The controversy over the proposed introduction of genetically modified brinjal, also referred to as Bt brinjal, in India is making a big splash in the news. Though Bt brinjal promises a pest-resistant crop, debate rages over the safety of such genetically modified crops for human consumption. A final decision on the commercial introduction of Bt brinjal in India is expected to be taken on February 10.
What is Bt brinjal?
Brinjal, also known as egg plant or aubergine, is native to India. According to reports, India is the second largest producer of brinjal in the world after China, accounting for nearly 26% of the word's production.
Lepidopteron insects like fruit and shoot borer - Leudnodes orbonalis and fruit borer - Helicoverpa armigera, are the most serious and destructive pests of brinjal. The yield loss in brinjal due to pest attack is estimated to be about 50%-70%. Attempts to develop brinjal varieties with adequate pest resistance through traditional plant breeding have not borne fruit yet.
Genetically modified Bacillus thuringiensis brinjal, or Bt brinjal, developed by Mahyco-Monsanto Biotech, a joint venture between India's Maharashtra Hybrid Seeds Co. and U.S.-based agricultural giant Monsanto Co. (MON), is said to have greater resistance to the fruit and shoot borers.
Bt brinjal is developed by inserting cry1Ac gene, isolated from soil bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis, or Bt, into the brinjal seeds. Bt, a spore forming bacterium, is toxic to many pests. The insect control protein Cry1Ac, produced by the cry1Ac gene in the Bt brinjal, gets activated in the alkaline gut of the pests when the pests feed on the brinjal and binds to the gut wall. The activated protein perforates the lining of the insect's gut, killing it.
The research on Bt brinjal in India was started in 2000 and the country's GEAC (Genetic Engineering Approval Committee) approved its commercial cultivation last October. With the scientific community itself divided over the risks and benefits of genetically modified crops, the GEAC's decision on Bt brinjal has touched off a furore across the country.
Proponents' praise
Proponents of Bt brinjal argue that since this genetically modified variety is pest-resistant, not only can the use of pesticides be reduced, but also the loss of crop due to pest attacks can be prevented. Those arguing in favor of Bt brinjal cite the success story of Bt cotton.
Bt cotton, designed to control bollworms, a major cotton pest, is the first genetically modified crop to be introduced in India. It was first commercialized in 2002. Since the adoption of Bt cotton technology, cotton production in India has doubled, according to surveys.
The proponents also down play the bio-safety concerns surrounding Bt brinjal by arguing that Bt toxins will not get activated and bind to human intestines as there are no Cry1Ac-binding proteins like cadherin and aminopeptidase-N.
Opponents' outcry
The campaigners against Bt brinjal contend that since the product is directly consumed, it cannot be compared with Bt cotton. A new study, which analyzed the potential health risks of genetically modified crops, has found that there was organ damage in rats (liver, kidneys and other organs) that were fed three different varieties of Monsanto's genetically modified corn. The study results were published in the International Journal of Biological Science in December 2009.
The opponents of Bt brinjal also base their arguments on the chequered history of genetically modified crops. In 2008, the University of Arizona reported that Bt-resistant populations of bollworm were found in over a dozen crop fields in Mississippi and Arkansas between 2003 and 2006. That was the first published case of field-evolved resistance to a Bt crop.
Since Bt toxin is effective only against lepidopteron pests, the Bt cotton crop has become highly susceptible to attacks by secondary pests like thrips and jassids.
Last year, an independent study conducted by the Deccan Development Society in India revealed that livestock continuously fed with Bt cotton fodder (Bt cotton leaves and Bt cotton seed cake) for 25 days-30 days, showed symptoms of reduced food intake, frothy salivation, nasal discharge, bulging of head with even reports of deaths.
And the verdict is...
With mixed reviews and study results, it is a challenging task to draw a final conclusion about genetically modified crops. As pointed out by agriculture scientist M.S. Swaminathan, since every technology has good as well as bad effects on the society, it is therefore important to carefully weigh the risks vs benefits of commercializing Bt brinjal. Will Bt brinjal be allowed for commercial use in India? A final nod for Bt brinjal may reportedly open the gates for other genetically modified crops in India, including okra, rice, mustard, cauliflower and tomato, which are in various stages of testing.
For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com
June 05, 2026 16:18 ET A busy week for economic news flow saw a slew of reports being released that reflected the trends in the U.S. labor market. In Europe, economic growth and inflation data gained attention as the European Central Bank and Bank of England head for policy session later in the month. In Asia, the monetary policy session of the Indian central bank was in focus as the country, a major oil importer, reels under the pressures of a weaker rupee and rising inflation.