India Stands Up to Monsanto and Protects Its Indigenous Food Supply »

Finally, the Government of India is taking steps to protect its farmers and its population from the corporate excesses of Monsanto and the human tragedy engendered by the use of genetically modified seeds.  It seems that India’s National Biodiversity Authority (NBA), an Indian government agency responsible for preserving India’s indigenous food crops, is suing agri-biz giant, Monsanto for bio-piracy.

I love it— the bio-piracy laws are being turned around and used against the very same large  corporate interests that worked internationally to have them enacted in the first place.  The irony of it all seems very fitting.  Here’s how India Today reported it:

“American seed giant Monsanto and its Indian collaborator, Maharashtra Hybrid Seeds Company (Mahyco) are to be prosecuted for allegedly ‘stealing’ indigenous plant material for developing genetically modified brinjal variety known as Bt brinjal.

The National Biodiversity Authority (NBA), a statutory body set up under the Biological Diversity Act, 2002, has decided to initiate legal proceedings against the two companies and their collaborators for using indigenous brinjal germplasm without necessary permission. Taking plant material without any permission and using it for commercial purposes is considered an act of biopiracy.”

This case marks the first time that a government has accused Monsano of ” biopriacy” but I am sure it will not be the last.  Personally, I am delighted.  GM foods have been touted as the answer to feeding the growing world population, but in practice, they seem to be just another  corporate scheme to enrich the few at the expense of the many.

Monsanto is, of course, backing and filling ike crazy and putting the blame anywhere but on themselves.  You can read about it in more detail on  foodconsumer. org which is the  source for this blogpost. Lets keep an eye on this litigation.

 Monsanto has been working for decades to monopolize and control the world food supply with little regard for farmer’s rights or even basic morality.  Kudos to India for taking the lead in standing up to Monsanto.  It is high time and none too early.