by Anthony Gucciardi

January 14, 2012
from ActivistPost Website
 

India has joined the conglomerate of nations directly opposed to the agricultural corruption brought upon by bloated biotechnology giant Monsanto, declaring legal action against the corporation for a crime dubbed ‘biopiracy‘.

The charges were brought against Monsanto for utilizing a local eggplant variety to develop their own genetically modified version including the notorious biopesticide Bt.

Monsanto’s Bt GMO crops are known to threaten the environment in addition to human health, and India considers Monsanto’s unauthorized testing of the crops to be biopiracy.

India’s National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) made the unprecedented decision as detailed in their official statements on the subject, joining nations like Hungary and Peru in their efforts to control Monsanto’s presence within their borders.

Hungary was among the first to lead the charge, actually destroying more than 1,000 acres of Monsanto’s GM maize in direct defiance against the company. Peru also took a monumental stand against Monsanto, announcing a ten-year-ban on GMO crops and genetically modified ingredients.

In summary of the decision, the journal Nature Biotechnology states:

An Indian government agency has agreed to sue the developers of genetically modified (GM) eggplant for violating India’s Biological Diversity Act of 2002.

 

India’s National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) is alleging that the developers of India’s first GM food crop - Jalna-based Maharashtra Hybrid Seeds Company (Mahyco) partnered with St. Louis-based seed giant Monsanto and several local universities - used local varieties to develop the transgenic crop, but failed to gain the appropriate licenses for field trials.

Leaked Documents Show India May be Targeted for GMO Opposition

Will India be targeted by the United States and others for opposing GMO crops?

Leaked documents have revealed that the United States may ‘penalize’ nations that are against Monsanto’s genetically modified creations with military-style trade wars and more.

In fact, it was that in late 2007, the United States ambassador to France and business partner to George W. Bush, Craig Stapleton, requested that the European Union along with particular nations that did not support GMO crops face repercussions.

The ambassador plainly calls for ‘target retaliation’ against nations who are against using Monsanto’s genetically modified corn, despite research linking it to severe damage to your body. Therefore, the question must be asked as to whether or not the United States will attempt to ‘penalize’ India for taking such an unprecedented move against Monsanto.

While that remains to be seen, it is clear that Monsanto is increasingly being resisted across the globe by nations and individuals alike.