The controversy over GM crops
20 Oct 2012 10:12 PM GMT
The future of GM crops in India, where it has faced a rather chequered trajectory till date, is now even more uncertain. Acting on a PIL, the Supreme Court had appointed a high-level committee to look into the case of GM crops and their viability in the Indian scenario and the committee, in what is seen as a sharp blow to the industry, has suggested placing a moratorium on all field trials. The recommendations of the committee are being taken note of by the Supreme Court and it may be that, with field trials becoming illegal, the GM crop industry will face a decade of difficulties in India. GM crops are a sensitive issue and yet a scientific problem whose implications are important and not well understood by many who will be affected if any such crop is introduced in India. GM crops are controversial. This is because it is not clear whether they are a panecea for human nutritional problems or otherwise. They have been touted as a solution to the world’s food deficit, which has now become glaring. Inevitably, at present, it is either Indian seed companies or multinationals who are pushing for GM crops. It is possible that untested GM crops may damage the ecological balance of plantation habitations and crops and the results may be devastating in the long term. The recommendations have come from a committee limited to scientists from the Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology and the National Institute of Nutrition, though there was a review process. Perhaps the committee should have been broad-based, and included scientists from related disciplines.
The issue of GM crops has been widely discussed in the Indian media though the government has been indecisive on the issue. It should have conducted extensive tests of GM crops to find out whether these crops could help solve the agricultural crisis prevalent in India before the matter went to the Supreme Court. But it has waffled on the issue, turning over the initiative to those who filed a PIL, short-circuiting the discussion on the crops, which was a scientific necessity. The government inaction, is therefore, not good news for those interested in a solution to the problems of Indian agriculture. A blanket ban on testing is not an ideal solution. In the present state of research and development, GM crops may possibly be a threat to humans and to some crops, but further refinement in tscience, could make them a valuable addition to human and animal diet. this can only be discovered by rsearch and testing. The Supreme Court, while preventing extensive immediate cultivation of GM crops, should not place a blanket ban on testing, in the interests of science.
The issue of GM crops has been widely discussed in the Indian media though the government has been indecisive on the issue. It should have conducted extensive tests of GM crops to find out whether these crops could help solve the agricultural crisis prevalent in India before the matter went to the Supreme Court. But it has waffled on the issue, turning over the initiative to those who filed a PIL, short-circuiting the discussion on the crops, which was a scientific necessity. The government inaction, is therefore, not good news for those interested in a solution to the problems of Indian agriculture. A blanket ban on testing is not an ideal solution. In the present state of research and development, GM crops may possibly be a threat to humans and to some crops, but further refinement in tscience, could make them a valuable addition to human and animal diet. this can only be discovered by rsearch and testing. The Supreme Court, while preventing extensive immediate cultivation of GM crops, should not place a blanket ban on testing, in the interests of science.
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