GM trees bloom in rush to feed growing paper industry

Hyderabad, July 20: With the Indian paper and pulp industry placing greater demands on the plantations and forests, there is a growing need for genetically-modified (GM) trees to help the Indian paper industry. Hence, the proposed National Forest Policy is expected to give a thrust to GM trees for boosting the paper industry as well as improving the quality of by-products of wood.

But since GM trees are grown outside the pale of nature, there is broad consensus among industry experts on the need for sound regulations.

According to a new global study of biotechnology in forestry conducted by the Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO), it warns that a regulatory framework is needed to govern research and application of GM forest trees on a case-by-case basis.

The benefits of growing GM trees include increased wood production, improved wood quality and resistance against insects, diseases and herbicides. Besides, production and processing costs of wood or chips could be reduced, thus assisting the paper industry.

On the other hand, according to an FAO report, the potential risks involved in GM plantation are transgene instability, plantation failure, poor wood quality, development of tolerance to the modified trait by insects or disease organisms and the escape of modified genes into natural ecosystems.

Agrees Kasi Viswanathan, director (operations), Seshasayee Paper and Boards, “The environmental risk assessment studies must be conducted, besides disseminating the economic value of the forest produce.”

Currently, the industry is working on clones or better hybrid varieties for improving the yield.

While the US, France and Canada are the most active players, India and China are the most active developing countries and countries in transition, the report said. While forest biotechnology activities have spread to at least 140 trees, the main focus is on six varieties: pinus, eucalyptus, picea, populus, quercus and acacia. Further, while over 2,700 biotechnology activities have been reported in the world over the last decade, genetic modification accounts for about 19% only, the study pointed out.

However, overall genetic modification activities in forestry are taking place in at least 35 countries, with the vast majority restricted to the laboratory and with some supporting field trials.