Cover Story

DEBATE OVER GM CROPS

INTRODUCTION
WHAT ARE GM CROPS
Traditionally, a plant breeder tries to exchange genes between two plants to produce
offspring that have desired traits. This is done by transferring the male (pollen) of one
plant to the female organ of another. This cross breeding, however, is limited to
exchanges between the same or very closely related species. It can also take a long
time to achieve desired results and frequently, characteristics of interest do not exist in
any related species.
GM technology enables plant breeders to bring together in one plant useful genes from a
wide range of living sources, not just from within the crop species or from closely
related plants. This powerful tool allows plant breeders to do faster what they have been
doing for years – generate superior plant varieties – although it expands the possibilities
beyond the limits imposed by conventional plant breeding.
Thus, Genetically Modified crops (GM crops) are agrarian plants whose DNA has been
modified by using genetic engineering techniques. It includes insertion into a plant’s
genome one or several gene from another species of plant or even from a bacterium,
virus or animal. This is to inject desired traits such as resistance to certain pests,
diseases, environmental conditions, herbicides etc.

Goals like increasing nutritional value, bio-remediation, better yield, production of

pharmaceutical agents, bio-fuels etc. are also achieved through Gene Manipulation.
SCENARIO OF GM CROPS WORLDWIDE

US, Argentine, China, Mexico, Canada, and Australia were the first countries to plant
GM crops in 1996.
Of about 1.5 billion hectares of arable land worldwide, about 13 % (182 million hectares)
were used to plant GM crops in 2014. Of these 182 million ha, 96.2 million hectares lie
with the developing countries while 85.3 milllion hectares lie with developed countries.
US leads the chart in GM adoption, with more than 90% of its corn, cotton, canola grown
from GM seeds and about 70 % of its processed food containing GM ingredients.
28 countries globally cultivate GM crops today. Altogether 29 crops have been approved
for commercialization globally.
CLAIMS AND COUNTER-CLAIMS ON GM CROPS

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The controversy surrounding GM crops is not new. It has critics as well as admirers. In
the table below, the arguments in favor and against the cultivation of GM crops have
been mentioned.

In Favour Of GM Against GM Crops

Crops

Yield GM crops are  Most of the yield growth data are based on
believed to increase couple of crop cycles only and do not
yield and that is why indicate long term gains or losses.
farmers repeatedly
 Also, use of same kind of seeds and
buy fresh seeds even
harvesting technology failed to achieve
when an option to
same kind of yield growth in US and Canada
replant seeds (as is
as compared to that of EU.
in the case of Bt
Cotton in India) is

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 allowed.

Pest  GM crops are  Gene manipulation cannot guard any plant

Resistance more resistant to against all kind of pests in all terrain. It just
pests and makes it vulnerable to another pest.
diseases, reduce  There is also a chance for pests to evolve
crop losses and resistance to the toxins produced by GM
lessen the crops.
dependence on  Same companies are engaged is
pesticides. manufacturing and sales of GM seed as well
as pesticide. It does not make economic
 Pro-GM lobby
sense for them to produce verities that will
says that reduced
eliminate the need of pesticide.
used of pesticide
 Genes introduced in crops toxic to specific
(though not yet
insect pests may kill other beneficial insects,
officially
with effects on animals further up the food
confirmed) makes
chain.
it far more
economical.

Weed It will lead to easier  Indiscriminate use of weed killers may

Resistance control over infiltrate the soil and water system polluting
troublesome weeds rivers, waterways as well as groundwater
by killing the which may poison animals and plants that
unwanted plants and live off them and could get into human
leaving the food crop drinking water as well.
unaffected.
 Already some of the older GM plants have
led to weeds becoming resistant to most
popular weed killers. This mutation in weed
genes creates an opening for the industry to
sell more seeds and/or more pesticides. This
cycle will become more vicious in years to
come.
 USA has also seen increase in herbicide use
despite conversion of major crops like corn,
soybeans and cotton into modified varieties.

Food a. It may open up

Security new areas for

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 food production
and may be the
only solution to
rapidly changing
climate conditions
which make
natural crops
extra vulnerable.

b. It can be used to
shorten the crop
cycle of several
foods – such as
pulse or
sugarcane – by
making them
grow faster.

Designer  It could lead to  Effects of genetically engineered food on

Food the production of human health still remain unpredictable as
foods designed altering the naturally present chemicals may
specifically for a have an adverse impact on human body that
healthy diet as may not be detected for years.
well as better
 People with an allergy to a specific
taste and aroma.
ingredient may be unexpectedly affected by
 Probably it would a GM food that contains that substance.
be possible to
have plants that
can produce
useful medicines
and even
vaccines.

Ecological  It could lead to reduction in the diversity of

Impact wildlife in affected areas and possibly even
to the extinction of vulnerable species.
 Pollen from GM crops can also spread to
fields containing non-GM crops and can
result in supposedly non-GM foods actually

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 containing material from genetically
engineered crops.

ANALYSING THE ABOVE CLAIMS

As far as validity of claims like no human or ecological ill-effects, increased yields and
resistance to pests is concerned the global opinion seems divided.
The most noticeable case of ill impact on human health is Glyphosate - a herbicide
which is “probably carcinogenic”. The way the plant resists the herbicide has allowed
more residues to remain on the plant, so this has increased exposure to glyphosate
among GM food consumers.
But the European Commission and WHO have also generally given GM crops high
marks and their reports repeatedly say that GM foods currently available on the
international market are compliant with most of the safety assessments and are not likely
to present risks for human health.
The best case is the 2014 meta-analysis of 147 studies on farm surveys and field trials
of GM crops carried out across the world. Their results showed use increased crop
yields by 22%, reduced chemical pesticides by 37% and increased farmer profits
by 68%, with better results in developing countries than in developed ones.
In the developed world, there is clear evidence that the use of GM crops has resulted in
significant benefits. These include:

 Higher crop yields

 Reduced farm costs
 Increased farm profit

 Improvement in health and the environment

These “first generation” crops have proven their ability to lower farm-level production
costs. Now, research is focused on “second-generation” GM crops that will feature
increased nutritional and/or industrial traits. These crops will have more direct benefits
to consumers. Examples include:
 Rice enriched with iron, vitamin A and E, and lysine
 Potatoes with higher starch content, and inulin
 Edible vaccines in maize, banana and potatoes
 Maize varieties with low phytic acid and increased essential amino acids
 Healthier oils from soybean and canola
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 Allergen-free nuts

Together with the above observed benefits, few more points push for more trials of GM
crops like:
 Recently over 100 Nobel laureates wrote a letter to NGO Greenpeace to call off its
campaign against genetically modified (GM) crops which (according to them) is
based on “misleading” and “unscientific” facts.
 Global food production needs to be doubled in order to meet food demand by
2050 and without GM foods this is not possible.

 The time has come to re-examine the issue in the light of experiences of farmers and
consumers worldwide and gather new scientific findings for further analysis. For eg.
the campaign against Golden Rice- which is a genetically modified variety of rice
infused with Vitamin A- is a must for curing Vitamin A deficiency in children in Africa
who are affected by partial blindness because of the deficiency. Various studies have
reported that this is safe for consumption but its mass production is not allowed due
to intensive campaign by Greenpeace and its associates.
However WHO has also warned that there is no way to make a broad statement on the
health effect of GM foods and each individual product needs to be tested for safety.

THE INDIAN CASE

Despite having just one GM crop India is the fourth largest producer– behind USA,
Brazil and Argentina - of GM crops. USA currently allows GM cropping in eight crops.
Though GM cotton plants in the northern Indian states of Punjab and Haryana suffered
an attack of the whitefly pest in 2015, leading to heavy losses, experts blame this
situation to lack of sufficient R&D and monitoring facilities for GM crops in India. As more
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trails are conducted and a regulatory mechanism comes into play, such devastating
occurrences can be stopped.
In India GEAC, under Ministry of Environment & Forests, is the primary body which is
responsible for granting permits to conduct experimental and large-scale open field trials
and also grant approval for commercial release of biotech crops.
Five competent authorities i.e. the Institutional Bio-safety Committees (IBSC), Review
Committee of Genetic Manipulation (RCGM), Genetic Engineering Approval Committee
(GEAC), State Biotechnology Coordination Committee (SBCC) and District Level
Committee (DLC) handle various aspects of the issue as per GEAC directives.
Importance of GM Mustard Trials
 In July 2014, 28 proposals were submitted to GEAC for introducing new varieties of
GM. Out of this, 21 crops – both food and non-food crops – were approved for field
trials. The GM Mustard is first of these 21 items for which commercial cropping were
ordered to start in August 2016.
 If the trials of GM mustard variety named as Dhara Mustard Hybrid-11 or DMH-11are
successful mustard will become the first food item for which GM seeds will be
allowed.
 Bt Cotton is already being produced in several places with more than 10 million
hectares under cultivation. It has produced mixed results since 2002.
 The idea of Bt Brinjal was dropped in 2010 following large scale protests.

 A key difference this time is that unlike Bt Brinjal the GM mustard variety has been
developed by Delhi University’s Centre for Genetic Manipulation of Crop Plants.
Food Security And GM Crops
 Globally, raising food production to enhance food security has been a big help for
spread of GM crops. In India too an impending food crisis (if not overall but surely in
case of some important crops) is looming large.
 Crops such as pulse, oil seed and corn are facing crisis of decreased production as
cultivation of wheat, paddy and sugarcane is pursued to achieve basic level of food
security.
 The situation may only worsen as the United Nations estimates that the country’s
population, currently at 1.2 billion, will reach 1.8 billion by 2050.

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 On the other hand farmers in the country are currently losing over Rs. 50,000 crore
every year to fight off pests and diseases. Droughts, coupled with a lack of irrigation
facilities, are exacerbating the problem.
 GM crops – if they are declared safe – can solve many of these problems.
 For eg. a new form of pest-resistant pigeon pea developed by International Crops
Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) can increase output by 30%.
Currently India imports around 25% of these, commonly known as tur dal.
 Similarly, hybrid mustard has 25-30% higher yields than the natural seeds. The
GM mustard seed could be a huge money saver and lower the country’s
dependence on edible oil imports, which was worth over $10 billion in 2014-15.
 The case of Bt.Cotton (Bt stands for Bacillus thuringiensis, a bacteria that naturally
produces a protein—a biological pesticide—that kills the common crop pest
bollworm) is an example. Since its introduction in 2002 it has helped us in becoming
the second-largest cotton manufacturer in the world.
Affair of States
 Following the GEAC approval (as mentioned above) as many as 8 Indian states
have approved field trials of GM crops, between them allowing tests that include
transgenic rice, cotton, maize (corn), mustard, brinjal and chickpea.
 Still the new lenience on GM field trials cannot yield major benefits because as per
the Indian constitution agriculture remains a state level subject.

 In October 2016 the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change

(MoEFCC) called a meeting of State Agriculture Departments as part of a capacity
building project aimed at strengthening biosafety management systems in India.

 Only 9 States participated in the discussions which centred on removing hurdles to

research on GM crops, conduct of field trials, and selection of designated test
sites.
 Kerala conveyed its strident objection to research and field trials of GM crops
due to their reservation on issues such as threat posed by GM crops to agro-
biodiversity and human and animal health. It specifically cited the endosulfan
tragedy in Kasaragod to justify its stand.
 States such as Bihar – an important cultivator of mustard – has already denied its
permission for GM mustard production.

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 As of now there are still around 20 states and Union territories that remain
indecisive whether to allow GM crops or not. As a result, despite GEAC granting
permission to 80 field-trial applications state-governments continue to block trials.
 Unfortunately most of these trials were to be conducted by India’s universities
and public-sector institutions. Denial of trial to them can retard the progress of
domestic technology, whereas multinational firms such as Monsanto can test GM
crops elsewhere. Ultimately when GM crops will be allowed we will be forced to buy
MNC seeds without any localization analysis.
 The level of distrust is so deep on this issue that even leading Indian research
institutions are labelled as ‘front’ for MNCs who will ultimately acquire copyrights
and sale these seeds under their own brand.
Need of a better regulatory mechanism
 The Indian government has also been lax in evolving a suitable regulatory
mechanism for fair trail of GM crops. One issue that critics and scientists agree on
is the need for legislation to improve biotechnology regulations. A regulatory bill that
failed to get through Parliament in 2013 is now being revised, but could take two
years or more to be passed.
 Simultaneously a USFDA like food administration body that can decide the safety
of GM foods is still to come up. So the claims of unsafe items being forced on
consumers are a real threat. But sooner or later India will have to face this problem.
 In 2013 the DGFT made it mandatory for labelling of GM components in
imported items. Still in the case of home-manufactured products like edible oil,
there are chances of GM cottonseed oil being mixed with other edible oil without any
labelling.
 As farmers in neighbouring Bangladesh have began cultivating GM Brinjal in
2014 chances of such items coming to India has grown. So whether we grow such
foods or not having a regulatory mechanism in place is must.
 Similarly important is resolving IPR issues that have again reared up with the
Andhra Pradesh government seeking compulsory licensing or revocation of
the Bt cotton technology patent in its struggle with Monsanto. Such
interventions create regulatory uncertainty and deter the entry of competitors that
could check monopolistic conditions.
If the government is to lay the ground for a measured, tested introduction of GM crops, it
must clean house. Given agricultural distress and the need for broad reforms in the
sector—and the potential of GM crops to supplement those reforms with increased

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drought resistance and reduced pesticide dependence, among other benefits—
opposition must be managed, not allowed to hold sway.
It can start with transparency; keeping biosafety data out of the public domain, as has
been done with GM mustard, will not help. Nor will the lacking regulatory regime, rightly
pointed out as being inadequate by the Supreme Court. Taking up the proposed
Biotechnology Regulatory Authority of India Bill again is a must. So is resolving IPR
issues that have again reared up with the Andhra Pradesh government seeking
compulsory licensing or revocation of the Bt cotton technology patent in its struggle with
Monsanto. Such interventions create regulatory uncertainty and deter the entry of
competitors that could check monopolistic conditions.

CONCLUSION
Despite the current uncertainty over GM crops, one thing remains clear. This technology,
with its potential to create economically important crop varieties, is simply too valuable to
ignore. There are, however, some valid concerns. If these issues are to be resolved,
decisions must be based on credible, science-based information. Finally, given the
importance people place on the food they eat, policies regarding GM crops will have to
be based on an open and honest debate involving a wide cross-section of society.

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