Due to safety issues, India has today postponed the commercial cultivation of genetically modified (GM) crops. Jairam Ramesh, the country’s Environment Minister, says that more research is necessary before genetically modified aubergines can be viewed as safe, for both the environment and consumers.

There have been heated debates over the GM crop which was first field-trialled in 2008. Mr. Ramesh said “It is my duty to adopt a cautious, precautionary, principle-based approach” and also recognized the difficulty of balancing science and society. He also said independent studies were needed to safeguard the long-term outcomes for both the environment and human health.

Over 4,000 varieties of aubergines are currently grown in India and the variety in question, BT brinjal, has been developed by Mahyco, an Indian seed company. They say that this GM aubergine is more resilient to pest attacks. Anti-GM groups however, allege that there may be serious risks to health and that eating GM foods may even lead to cancer.

In October 2009 the government-controlled Genetic Engineering Approval Committee approved BT brinjal for commercial cultivation, but it now seems that until more tests take place there will be a standstill on further developments. For full story see BBC News