Ayush varma - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

Papers by Ayush varma

Research paper thumbnail of The release of genetically modified crops into the environment. Part I. Overview of current status and regulations

The Plant Journal, 2003

In the past 6 years, the global area of commercially grown, genetically modified (GM) crops has i... more In the past 6 years, the global area of commercially grown, genetically modified (GM) crops has increased more than 30-fold to over 52 million hectares. The number of countries involved has more than doubled. Especially in developing countries, the GM crop area is anticipated to increase rapidly in the coming years. Despite this high adoption rate and future promises, there is a multitude of concerns about the impact of GM crops on the environment. Regulatory approaches in Europe and North America are essentially different. In the EU, it is based on the process of making GM crops; in the US, on the characteristics of the GM product. Many other countries are in the process of establishing regulation based on either system or a mixture. Despite these differences, the information required for risk assessment tends to be similar. Each risk assessment considers the possibility, probability and consequence of harm on a case-by-case basis. For GM crops, the impact of non-use should be added to this evaluation. It is important that the regulation of risk should not turn into the risk of regulation. The best and most appropriate baseline for comparison when performing risk assessment on GM crops is the impact of plants developed by traditional breeding. The latter is an integral and accepted part of agriculture.

Research paper thumbnail of Mobilizing Against GM Crops in India, South Africa and Brazil

Journal of Agrarian Change, 2008

This paper explores the national and transnational character of mobilization against GM crops in ... more This paper explores the national and transnational character of mobilization against GM crops in India, South Africa and Brazil in the ten-year period to 2005. By examining the contexts and practices of mobilization across the three countries, and in particular the complex, often fraught, local and global connections, the paper examines the diverse mobilizations that have occurred. The paper argues that to understand these processes, particular national political and economic contexts must be appreciated, alongside how the GM debates articulate with other foci for activism and the complex and often fragile nature of alliances that make up activist networks. The paper shows how the debate about GM crops has become a much wider one: about the future of agriculture and small-scale farmers, about corporate control and property rights and about the rules of global trade. In sum, a debate not just about the pros and cons of a particular set of technologies, but about politics and values and the future of agrarian society.

Research paper thumbnail of Impacts of genetically modified crops in developing countries: A survey

Research paper thumbnail of Traumatic Spinal Cord Injury Mortality, 1981–1998

Annals of Epidemiology, 2007

(81%) had more than two risk factors. Compared to younger HCV patients, older patients were more ... more (81%) had more than two risk factors. Compared to younger HCV patients, older patients were more likely to have exposure to blood products (32% vs. 17%; p!0.001) but less likely to have injection drug use (59% vs. 74%; p!0.001). Proportion of newly diagnosed patients associated with blood transfusion before 1990 significantly declined (p!0.05) from 16.7% in the period 1998 to 2000, to 13.5% in the period 2004 to 2006. CONCLUSION: The above figures are useful for evaluating the epidemiological changes of HCV infection and for anticipating the future economical cost of the hepatitis C treatment. The recognition of the potential presence of multiple risk factors may have important implications determining approaches to HCV surveillance, particularly the use of hierarchical algorithms in the study of risk factors.

Research paper thumbnail of The release of genetically modified crops into the environment. Part I. Overview of current status and regulations

Plant Journal, 2003

In the past 6 years, the global area of commercially grown, genetically modified (GM) crops has i... more In the past 6 years, the global area of commercially grown, genetically modified (GM) crops has increased more than 30-fold to over 52 million hectares. The number of countries involved has more than doubled. Especially in developing countries, the GM crop area is anticipated to increase rapidly in the coming years. Despite this high adoption rate and future promises, there

Research paper thumbnail of The release of genetically modified crops into the environment. Part I. Overview of current status and regulations

The Plant Journal, 2003

In the past 6 years, the global area of commercially grown, genetically modified (GM) crops has i... more In the past 6 years, the global area of commercially grown, genetically modified (GM) crops has increased more than 30-fold to over 52 million hectares. The number of countries involved has more than doubled. Especially in developing countries, the GM crop area is anticipated to increase rapidly in the coming years. Despite this high adoption rate and future promises, there is a multitude of concerns about the impact of GM crops on the environment. Regulatory approaches in Europe and North America are essentially different. In the EU, it is based on the process of making GM crops; in the US, on the characteristics of the GM product. Many other countries are in the process of establishing regulation based on either system or a mixture. Despite these differences, the information required for risk assessment tends to be similar. Each risk assessment considers the possibility, probability and consequence of harm on a case-by-case basis. For GM crops, the impact of non-use should be added to this evaluation. It is important that the regulation of risk should not turn into the risk of regulation. The best and most appropriate baseline for comparison when performing risk assessment on GM crops is the impact of plants developed by traditional breeding. The latter is an integral and accepted part of agriculture.

Research paper thumbnail of Mobilizing Against GM Crops in India, South Africa and Brazil

Journal of Agrarian Change, 2008

This paper explores the national and transnational character of mobilization against GM crops in ... more This paper explores the national and transnational character of mobilization against GM crops in India, South Africa and Brazil in the ten-year period to 2005. By examining the contexts and practices of mobilization across the three countries, and in particular the complex, often fraught, local and global connections, the paper examines the diverse mobilizations that have occurred. The paper argues that to understand these processes, particular national political and economic contexts must be appreciated, alongside how the GM debates articulate with other foci for activism and the complex and often fragile nature of alliances that make up activist networks. The paper shows how the debate about GM crops has become a much wider one: about the future of agriculture and small-scale farmers, about corporate control and property rights and about the rules of global trade. In sum, a debate not just about the pros and cons of a particular set of technologies, but about politics and values and the future of agrarian society.

Research paper thumbnail of Impacts of genetically modified crops in developing countries: A survey

Research paper thumbnail of Traumatic Spinal Cord Injury Mortality, 1981–1998

Annals of Epidemiology, 2007

(81%) had more than two risk factors. Compared to younger HCV patients, older patients were more ... more (81%) had more than two risk factors. Compared to younger HCV patients, older patients were more likely to have exposure to blood products (32% vs. 17%; p!0.001) but less likely to have injection drug use (59% vs. 74%; p!0.001). Proportion of newly diagnosed patients associated with blood transfusion before 1990 significantly declined (p!0.05) from 16.7% in the period 1998 to 2000, to 13.5% in the period 2004 to 2006. CONCLUSION: The above figures are useful for evaluating the epidemiological changes of HCV infection and for anticipating the future economical cost of the hepatitis C treatment. The recognition of the potential presence of multiple risk factors may have important implications determining approaches to HCV surveillance, particularly the use of hierarchical algorithms in the study of risk factors.

Research paper thumbnail of The release of genetically modified crops into the environment. Part I. Overview of current status and regulations

Plant Journal, 2003

In the past 6 years, the global area of commercially grown, genetically modified (GM) crops has i... more In the past 6 years, the global area of commercially grown, genetically modified (GM) crops has increased more than 30-fold to over 52 million hectares. The number of countries involved has more than doubled. Especially in developing countries, the GM crop area is anticipated to increase rapidly in the coming years. Despite this high adoption rate and future promises, there