Union Minister for Environment and Climate Change Prakash Javadekar told Parliament earlier this week that  field trials of genetically modified (GM) crops, including Bt brinjal, will not be taken up for consideration in the Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC) without the recommendation of the concerned State/UT Government.

This has upset many agri biotech companies and probably could lead to a situation wherein no research and development on GM crops will take place.

The development comes at a time when neighbouring Bangladesh has successfully been growing Bt brinjal over the last three-four years. It has now begun field trials of Bt cotton.

Ironically, the technology and seeds for both have gone from India.

What is going wrong with Bt cotton development in India and why is it facing such a situation? What are the consequences? TR Vivek discusses it with Subramani Ra Mancombu.

Edited & Produced by Siddharth Mathew Cherian