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NITI Aayog member Ramesh Chand recently called for adoption of genetically modified (GM) crops to achieve self-sufficiency in edible oils. With the Supreme Court telling the government last year to finalise a national policy on GM crops, there now seems to be a gradual acceptance that the benefits outweigh the risks, explains Sandip Das
l What has been India’s stance on GM crops?
INDIA HAD FIRST approved genetically modified (GM) cotton — Bt cotton — in 2002. Since 2008, no new varieties of GM cotton seed have been approved.
Bt brinjal was approved in 2012 by the Genetic Engineering Approval Committee (GEAC, which was later converted into the Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee with truncated powers), but it was shelved by the government later citing environmental concerns.
Last year, a Supreme Court division bench issued a split verdict on petitions challenging the approval given by the GEAC and the ministry of environment and forests to commercially cultivate and release a genetically modified mustard variety— HT Mustard DMH-11, developed by the Centre for Genetic Manipulation of Crop Plants, Delhi University. The apex court had then directed the government to develop a national policy on GM crops. A few months back, agriculture minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said GM technology is “like playing with nature”, even if it helps increase productivity, indicating a reluctance to give the green signal to GM crops.
l India’s experience with Bt cotton
GENETICALLY MODIFIED FOR resistance to bollworms, Bt cotton saw rapid adoption by farmers since its introduction in 2002. Over the past two decades, Bt cotton has grown to dominate India’s cotton cultivation, now accounting for over 95% of the cotton area. A recent paper by the Central Institute of Cotton Research reported a significant increase in cotton yields between 2002 and 2016, although recent years display mixed results due to secondary pest infestations and heightened yield variability. After the introduction of Bt cotton in India, cotton yield has increased to 435 kg per hectare in 2023-24 from 191 kg per hectare in 2002-03. The adoption of Bt cotton has also helped reduced pesticide usage, thus not only lowering input costs and raising farmers’ incomes but also improving the health and safety of farmers, as they are less exposed to harmful chemicals.
l Why is Niti Aayog batting for GM crops?
INDIA IS ABLE to meet only 43% of its edible oil demand through domestic production, with the rest being met via imports of palm, soyabean and sunflower oils from countries such as Indonesia, Malaysia , Ukraine and Argentina. While mustard (41%), soyabean (24%) and groundnut (7%) are the major oilseeds grown domestically, soyabean yield has remained stagnant since the 1970s though crop-growing area has expanded.
With demand for edible oil set to go up further, Niti Aayog member Ramesh Chand has said that increasing productivity per acre is the only way out to ensure self-sufficiency, and that can be achieved through GM soyabean. This could help soyabean yield increase by 70-80%. Currently, the yield of soyabean in the US, which grows largely GM varieties, is at least three times that of India’s yield of about a tonne per hectare. Proper safeguards in the form of stringent consumer labelling laws would also alleviate any apprehensions regarding GM food, he emphasized. He also cited China’s recent move to approve 75 varieties of GM crops after years of hesitation as a signal that India cannot afford to remain on the sidelines any longer. A shift towards GM technology could also open doors for strategic trade relationships, particularly with the US.
l Experience of other countries
OVER 30 COUNTRIES including USA, Brazil, Canada, Argentina and EU nations such as Spain, Portugal, Czech Republic, Romania and others have granted approvals for GM crop cultivation. While nearly 90% of US’s soyabean crop is genetically modified, in case of corn it is 100%. France had initially approved cultivation of GM crops such as maize, rapeseed and soyabean, but later placed a moratorium on these crops. Germany discourages cultivation of GM crops and has strict regulations and monitoring in place. EU has stringent labelling requirement for GM food and animal feed products, mandating that any product incorporating a GM ingredient above a threshold of 0.9% must be clearly labelled, which is applicable for packaging and display.
l Potential challenges
WIDESPREAD ADOPTION OF GM crops could affect India’s high-valued agricultural exports to countries where transgenic crops are highly regulated, particularly GM-sensitive markets like Europe. experience in other countries. When Bt cotton was introduced in India, there were issues like pest resistance and secondary pest outbreaks. Rise in seed prices and a monopoly situation amongst seed suppliers is another concern. Farmers growing GM crops would be dependent on the companies for seeds each year, as they can’t save hybrid seeds for the next season. There are also apprehensions that GM crops when grown near other crops can lead to genetic contamination, and even create ‘super weeds’. Ecologists also say that GM crops can harm non-target insects, thereby affecting species diversity.
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