Indian Agriculture & Genetic Innovation

Syllabus: GS3/Agriculture

Context

• As the trade deadline approaches, the USA is ramping up pressure on India to open its agriculture market to genetically modified (GM) crops.
  • However, India has drawn firm red lines, citing farmers’ livelihoods and food safety as non-negotiable.

India’s Agriculture & Genetic Innovation

• Genetic innovation in agriculture refers to the use of tools like CRISPR gene editing, genomic selection, and transgenic technologies to improve crop traits. These include:
  • Enhancing crop yields and nutritional content;
  • Increasing resistance to pests, diseases, drought and heat;
  • Reducing dependency on chemical pesticides and fertilizers;
  • Shortening crop cycles and making agriculture more climate-resilient;

Global Expansion of GM Crops

• GM crops have seen massive adoption, since their global debut in 1996.
• By 2023, over 200 million hectares of GM soy, maize, canola, and others were cultivated across 76 countries. 
• Many of India’s trading partners — including the US, Brazil, and China — have fully embraced GM agriculture.

Bt Cotton: India’s Only GM Crop

• Bt cotton was approved in 2002 by India.
• Its production had grown by 193%, and productivity rose by 87%, by 2013–14.
• India became the second-largest producer and exporter of cotton globally, with net exports touching $4.1 billion in 2011–12.
• Bt cotton seeds are now used across 90%+ of India’s cotton area.
  • Cottonseed oil, a by-product, enters the human food chain, while the cotton cake feeds cattle.

Related Efforts Made By India

• From the Lab to the Field: CRISPR-edited rice lines with improved nitrogen use efficiency and yield, developed by ICAR scientists in Delhi.
  • Genome-edited chickpea variety ‘Saatvik (NC9)’, which performs better under drought stress.
  • RNA-based antivirals to protect crops like banana and cucumber from devastating viruses, offering a pesticide-free solution.
  • Miniature genome editors like TnpB, developed by ICAR, are small enough to work efficiently in plant cells—especially useful for crops like rice.
• From Gene Banks to Global Partnerships: India’s first National Gene Bank, established by ICAR-NBPGR, safeguards genetic diversity for future breeding.
  • A regional center of the International Potato Center (CIP) is being set up in Agra to develop climate-resilient, high-yield potato varieties.
  • The Amaranth Genomic Resource Database helps identify varieties that combat obesity and malnutrition.

Concerns & Challenges

• Stagnation and Policy Failure: India’s cotton yields fell from 566 kg/ha in 2013–14 to 436 kg/ha in 2023–24—far below the global average (770 kg/ha) and significantly lower than China (1,945 kg/ha) and Brazil (1,839 kg/ha).
  • Annual cotton production has declined by about 2%, driven by pest outbreaks and policy barriers.
• Illegal HT-Bt Cotton: Herbicide-Tolerant (HT) Bt cotton, which allows glyphosate spraying, has not been cleared for official use.
  • However, these seeds have illegally spread across states like Gujarat, Maharashtra, and Telangana.
  • Estimates suggest 15–25% of cotton acreage now uses unauthorised HT-Bt seeds.
• Regulatory Bottlenecks: Government interventions since 2015 have disincentivized R&D:
  • The Seed Price Control Order (SPCO) capped royalties and trait fees, reducing them to Rs 39 per seed packet by 2018.
    • By 2020, stricter caps and forced technology transfers drove away global biotech investors.
    • It turns India into a net cotton importer worth $0.4 billion in 2024–25.
  • India’s regulatory paralysis also affects other GM innovations:
    • Bt Brinjal, cleared by the GEAC, has faced a moratorium since 2009.
    • GM Mustard (DMH-11) received environmental clearance in 2022, but commercialization is stalled pending more studies and possible court rulings.
    • GM soy and corn, widely used elsewhere, remain off the table despite earlier imports for poultry feed
• Policy Paralysis: India’s regulatory framework has discouraged biotech innovation:
  • Seed Price Control Order (2015) drastically cut royalties on GM traits;
  • 2016 regulations mandated forced technology transfers and royalty caps;
  • By 2020, even tighter restrictions were imposed.

Other Concerns

• Loss of Crop Diversity: As farmers adopt high-performing genetically modified (GM) varieties, traditional and locally adapted crops may be abandoned, reducing biodiversity.
• Seed Dependency: Some GM seeds are patented, meaning farmers may need to purchase new seeds each season, increasing reliance on biotech companies.
• Access Inequality: Smallholder and marginal farmers may face barriers to accessing advanced genetic technologies due to cost, awareness, or infrastructure gaps.
• Regulatory and Ethical Issues: Concerns around biosafety, labeling, and long-term ecological effects can create uncertainty and resistance among farming communities.

India’s Balancing Act

• The Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC) plays a pivotal role in approving and regulating genetically engineered organisms.
  • It has cleared some crops for field trials — like GM mustard — however, wider commercial adoption remains sluggish.
• The government’s regulatory framework, including the Review Committee on Genetic Manipulation (RCGM), plays a key role in ensuring biosafety and ethical deployment.
• Public and Private Collaboration: Public sector research institutions like the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR);
  • Private sector biotech firms bringing in cutting-edge tech;
  • Farmers, who must be educated and empowered to adopt new practices;

Way Forward: Need for Science-Led Agricultural Reform

• India’s Prime Minister’s ‘Jai Anusandhan’ (Hail Innovation) and a Rs 1 lakh crore RDI fund are welcome steps — but innovation must move from lab to land.
• As Former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee envisioned, ‘What IT is for India, BT can be for Bharat’. The potential for biotechnology to transform rural prosperity is immense.
• Key steps include:
  • Approval and regulation of HT-Bt cotton, Bt brinjal, and GM mustard;
  • Reform of seed pricing and licensing policies to incentivise innovation;
  • Public engagement to build trust in GM safety and benefits.

Source: IE