Upping its ante against the genetically modified organisms (GMOs), the green brigade on Wednesday

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demanded the Parliamentary Standing Committee on GM Foods to immediately suspend all field trials of genetically modified organisms, particularly of food crops.

They demanded that policy directives in place should be implemented for each field trial and the trials should be allowed only when a GMO is assessed for its need and shown that alternatives do not exists. New guidelines on risk assessment, including on bio-safety and socio-economic impact, prior to field trials should be put in place.

Field trials should be allowed only after the regulators demonstrate adequate capabilities to oversee all trials to contain violation, contravention and escape of a GMO. The Parliamentary Co­m­­m­­ittee led by its chairman Basudeb Acharia is in Hyderabad as part of its study tour.

At a meeting on ‘Cultivation of genetically modified food crops-Prospects and Effects,’ on Wednesday, some stakeholders demanded that field trials for GMOs be allowed only when alternatives do not exist. National Alliance of People’s Movement (NA­PM), comprising farmer unions, NGOs and political outfits, said that GM food crops should not be allowed. The government should also review the GM cotton growing experience.

NAPM representative D Narasimha Reddy, citing Bt cotton as an example, said the seed price has been on rise causing discomfort to the farmers. Also, availability of non-bt cotton seed was inadequate restricting the choice for the farmers, he said.

“Farmers are facing problems because of GM patents. There is a need for a framework to maintain seed diversity and seed sovereignty,” he said in the representation to the Parliamentary Committee.

Centre for Sustainable Agriculture executive director GV Ramanjaneyulu said there should be public consultations on the proposed filed trial location and the Panchayat Raj institutions should be involved for exercising their constitutional authority in addition to state government.

The risk assessment and appraisal of GM cotton in many cases did not capture emergence of resistance in target pest, increased secondary pests, higher use of chemical fertilisers in Bt cotton and effects on soil fertility among others, he said.

M Kodanda Reddy, chairman of APCC Kisan and Mazdoor Cell, said state governments should regulate seed prices including royalties to insulate the farmers from being exploited. Also, regulation of foreign seed trade is essential to protect the environment.

With food safety standards, procedures and enforcement machinery in a nascent stage, GM foods would only be a violation on the rights of consumes,” he said.