Genetically Modified Crops

Published on 06 Apr 2025

The process of introducing DNA into an organism's genome is known as genetic modification. Genetically Modified Crops are crops created via genetic engineering.

Benefits of GM Crops

• Increased Crop Yields: Genetically modified crops can be designed for increased pest resistance and yields, which can assist address food security challenges.

• Example: Gene editing in tomato for enhancing the disease resistance of tomatoes

• Enhanced Nutritional Content: By raising the amounts of vitamins, minerals, and other vital nutrients in crops by engineering, malnutrition can be prevented and human health can be improved.

• Example: Golden rice with improved Vitamin A

• Adaptation to Climate Change: GM technology can help to mitigate the effects of climate change on agriculture by producing crops that are more resistant to heat, drought, and other environmental changes.

• Example: Ranjit Sub1 and Bahadur Sub1 are flood resistant varieties of rice.

• Improved Crop Quality: GM crops have the potential to increase crop quality and shelf life through the reduction of post-harvest losses, improvement of flavor, nutritional qualities, and ease of storage and transportation.

• Example: Pusa Narendra Kalanamak 1638 and Pusa Narendra Kalanamak 1652 of Kalanamak rice produced double yield in Uttar Pradesh

• Reduced Pesticide Use: To lessen the need for chemical pesticides and encourage more environmentally friendly pest management techniques, some GM crops are engineered to create their own insecticides or to withstand herbicides.

Concerns related to GM Crops

• Safety Concerns: Concerns about the safety of GM crops for use in food production and the environment, including potential risks of toxicity, allergic reactions, and unexpected ecological consequences, are still being discussed and debated.

• Example: Brinjal is a member of the Solanaceaeto plant family, which is hazardous due to the presence of numerous naturally occurring toxins that can reappear when metabolism is interrupted.

• Risk to human health: Regular ingestion of genetically engineered brinjal can lead to immunological, hepatic, and reproductive problems, according to Mahyco's toxicity research.

• Intellectual Property Rights: IPR issues, such as biotechnology corporations patenting GM innovations and monopolizing seed supply, create concerns about farmer autonomy, access to genetic resources, and equitable benefit sharing.

• Regulatory Hurdles: Research, development, and commercialization can be hampered by strict regulatory frameworks and approval procedures for GM crops in many nations, which can cause delays and uncertainty in market access.

• Market acceptance: Market acceptance and adoption of GM crops can be impeded by consumer skepticism public views, and labeling rules pertaining to GM foods.

Government initiatives and policy measures

• Environment (Protection) Act, 1986:  Includes regulatory framework for approval of GM Crops as per “Rules for the Manufacture/Use/Import/Export and Storage of Hazardous Microorganisms, Genetically Engineered Organisms or Cells, 1989”

• Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC): The organization controls the import, export, manufacturing, storage, and use of dangerous germs and genetically modified organisms in India.

• Biological Diversity Act, 2002: Fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising out of the utilisation of genetic resources. 

International initiatives

• International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture: Main objective is the conservation and sustainable use of all plant genetic resources for food and agriculture and the fair and equitable sharing of the benefits arising out of their use.

• Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD): Its objectives are to protect biodiversity, encourage the wise use of biological resources, and make sure that the advantages of genetic resources are distributed fairly.

• Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety: It aims to ensure the safe handling, transport and use of living modified organisms (LMOs) resulting from modern biotechnology that may have adverse effects on biological diversity.

Way Forward

• Evidence-Based Regulation: Establish scientifically grounded regulatory frameworks and risk assessment procedures to guarantee genetically modified agriculture's safety, effectiveness, and environmental sustainability.

• Ethical and Social Considerations: Address the ethical and social aspects of GM crop adoption, such as equity, access, and indigenous knowledge, to promote inclusive and socially responsible agricultural development.

• Sustainable Agriculture Practices: To optimize benefits and reduce trade-offs, combine GM crop technologies with sustainable agricultural methods like integrated pest management, conservation agriculture, and agroecological techniques.

• Adaptive Management and Monitoring: Implement monitoring systems and adaptive management techniques to evaluate the long-term effects of GM crops on environmental sustainability and human health.

Case study

• Bt Cotton in India: Reduced pest damage and increased crop yields are the outcomes of using Bt cotton to combat the cotton bollworm. When compared to non-Bt cotton types, farmers reported notable increases in profitability and productivity.

Tags:
Environment

Keywords:
Agriculture Conservation GM crops GEAC

Syllabus:
General Studies Paper 3

Topics:
Environment and Climate Change