SC agrees to investigate ‘compelling case’ for allowing GM crops doesn’t bode well for agriculture
Post Date – 12:25 AM, Mon – 12 December 22
SC agrees to investigate ‘compelling case’ for allowing GM crops doesn’t bode well for agriculture
Only science can guide policy for the adoption of new crop technologies. Unfortunately, in India, public discourse on GMO technology is often clouded by politics, paranoid activism, and fear mongering. Issues that must be decided by evidence-based science are often hijacked by alarmist ideologies that create fear to prevent the introduction of new technologies. The matter has now been pushed into litigation even after the country’s biotech regulator approved the introduction of the GM mustard after a lengthy review. It would be prudent if the Supreme Court did not examine the issue of GM mustard. The Supreme Court’s agreement to investigate “compelling reasons” for allowing genetically modified crops does not bode well for the established policy of using modern technology to increase crop yield and productivity. The matter has been thoroughly scrutinized by the government at different levels based on hard scientific data. Climate change requires the development of seeds that can withstand changes in temperature and precipitation. The Genetic Engineering Assessment Committee (GEAC) has approved the genetically modified mustard developed by the University of Delhi and recommended it to be placed on the market. Governments should not miss the opportunity to let farmers benefit from science. You can’t dilly-dally, agriculture is inseparable from science and technology. The introduction of genetically modified mustard will serve the public interest on several levels. India imports 60 percent of its cooking oil, worth $19 billion a year, a small portion of which is genetically modified soybean oil.
GM mustard has the potential to be a game changer for India in terms of increasing oilseed yield and productivity and reducing dependence on imported cooking oil. Neither the consumers of this GM oil nor the exporting countries that grow the crop have encountered any problems. The ICAR trial showed that the yield of GM mustard was 28% higher than that of domestic varieties. The genetically modified mustard requires no additional inputs of water, fertilizers or pesticides, which translates into higher yields at lower costs. It’s also the result of publicly funded R&D, debunking the usual conspiracy theories. As India looks to increase oilseed production in its Aatmanirbhar campaign, promoting GM mustard will go a long way in boosting the cause. Approval of GM crops follows multiple studies proving their safety and effectiveness, as well as rigorous government scrutiny. While ideological or political opposition to GM foods still exists in some quarters, the courts are certainly not the forum for resolving such debates. Administrators must be able to formulate policy on such matters without being plagued by unnecessary litigation. In 2004, India allowed the commercial cultivation of non-food crop genetically modified cotton. Its rapid adoption has helped the country transform from a net importer to a major exporter. This can also be replicated in oilseeds.
