NEW DELHI: Opposing the Supreme Court-constituted technical expert committee’s recommendation for a 10-year moratorium on field trials of genetically modified food crops, the Union government on Friday said if accepted, the move could set India back by two decades in terms of scientific research.

Sounding the grave warning, the agriculture and environment ministries through attorney general G E Vahanvati said, “A 10-year moratorium on GM crop trials will be a blow to Indian science as it would put the country 20 years back in scientific research in comparison to fast growing economies who are developing GM crops like Brazil and China.”

The Centre added, “A ban on GM crop field trials will be highly detrimental and not in the national interest. Adoption of the interim recommendations of the TEC will bring to a halt the process of testing/assessment of the safety of GM crops. The entire working of the regulatory agencies, the research activities on GM crops and in turn the need of the country to realize the potential benefit of modern biotechnology in terms of food security would come to a virtual halt if moratorium/ban is imposed on field trials of GM crops.”

Petitioners Aruna Rodrigues and NGO ‘Gene Campaign’ pitched for acceptance of the TEC’s interim report and implementation of the moratorium on the ground that unless “precautionary principle” was applied in this case, grave and irreversible pollution of indigenous gene pool of food crops would take place, wiping out world renowned Indian agri-brands like basmati rice.

But the Union government found support from the industry in arguing for GM crops. The Centre, said a moratorium on field trials of GM crops would have cascading implications.

