The DBT secretary’s statement comes at a time when several groups debate introducing GM technology in agriculture in India. Both pro-GM farmers and anti-GM activists have blamed the Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC) — which is responsible for appraisal of proposals relating to release of genetically engineered (GE) organisms and products into the environment including experimental field trials — for inaction.
During the cotton sowing season this year, several farmers in Maharashtra and Gujarat resorted to growing the new versions of herbicide tolerant BT Cotton, a GMO seed, in protest against the regulator’s inaction in giving approvals to the new variants of BT cotton. In Haryana, a farmer was found cultivating BT brinjal illegally in his farm.
These illegal cultivations have highlighted the complex side of the GMO debate in the country.
GEAC comes under the environment, forest and climate change ministry, but it’s cochaired by a representative from DBT, which is under the science and technology ministry.
Swarup, who holds a doctorate in genetics and plant breeding, is of the view that too much attention has been given to the GM debate, which has taken the focus away from other emerging agritech.
“Because one technology is not being able to reach to the commercial level because of whatever commercial matters or policy matters taken, we cannot ignore the other technology that is being used,” she said. DBT has introduced marker-resistance selection in seeds — a form of antibiotic for plants to resist worm infection — and speed breeding — a technique that hastens development of new crop. It has also introduced nutrient-rich varieties of rice, wheat and maize, and disease-resistant and climate-resistant varieties of seeds.
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The India government will continue to support research in genetic engineering and modification in the country even as debate rages over the use of Genetically Modified (GM) seeds.