Genetically Modified Crops in India

Genetically Modified Crops in India

GM crops or Genetically Modified is the new word which continues to make headlines regularly. Recently, newspapers were abuzz about the reports that union govt. has cleared the way for field trials of GM crops in India and questions are being raised about the impact of such field trials. But what are GM crops? Why are they turning out to be the most controversial topic in the recent times?

GM crops also known as biotech crops are those plants which have added specialties or features with the help of genetic engineering. The DNA of such plants is genetically modified to induct new trends in plants. When scientists genetically modify a plant, they insert a foreign gene in the plant's own genes. This might be a gene from a bacterium resistant to pesticide, For example:- a genetically modified crop might have more resistance against pests or it could be less effected by climatic fluctuations, or might even become more nutritious.

First such DNA was discovered in the year 1935 by Russian scientist Andrei Nikolaevitch Belozersky. In 1975, a group of biologists created guidelines for the safe use of GM crops. The first genetically modified plant was produced in 1982, using an antibiotic-resistant tobacco plant. The first field trials of genetically engineered plants occurred in France and the USA in 1986, when tobacco plants were engineered to be resistant to herbicides. In US, tomatoes were modified in 1994 to have a longer shelf life.

In India, GM cotton has been in use since 2002 but GM crops made headlines for the first time when Bt. Brinjal or genetically modified brinjals’ start was suspended after environment minister Jairam Ramesh raised health and environmental issues about GM crops and called for another study on this issue. Besides cotton, genetic engineering experiments are being conducted on maize, mustard, sugarcane, sorghum, pigeonpea, chickpea, rice, tomato, brinjal, potato, banana, papaya, cauliflower, oilseeds, castor, soyabean and medicinal plants in India.

Now let’s discuss about the pros and cons of GM crops. Well, GM crops are very effective in inducting new traits in the plants, by making its life longer, adding nutrient content, reducing its dependency on climate, at times shortening the ripening period of the crop. GM crops give many times better yields that the regular crops. But there are certain questions over the safety of such crops. In an experiment in Switzerland, rats fed with GM potatoes suffered internal organ damages. At times, the DNA added might have positive impact on the health but at times it may also backfire because they are not natural. Also, many insect resistant crops may harm the environment and soil where they are grown. The biggest problem with GM crops is their unpredictable nature. The quantity of yield, effects on health after consumption might par cross the pre set assumptions as such crops are very unpredictable.

GM crops are very good for a country which has very low agricultural production. But for a country like India which exceeds other nations in production of food grains, the need for field trials of GM crops raise several questions. When we have adequate natural sources to exhaust our food grain production capacity then why should we become dependent on genetically engineered crops? The issue of GM crops calls for a review and an exhaustive study on the health and environmental impact of such food.