The Indian government is set to introduce a new Pesticide Management Bill to replace old laws and bring in modern regulations. Farm Secretary Devesh Chaturvedi announced that a draft of this bill will soon be shared for public feedback. The current laws for seeds and pesticides date back to the 1960s. Since then, the agricultural…
India is making significant strides in gene editing (GE) technology, aiming to improve crops and tackle challenges like climate change. The government has actively supported GE research and development over the past few years. This push has led to the release of two gene-edited rice varieties, DRR Rice 100 and Pusa DST Rice 1. These…
Leading medical journal The Lancet has highlighted a serious global health concern: the rising consumption of ultra-processed foods, often called junk food. These foods are linked to chronic diseases and growing health inequalities. While some food processing is normal, like turning wheat into flour, ultra-processing involves chemically altering food and adding substances to make products…
A crucial international treaty aimed at safeguarding global food security is facing strong opposition. Delegates are currently meeting in Lima, Peru, for the 11th session of the Governing Body of the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (ITPGRFA). This treaty, established in 2004, is designed to protect the world’s seeds and…
The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) has strongly defended the evaluation of two new gene-edited rice varieties, Pusa DST-1 and DRR Dhan 100 Kamala. ICAR states that both varieties performed exceptionally well in the specific regions where they are intended to be grown. This defence comes after criticism from The Coalition for a GM-Free…
Six years after a banned genetically modified (GM) Bt brinjal crop was destroyed in Haryana, the source of the seeds is still unknown. This has raised concerns among environmental activists and experts about the government’s approach to food safety. The incident happened in Nathwan village, Fatehabad district, in May 2019. A farmer named Jeevan was…
Concerns have been raised by independent scientists, environmentalists, and farmer leaders regarding the process for amending the Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers’ Rights (PPV&FR) Act of 2001. They have written to Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, expressing worries about how the changes are being discussed. The Alliance for Sustainable and Holistic Agriculture (ASHA-Kisan…
Farmers’ groups and activists are raising serious concerns about proposed changes to the International Seed Treaty. They fear these changes could favour big companies over small farmers, threatening global food security and traditional farming methods. The treaty, officially known as the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (ITPGRFA) or the “Plant…
Many small farmers across India are actively adopting climate-smart agricultural practices to cope with changing weather patterns and improve their livelihoods. These innovative approaches are helping them build resilience against unpredictable monsoons, droughts, and extreme temperatures. A recent report highlights how farmers in regions like Rajasthan and Karnataka are experimenting with a mix of traditional…
The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) is updating its rules for scientists. This comes after a recent issue concerning data from genome-edited (GE) rice varieties. The new guidelines will limit how scientists share their research findings. They will not be allowed to speak to the media or publish in certain journals without full confidence…
