Genetic modification of life forms is a scientific issue and politics does not produce scientific answers. Hence, the debate over commercial cultivation of genetically-modified (GM) crop should be approached scientifically, says an eminent geneticist.
?I think GM crop has attracted, may be, too much attention and also controversies. Neither is desirable because this is basically a scientific issue,? said Dronamraju Krishna Rao, president & director of Houston-based (US) Foundation for Genetic Research on the sidelines of a recent science meet in New Delhi. If any risk is involved, as some people fear, the issue should be resolved through science and research inside the laboratory rather on the political field, he suggested.
After an acrimonious debate between pro- and anti-Bt brinjal activists covering environmental, food safety and ethical concerns, India had put a moratorium on its commercial cultivation last February. The environment ministry later asked six leading science academies to study the issue of biotechnology in food crops with focus on transgenic crops and submit a report to the ministry and the Planning Commission. ?It seems India is proceeding very cautiously,? said Rao, who had been nominated for the Noble Peace Prize.
People here seem to feel safe when they are dealing with non-edible crops like rubber and cotton. On the other hand, they are not talking about brinjal and rice which greatly enhance food security, he added. Recently, a farmer group in Kochi approved a 12-year field trial of GM rubber. ?Genetically-modified foods can improve the country’s food security. But they have to be cautious, check for any health or allergy issues and then modify genetically. Go back to research, find out the reasons and produce a better variety next time where those toxic elements are not present. That?s the normal way of doing research,? Rao said.
In future, the size of cultivable land will be smaller and population will be higher. The answer can only come from science. The solution is only by increasing production. And if GM is part of it, then it should be examined and then encouraged, he suggested.
In terms of area growing GM crop, India is the fifth-largest country after US (154 million acre), Argentina (52 million acre), China (39.4 million acre) and Brazil(39 million acre) with around 18.8 million acre acreage, mainly cotton. India approved Bt cotton cultivation in 2003. Since then, the country’s cotton output has risen multi-fold.