Philippine Court of Appeals orders revoking of Golden Rice and Bt Eggplant from Commercialization
Click to read here: CounterCurrents (20 April 2024)
Yes! Mag article on Deb’s work
Click to read here: Yes! Magazine (14 Dec 2022)
Old Basudha Campus in Bengal REVIVED
By May 2022, the old campus of Basudha in Bankura district was rebuilt as Agroforestry demonstration farm.
Opposing the FSSAI push for Mandatory Food Fortification
On 25 October, a group of civil society members, including D. Deb, rice scientist and Dr.Vandana , nutritionist, participated in the deliberations in the presence of several Union Government ministers and bureaucrats. [Watch Video]
Trial with 19 As-Resistant rice varieties begun in Bengal
On July 1, D. Deb planted 19 As-resistant rice varieties, compared to 2 modern HYVs on an organic farm in Nadia district of West Bengal, to examine As uptake in rice grains. Also, 6 flood tolerant varieties were planted in a deepwater plot.
Deb’s new study on efficacy of mixed farming productivity
Deb’s critique of SRI as dissonant with agroecology
In a recent paper, Deb shows several points of dissonance of SRI with principles of agroecology. Deb, Debal 2020. Is the system of rice intensification (SRI) consonant with agroecology. Agroecology and Sustainable Food Systems 44: 1338-1369. doi: 10.1080/1683565.2020.1779165
ORFC Discussion: on Biodiversity & Agroecology
Deb talked on”Why we Need Biodiversity: Guarding against Future Pandemics” on Oxford Real Farming Conference. Hear the discussion.
Deb’s new article in Scientific American Oct 2019
Talk on Domestic Water Conservation: Citizens’ Strategies
Dhaynbindu & Basudha organised a talk by Debal Deb on Domestic Water Conservation: Citizens’ Strategies at Ekatré Hall, Kalikapur, Kolkata.
Deb gave Orientation training to Manipuri farmers on landrace purity maintenance
On May 26 and 27, D Deb gave orientation training to 30 indigenous farmers on the need of maintaining genetic purity of folk rice varieties. The program was organised by The Green Foundation, Imphal.
BBC Interview: Landraces are best bet
Debal Deb’s Interview on BBC World Service: Landrces are the Best Bet to Grow Food on Marginal Farms. [Click to read]
Deb’s new paper on biomolecular mapping of rice grains
Deb’s new paper on mass spectroscopy showing localization of various biomolecules in the grains of selected rice landraces. This work was accomplished in T. Pradeep’s lab in IIT-M. Read here
Debal and Debdulal train Koraput farmers
Debal Deb and Debdulal Bhattacharya went to 4 villages in Boipariguda Block of Koraput district, Odisha on 29th and 30th August to give hands-on training in rouging techniques to maintain the genetic purity of the folk varieties distributed to them earlier this year. This year, more than 1100 farmers adopted 35 folk varieties to suit their land types.
The Guardian cites Deb’s work
John Vidal’s new article in The Guardian describes Deb’s work as “the antithesis of Bayer and Monsanto.” [Click to read]
Basudha Study Circle Talk by Santanu Mitra
Basudha Study Circle Talk on “Why You Should Be More Concerned about Glyphosate Herbicide than Farmers”, by Santanu Mitra, eminent expert on the environment and public health from Canada. February 24, 2018. 4:00-6:00 pm. 186A, Kalikapur Canal Road, Ekatre 2nd Floor, Kolkata 700099. [Watch video recording here]
Deb’s new paper identifies an Endangered Tree in Bengal
D. Deb has identified a hitherto unidentified rare tree, locally known as Sitapatra as Cordia macleodii, of which only 5 mature specimens are surviving in West Bengal. Deb also adds a few novel characters of this species to its taxonomic description. Here is the new paper, published in Dec 2017.
Deb presented agroecology before Gujarat Chief Minister
Kapil Shah and D Deb were invited to gave presentation before the Chief Minister, Gujarat, to suggest (a) enlisting of agroecology experts outside of mainstream agriculture universities on faculty of the proposed Organic Agriculture University, (b) agroecological design of a demonstration plot of the university, and (c) exclusion of GMOs from the State.
Agroecology training in Chittagong, Bangladesh
Deb gave agroecology training for farmers and NGOs at Chittagong, Bangladesh from 10-12 April 2016.
Agroecology and Sustainable Food Systems journal mentions Basudha’s work
Editorial of Agroecology and Sustainable Food Systems vol. 39 (6), 2015 mentions Basudha’s conservation and demonstration efforts. [Click to read] [Download PDF]
New Demonstration Farm in Kashipur, West Bengal
Under the auspices of Mr. Avik Saha, Basudha took over in November 2015 a new agroecological demonstration farm at Kashipur, West Bengal. This farm will (i) demonstrate agroecology and ecological fishery, and (ii) conserve multiple landraces of rice, millets, legumes and tubers.
22 Rice Landraces Rescued from Malkangiri District
D. Deb surveyed 4 blocks in Odisha’s Malkangiri district, and rescued 22 landraces to add to Vrihi’s accession.
Biotechnology Lab for Conservation Opened in Aug 2014
Basudha’s Biotechnology Laboratory for Conservation opened in Kolkata on 12 August 2014, entirely funded by Mr. Avik Saha, cultural activist and lawyer, and Basudha’s trustee. This laboratory is established with the explicit aim to promoting conservation of the country’s biological heritage. The lab will remain engaged in studies to reveal genetic, biochemical and nutraceutical properties of folk rice varieties; and tissue culture of critically endangered plants to promote their conservation for the benefit of the local communities. This is the only lab in the country that runs on individual donations, and does not, and will not receive any institutional funding support from any governmental or corporate institutions, and is entirely aimed at biodiversity conservation. Read report in Times of India (New Delhi/Kolkata) 13 August. [Download pdf]