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On October 18, India's Genetic Engineering Approval Board (GEAC) approved an assessment of GM mustard grown in the open field, one of the sources of edible oil – a key step in
commercial cultivation.
But an anti-GM crop group disputed this: India's Supreme Court is scheduled for a hearing
on November 17.
If the Supreme Court ultimately upholds GEAC's decision, it would be India's first GM food crop
.
Under the challenge of global warming, this momentous decision will improve food security
in the world's most populous country in the future.
But India, which has a protracted legal dispute over such decisions, will it license the production of GM crops?
Many scientists supported GEAC's decision
.
Rakesh Tuli, a crop geneticist at the University of Punjab, said the approval paves the way for the application of GM to many other crops and potentially reduces costs
.
.
Rakesh Tuli, a crop geneticist at the University of Punjab, said the approval paves the way for the application of GM to many other crops and potentially reduces costs
.
GEAC made "a landmark decision" to help
more GM crops be licensed for commercialization.
Geneticist Deepak Pental agrees, and his team developed and tested problematic genetically modified mustard greens
at Delhi University.
More importantly, the decision will encourage scientists in both the public and private sectors to develop better varieties to deal with pests and predict complex weather
caused by global warming.
″
more GM crops be licensed for commercialization.
Geneticist Deepak Pental agrees, and his team developed and tested problematic genetically modified mustard greens
at Delhi University.
More importantly, the decision will encourage scientists in both the public and private sectors to develop better varieties to deal with pests and predict complex weather
caused by global warming.
″
Whether India's Supreme Court agrees with the scientists is unclear
.
Turi said the court must decide whether to heed the scientific advice of the state regulator or public sentiment
.
.
Turi said the court must decide whether to heed the scientific advice of the state regulator or public sentiment
.
Opposition organizations ↓
The opposition group, the Coalition for a GM-free India, said GEAC's decision lacked scientific rigor and that the GM mustard lacked testing
for bees and other pollinators, as well as the effects of introducing a foreign gene on herbicide resistance.
Pental disputed this, saying that all relevant tests had been carried out and data had been
submitted.
for bees and other pollinators, as well as the effects of introducing a foreign gene on herbicide resistance.
Pental disputed this, saying that all relevant tests had been carried out and data had been
submitted.
Other groups opposed to GEAC include two right-wing wings of the ruling government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi: Swadeshi Jagaran Manch and Bharatiya Kisan Sangh, a farmers' association of India, which has previously called for an end to GM crop trials
in the fields.
in the fields.
Scientists who have followed the case say the case could be resolved
within two or three months of a hearing if the court agrees, requiring only interpretation of existing data or a small amount of additional data.
But if the court asks for new data, such as the effects of genetically modified mustard oil on monkeys or chimpanzees, the process could take up to 5 years
.
within two or three months of a hearing if the court agrees, requiring only interpretation of existing data or a small amount of additional data.
But if the court asks for new data, such as the effects of genetically modified mustard oil on monkeys or chimpanzees, the process could take up to 5 years
.
This isn't the first time GEAC has claimed to have evaluated open-field GM mustard greens: it was first approved
in 2017.
But after listening to feedback from proponents and opponents, GEAC continued to ask for data
on impacts on bees and other pollinators, as well as soil microbial diversity.
in 2017.
But after listening to feedback from proponents and opponents, GEAC continued to ask for data
on impacts on bees and other pollinators, as well as soil microbial diversity.
History of mustard greens ↓
Research on genetically modified mustard greens in India began about 40 years ago, with the initial aim of Pental's team to increase the yield
of Indian mustard (Brassica juncea).
Yields of this variety are generally below the global average because one-third of India's soil lacks the nutrient boron, and most mustard farms rely on rain rather than irrigation
.
Pental's team first created genetically modified mustard greens, Dhara mustard hybrid11 (DMH 11), in 2002, which is one of
the varieties currently being evaluated.
It contains three genes
from the soil bacterium Bacillus amyloliquefaciens.
Two are used to prevent self-pollination and one imparts herbicide tolerance
.
of Indian mustard (Brassica juncea).
Yields of this variety are generally below the global average because one-third of India's soil lacks the nutrient boron, and most mustard farms rely on rain rather than irrigation
.
Pental's team first created genetically modified mustard greens, Dhara mustard hybrid11 (DMH 11), in 2002, which is one of
the varieties currently being evaluated.
It contains three genes
from the soil bacterium Bacillus amyloliquefaciens.
Two are used to prevent self-pollination and one imparts herbicide tolerance
.
So far, India has only approved commercial cultivation of another GM crop in 2002: GM cotton
.
In 2009, GEAC approved genetically modified eggplant (Bt eggplant).
But it has been stopped
after a public backlash and advice from various Indian states that grow eggplant.
.
In 2009, GEAC approved genetically modified eggplant (Bt eggplant).
But it has been stopped
after a public backlash and advice from various Indian states that grow eggplant.
Rajesh Gokhale, Minister of Biotechnology, India's main funder of biotech research, said a regulatory system to speed up approvals "is a priority.
"
As climate change is impacting agricultural productivity, we need to invest in new technologies for the future and ensure our food and nutrition security
.
″
"
As climate change is impacting agricultural productivity, we need to invest in new technologies for the future and ensure our food and nutrition security
.
″
Even if the Supreme Court ruling upholds GEAC's recently approved GM mustard, this is only the beginning
of the commercialization process.
If the crop passes the assessment of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research under India's federal system, it is up to the states to decide whether to plant it
.
of the commercialization process.
If the crop passes the assessment of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research under India's federal system, it is up to the states to decide whether to plant it
.
