India: Opposition mounted to GM bananas
As part of the campaign, an online petition opposing the move has been initiated by Navdanya, Mahila Anna Swaraj, Diverse Women for Diversity, Initiative for Health & Equity in Society, Guild of Services, Save Honey Bees Campaign etc.
At a press conference, Navdanya founder, Vandana Shiva, questioned Jame's Dale, of Queensland University, Australia, how says the GM bananas provide extra iron against anaemia.
The idea of the bananas is fortify Indian women against anaemia, a major cause of child-birth deaths in the country. Shiva said, “Bananas are rich in nutrition but have only 0.44mg of iron per 100 gram of edible portion.”
However Shiva was pushing for natural alternatives to increase iron intake and said that the increase offered by the GM bananas was insufficient.
“The solution to malnutrition lies in growing nutrition,” such as iron-rich plants, she added.
Source: thehindubusinessline.com
