs Bt brinjal cultivation
By IANSTuesday, January 19, 2010
BANGALORE - India’s biotech “queen” Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw of Biocon Tuesday appealed for considering the issue of Bt brinjal cultivation on a scientific basis and not on “unfounded fears”.
“We would really like to ensure that we take this whole issue of Bt brinjal on a scientific basis and not on unfounded fears, creating a fear psychosis,” Mazumdar-Shaw said at a conference on biotech event Bangalore India Bio, to be held June 2-4.
Mazumdar-Shaw, chairman and managing director of leading biotechnology firm Biocon, asserted that Bt “is a very safe science and regulated technology”.
A section of farmers in India and several civil society organisations are opposing introduction of Bt brinjal for commercial cultivation. Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh has now begun meeting them in a bid to remove their fears.
