Dinner for 8th December, 2009 at India International Centre

Navdanya and India International Center are celebrating Terra Madre Day, The Day of Mother Earth, with Subze-Bahaar, the Winter Vegetable Festival. This festival highlights the diversity, taste and nutritive value of our local winter vegetable basket. More than fifteen vegetables, including the 4,000 years old baigan in various avatar, will feature in traditional and not so traditional preparations. The Brinjal (eggplant, aubergine), native to India, is now being genetically engineered with genes for Bt-toxin.  Now, thanks to Monsanto-Mahyco, an alien species of our treasured vegetable, Bt Brinjal, is all set to invade our kitchens.  The Government of India Committee, GEAC, has given permission to Monsanto-Mahyco to commercialize GM  Bt Brinjal.  It would be the first time that permission to commercially cultivate a GM Food Crop is granted in India.  This will set a dangerous precedent for other vegetables such as mustard, potato, tomato, cabbage, capsicum etc.

In the face of the threat of genetic erosion in the vegetables in our fields and on our thalis, and the threat of genetically engineered vegetables, Navdanya has started Subze- Bahaar, the movement to protect & enjoy our vegetable diversity.  We are conserving our vegetable diversity in various ways : by creating vegetable seed banks, and organizing food festivals like the Winter Vegetable Festival.

Do join our movement on Tuesday the 8th Dec. at 8.00 p.m and come and enjoy the tasty and nutritious spread on offer.

(Rs 350/-+10% SC + 12.5% VAT )