Posted: Thu, 10/27/22 10:59pm Updated
The public discourse about GMOs is often clouded by politics, delusional activism, and fear-mongering. Questions that must be decided by evidence-based science are often hijacked by alarmist ideologies that create fear to prevent the introduction of new technologies. This misaligned movement will deprive farmers of the opportunity to benefit from modern scientific research. The Genetic Engineering Assessment Committee (GEAC) of the Ministry of Environment has now approved the genetically modified (GM) mustard developed by the University of Delhi and recommends it be placed on the market. Governments should not lose opportunities for farmers to benefit from science. Without science and technology, agriculture cannot prosper. As India looks to increase oilseed production through its Aatmanirbhar campaign, the promotion of genetically modified mustard will go a long way towards this cause. The Indian Council of Agricultural Research has also approved environmental post-release studies on pollinators, clearing the last hurdle. Once approved, the GM mustard would be the first GM crop approved for commercial cultivation since Bt cotton was approved in 2002. In 2009, the environment ministry headed by Jairam Ramesh rejected the commercial release of India’s first genetically modified food, Bt eggplant, despite regulatory approval. On the other hand, GM mustard has the potential to be a game-changer for India in terms of increasing oilseed production and productivity and reducing reliance on imported edible oils.
The genetically modified mustard developed by the publicly funded Delhi University team has passed extensive safety trials. The 26-member top technology body, GEAC, has gone a step further, placing safety studies in the public domain for review. This was done because the fate of the Bt eggplant was cleared by GEAC but then rejected, succumbing to pressure from environmental groups. In 2004, India allowed the commercial cultivation of genetically modified cotton, a non-food crop. Its rapid adoption has helped the country transform from a net importer to a large exporter. This can also be replicated in oilseeds. Currently, more than two-thirds of domestic edible oil demand comes from imports, mainly from Argentina and Brazil. It’s time to give science its due in policy making, as the country cannot miss out on the technological revolution because of misplacement and irrational fears. Farmers should benefit from modern biotechnology to increase the yield and nutritional value of food crops. Skeptics often question the safety of GM crops, but it should be noted that global consumption of GM seed food over the past 20+ years has not resulted in a single case of disease. The center needs to bite the bullet and make a bold decision to allow the cultivation of genetically modified food crops for the benefit of farmers.
