{"id":48300,"date":"2025-07-16T20:41:50","date_gmt":"2025-07-16T15:11:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/?p=48300"},"modified":"2025-08-01T17:39:40","modified_gmt":"2025-08-01T12:09:40","slug":"confined-field-trials-on-gm-maize","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/current-affairs\/16-07-2025\/confined-field-trials-on-gm-maize","title":{"rendered":"Confined Field Trials on GM Maize\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><strong>Syllabus: GS3\/Biotechnology<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Context<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC) has approved confined field trials of two varieties of genetically modified (GM) maize at the Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) for the 2025 Kharif season.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Traits Being Tested in GM Maize<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Herbicide Tolerance: <\/strong>Developed to withstand glyphosate, a broad-spectrum herbicide.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Objective:<\/strong> Assess weed control efficacy when glyphosate is applied.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Insect Resistance:<\/strong> Engineered to combat lepidopteran pests (e.g., stem borers).\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Objective:<\/strong> Test for protection levels and yield benefits.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>What are GM crops?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Crops that have undergone <strong>genetic engineering processes<\/strong> to alter their DNA are referred to as genetically modified crops.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>This alteration is done<strong> to introduce desirable traits<\/strong> such as resistance to pests or herbicides, improved nutritional content, or increased yield.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>The process of creating GM crops typically involves:<\/strong> identification of desired traits, isolation of genes, insertion into crop genome, and expression of the trait.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>The techniques used in GM crops are:<\/strong> gene guns, electroporation, microinjection, agrobacterium etc.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>The types of modification are: <\/strong>transgenic, cis-genic, subgenic and multiple trait integration.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>The main trait types<\/strong> in GM crops are herbicide tolerance (HT), insect resistance (IR), Stacked traits etc.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Indian Scenario in GM crops<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Bt Cotton:<\/strong> In 2002, the GEAC had allowed the commercial release of Bt cotton.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Bt cotton has two alien genes from the soil bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) that allows the crop to develop a protein toxic to the common pest <strong>pink bollworm.&nbsp;<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Till now, it is the only GM crop that is allowed in India.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Many varieties of GM crops are under different stages of development, like <strong>Bt brinjal <\/strong>and<strong> DMH-11 mustard.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Regulatory framework in India<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>The Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC): <\/strong>It under the <strong>Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&amp;CC), <\/strong>is responsible for the assessment of proposals related to the commercial release of GM crops.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Acts and rules<\/strong> that regulate GM crops in India are:\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/blog\/environment-protection-act-1986\/\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/blog\/environment-protection-act-1986\/\">Environment Protection Act, 1986<\/a> (EPA)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Biological Diversity Act, 2002<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Plant Quarantine Order, 2003<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>GM policy under Foreign Trade Policy<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Drugs and Cosmetics Rule (8th Amendment), 1988.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>What are the concerns?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Use of Glyphosate:<\/strong> Field trials involve GM maize engineered to tolerate glyphosate, a herbicide banned in Punjab.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Activists cite studies linking glyphosate to carcinogenic effects, such as <strong>non-Hodgkin lymphoma<\/strong>, and soil ecosystem disruption.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Biodiversity Risks:<\/strong> GM crops can affect non-target organisms, promote monocultures, and cause gene flow to native crop varieties, threatening biodiversity.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Public Health concerns:<\/strong> Antibiotic resistance markers in GM crops may reduce the efficacy of real antibiotics in humans, raising the risk of antibiotic-resistant <strong>superbugs.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Legal Inconsistencies:<\/strong> The lack of transparency in issuing <strong>No Objection Certificates (NOCs)<\/strong> for field trials has been questioned by civil society groups like the Coalition for a GM-Free India.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>They argue that public consultation, independent review, and parliamentary oversight are missing.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Way Ahead<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Strengthen Scientific Transparency:<\/strong> Ensure independent, peer-reviewed assessments of GM crop safety and efficacy. Publish trial data in the public domain to build trust and credibility.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Promote Public Engagement: <\/strong>Conduct open consultations with farmers, scientists, and civil society to address concerns.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Launch education campaigns on GM technology, risks, and benefits.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Protect native crop<\/strong> varieties through buffer zones and containment strategies.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Empower biosafety and ethics committees<\/strong> with greater independence and accountability.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Involve state agricultural universities<\/strong> only for research and not promotional roles.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Source: <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehindu.com\/news\/national\/punjab\/confined-field-trials-on-gm-maize-to-begin-soon-at-punjab-agricultural-university\/article69814457.ece#:~:text=The%2\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>TH<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<h3><strong>Context<\/strong><\/h3>\n<li class=\"ms-5\">The Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC) has approved confined field trials of two varieties of genetically modified (GM) maize at the Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) for the 2025 Kharif season.<\/li>\n<p><\/p>\n<h3><strong>What are GM crops?<\/strong><\/h3>\n<li class=\"ms-5\">Crops that have undergone genetic engineering processes to alter their DNA are referred to as genetically modified crops.<\/li>\n<li class=\"ms-5\">This alteration is done to introduce desirable traits such as resistance to pests or herbicides, improved nutritional content, or increased yield.<\/li>\n<li class=\"ms-5\">The process of creating GM crops typically involves: identification of desired traits, isolation of genes, insertion into crop genome, and expression of the trait.<\/li>\n<li class=\"ms-5\">The techniques used in GM crops are: gene guns, electroporation, microinjection, agrobacterium etc.<\/li>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/current-affairs\/16-07-2025\/confined-field-trials-on-gm-maize\" class=\"btn btn-primary btn-sm float-end\">Read\u00a0More<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":15,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[21],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-48300","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-current-affairs"],"acf":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/48300","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/15"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=48300"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/48300\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":50054,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/48300\/revisions\/50054"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=48300"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=48300"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=48300"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}