Articles by Dr. Shiva

Save Our Mustard: Stop GMO Mustard Trials

by Dr. Vandana Shiva

India is the centre of diversity of mustard. As a crop it has originated in India. In Sanskrit, it is called “Sarsapa” or “Rajika”. Diverse varieties and species of sarson are grown and used.  

The table shows the          Diversity of Mustard

  Mustard as a medicine

The seeds and oil of mustard have many uses. The seeds are acrid, bitter, thermogenic, anodyne, anti-inflammatory, carminative, digestive, anthelmintic, aperient, sudorific and tonic. They are useful in vitiated conditions of vata and kapha, dengue fever, abdominar colic, anorexia, dyspepsia, intestinal worms, flatulence, inflammations, morbid state of the cerebrospinal system, skin diseases, splenomegaly and persistent vomiting. Mustard is used in large doses as an emetic in cases of poisoning and it will cause hyperdipsia, burning sensation, and other disorders due to the vitiation of pitta.  

Mustard oil has anti-fungicidal properties, which makes it very valuable for massages and control of skin diseases. Mustard oil is also good for controlling rheumatism. In the winter season, mustard oil is used as hair oil because it has heating properties.  

Mustard oil as edible oil

In the Northern and Eastern regions of India, mustard oil is the preferred edible oil.

Table shows the oil content of rapeseed-mustard types

  Mustard as a spice

In south India, mustard is used primarily as a spice. The spice value of mustard seeds is due to the thiocyanates, which are present in them as glycosides and are released by the action of an enzyme, in the presence of moisture under suitable conditions. The seeds are used in pickling, preserving and seasoning vegetables.  

Protecting the gene pool in centres of diversity from contamination is necessary for current and future food security. Genetic contamination from genetically engineered mustard can be a major threat to the agro-biodiversity of mustard. Mustard outcrosses easily with wild and weedy relatives. This means that genetic contamination can spread more easily in mustard than in other species.  

The Delhi University has developed a genetically engineered mustard DHH-11 for which it is seeking permission to carry out field trials. The Supreme Court has banned field trials since 22^nd September as a result of Public Interest Litigation filed by Aruna Rodrigues.  

The Delhi University GM Mustard, being developed by the Vice Chancellor of Delhi, Deepak Paintal, contains a Barnase and Barstar system. Barnase-Barstar systems are commonly used as GURTS, which include Terminator genes. GURTS restrict access to fertile pollen and cause sterility in seed. If some of the pollen from GM mustard would hybridize with other crop or wild relatives, the pollen will produce male sterile offspring, thus creating ecological havoc.  

To protect India's biodiversity and food safety, the trails of DHH-11 mustard must be stopped.