Jairam Ramesh, India’s Environment Minister, has delayed the launch of the first genetically-modified (GM) vegetable, the aubergine.

Jairam Ramesh, India’s Environment Minister, has delayed the launch of the first genetically-modified (GM) vegetable – the aubergine known locally as BT brinjal – for six months to allow time for further research.

The issue of GM food has had the country divided. The aubergines are named after the bacteria inserted into them to make them resistant to insects – Bacillus thuringiensis (BT) bacterium. Anti-GM food protestors claim that this could be potentially dangerous to humans and damage crops, while those pro-GM foods argue that it would lead to better quality and prices.

Environmental pressure group Greenpeace welcomed the moratorium. It said: “Greenpeace welcomes the minister’s decision not to allow BT brinjal to contaminate Indian agriculture. The minister must now reassure the nation that the moratorium will not lead to a back door entry of BT brinjal or the 41 other food crops which are in different stages of trial in the country.

“Stringent monitoring measures should be immediately put in place to ensure that no releases of GM crops happen and a strong message be sent out by making GM developers liable for any accidental or illegal releases.”

Monsanto, the world’s largest seed maker, supplied the gene for the vegetable and has a stake in Mahyco, the company which genetically-modified the vegetable.

In a statement released towards the end of last year, Mahyco defended the GM food product: “It will help millions of our brinjal farmers who have been suffering from the havoc caused by the Brinjal Fruit and Shoot Borer (BFSB). BT brinjal will help them tackle this pest in an environmentally-friendly manner, and increase yields and farm income.

“Insect-resistant BT brinjal has been in development for nine years. It has been tested in full compliance with the guidelines and directives of the regulatory authorities to ensure its safety. It is the most rigorously tested vegetable with 25 environmental bio-safety studies supervised by independent and government agencies.”