NEW DELHI: The government may not be pushing hard for field trials of genetically modified (GM) crops due to pressure from an RSS-linked group , but the Centre’s premier agriculture research body has emphasized the importance of genetically engineered crops in bridging the demand and supply gap for foodgrains in future.

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The view of Indian Council of Agricultural Research ( ICAR ) is clearly reflected in its vision document which provides strategic framework for innovation-led inclusive and sustainable agricultural growth in the country.

‘Vision 2050’ has listed research into Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) among nine key areas which have to be harnessed for enhancing productivity, nutrients and farmers’ income.

ICAR in its vision document said, “Genetic enhancement is considered to be a major option to bridge the demand and supply gap under normal situations as well as under projected scenarios of increased frequency and intensity of stresses”.

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Though the document, released by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Patna on July 25, also noted that the GMOs do not provide a “miracle solution” to all problems, it talked in details of how scientific research in this area, backed by proper field trials, would help in dealing with safety and ethical aspects of the genetically engineered crops.

Interestingly, the Narendra Modi government too has taken similar stand and the central regulator - Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC) – had accordingly in July last year approved field trials of many transgenic varieties of rice, wheat, maize, sorghum, cotton, brinjal, mustard, potato, sugarcane and chickpea.

The GEAC had, however, made it mandatory for seed companies, research institutions and scientists to first get a nod from the state where they want to go for field trials. As a result, trials of many transgenic varieties of food crops got stuck with many states declining to provide no-objection certificate (NOC) for field trial.

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After the GEAC’s decision, many anti-GM groups including the RSS-linked Swadeshi Jagran Manch (SJM) had last year written to Union environment minister Prakash Javadekar asking him not to give the ministry’s nod to such approval by the central regulator. The SJM has been vehemently opposing field trials of GM crops in India for years.

Though the central regulator had approved field trials, many BJP-ruled states including Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Haryana, Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan, had denied permission for field trials. While Gujarat had refused to give its nod for field trials of only GM food crops, the other states did not agree for trials of any transgenic variety of seeds.

But, non-BJP ruled states too are in the list of naysayers. It includes Bihar, West Bengal, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.

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Besides emphasizing on “harnessing science and innovations”, the ICAR’s Vision 2050 also talks about many guiding principles for future research and education to increase agricultural productivity, efficiency and profitability. It enlists “genetic potential enhancement of agricultural commodities” as one of the focus areas of research.

“I am sure that ICAR Vision 2050 would stir new thinking in researchers to harness science, in the policymakers to develop policies for sustainable development of agriculture to provide food, income and livelihood, and in the consumers an urge to tailor their lifestyle, keeping in view the planetary boundaries of the Earth’s resource system”, said S Ayyappan, director general of ICAR, in his preface to the vision document.

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