Bt Brinjal (Bacillus thuringiensis brinjal) was developed as India’s first geneticallymodified (GM) food crop. Engineered to resist the fruit and shoot borer pest, it incorporated a gene from the soil bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis, which producesa protein toxic to specific pests. Despite receiving regulatory approval in 2009, Bt
Brinjal faced strong opposition from environmental groups, scientists, and farmersdue to concerns over health, environmental impact, and biodiversity. As a result, the Indian government imposed an indefinite moratorium on its commercial cultivation in 2010.
Bt brinjal, a genetically modified (GM) variety of eggplant, was developed to combat the fruit and shoot borer, a prevalent pest in brinjal cultivation. In 2009, after extensive evaluations, India’s Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC) approved Bt brinjal for commercial release.
However, in February 2010, the Indian government imposed a moratorium on its commercialization, citing the need for further safety studies and public consultations.
Despite the ban, reports have surfaced over the years indicating unauthorized cultivation of Bt brinjal in certain regions. For instance, in 2019, activists highlighted the continued presence of Bt brinjal in Indian fields, raising concerns about regulatory oversight.
In 2020, the Indian government permitted biosafety research field trials for two new indigenous Bt brinjal varieties across eight states, signaling a potential reconsideration of GM brinjal in the future.
As of now, Bt brinjal remains banned for commercial cultivation in India, with only Bt cotton approved for such use.
