The Ongoing Debate on Genetically Modified Crops in India

Source– This post on The Ongoing Debate on Genetically Modified Crops in India has been created based on the article “Contested harvest” published in “The Hindu” on 2 August 2024.

UPSC Syllabus–GS Paper-2– Government Policies and Interventions for Development in various sectors and Issues arising out of their Design and Implementation.

Context- Recently, a two-judge Bench of the Supreme Court of India gave a split verdict on whether to permit genetically modified mustard, DMH-11, for use in farms. DMH-11, developed at Delhi University’s biotechnology department with public funding, features genes that make it appealing for creating new hybrid varieties.

Currently, only GM cotton is allowed in India. Although GM seeds have been developed for crops like rice, wheat, tomato, brinjal, and mustard, none of these have been approved for use.

What are the Key points about DMH-11?

1) Approval Process– To be approved in India, crops must be tested over three seasons in various climates and show consistent improvement over current varieties.

2) Trial Results- Trials by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research over three years showed that DMH-11 met these criteria.

3) GEAC Approval- Based on these results, the Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC) approved DMH-11 in October 2022, subject to certain tests.

A detailed article on GM Crops in India: Issues and challenges can be read here.

What are the issues with DMH-11?

1) Environmental Concerns- Environmentalists argue that DMH-11 is ‘herbicide tolerant,’ which would require farmers to use certain pesticides. This may harm the environment.

2) Transparency Issues- The developers did not clearly disclose that the crop is herbicide-tolerant.

3) Legal Challenges- The Supreme Court’s split verdict highlights the complexity of the issue, so the case will be reviewed by a larger Bench led by the Chief Justice of India.

A) Justice Nagarathna’s View- She believed the GEAC ignored the ‘precautionary principle,’ which requires careful consideration of new technologies before approval.

B) Justice Karol’s View- He was satisfied with how the approval process was handled.

Way ahead-The Court ordered the Centre to develop a comprehensive policy on GM crops. Further, the Court and government should keep in mind that striving for improvement should not be hindered by the pursuit of perfection.

Question for practice

What are the main features or highlights of DMH-11? What challenges are associated with DMH-11?