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[Derrick Drescher]

Genetically Modified Food In India: Benefits, Risks and Regulations

Genetically modified (GM) food crops are plants that have been altered using biotechnology to introduce desirable traits such as pest resistance, drought tolerance, enhanced nutrition or longer shelf life. GM food crops have been widely adopted in many countries, including India, where they have the potential to increase agricultural productivity, food security and income for farmers. However, GM food crops also pose some challenges and controversies, such as environmental and health risks, ethical and social concerns, trade barriers and labelling issues. In this article, we will explore the history, status and impact of GM food crops in India, as well as the regulatory framework and public perception of this technology.

History of GM food crops in India

The first GM food crop to be approved for commercial cultivation in India was Bt cotton in 2002. Bt cotton is a transgenic crop that produces a toxin from the bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) that kills certain insect pests. Bt cotton has been widely adopted by Indian farmers, who have reported higher yields, lower pesticide use and increased profits. According to a report by the International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-biotech Applications (ISAAA), India was the largest producer of Bt cotton in the world in 2019, with 11.9 million hectares planted [^1^].

However, Bt cotton is the only GM food crop that has been commercially cultivated in India so far. Other GM food crops, such as Bt brinjal (eggplant), herbicide-tolerant (HT) cotton and GM mustard, have faced regulatory hurdles and public opposition. Bt brinjal was developed by an Indian company, Mahyco, in collaboration with Monsanto and Cornell University. It was approved by the Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC) in 2009, but was put on hold by the then Minister of Environment and Forests, Jairam Ramesh, in 2010, citing public concerns and scientific uncertainty [^2^]. HT cotton is a transgenic crop that can tolerate glyphosate, a widely used herbicide. It was illegally cultivated by some farmers in Maharashtra and Gujarat in 2017-2018, but was not approved by the GEAC [^3^]. GM mustard is a hybrid crop that uses a gene from a soil bacterium to increase its yield. It was developed by Delhi University scientists and was recommended by the GEAC for commercial release in 2017, but was stalled by the Supreme Court of India due to petitions filed by activists and farmers .

Benefits of GM food crops in India

GM food crops offer several benefits for India's agriculture and food security. Some of these benefits are:

• Increased yield: GM food crops can enhance crop productivity by improving resistance to pests, diseases, drought and salinity. For example, Bt cotton has increased cotton yield by 24% on average in India . GM mustard has shown a yield advantage of 25-30% over conventional varieties .

• Reduced pesticide use: GM food crops can reduce the need for chemical pesticides that are harmful to human health and the environment. For example, Bt cotton has reduced pesticide use by 50% on average in India . Bt brinjal has shown a reduction of 42-70% in insecticide sprays .

• Enhanced nutrition: GM food crops can improve the nutritional quality of food by increasing the content of vitamins, minerals, proteins or fatty acids. For example, golden rice is a transgenic rice that produces beta-carotene, a precursor of vitamin A, which can prevent blindness and other diseases caused by vitamin A deficiency . Iron-fortified rice is another example of a GM food crop that can address iron deficiency anemia .

• Increased income: GM food crops can increase the income of farmers by reducing input costs, increasing yield and quality, and accessing new markets. For example, Bt cotton has increased the net income of farmers by 50% on average in India . Bt brinjal has shown a net return 51082c0ec5