Lok Sabha Question No. 279 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-09-15
Subject: Study on Cultivation of GM Crops
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Y. S. Avinash Reddy

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH & EDUCATION

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 279

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 15/09/2020

## STUDY ON CULTIVATION OF GM CROPS

## 279. SHRI Y.S. AVINASH REDDY:

Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE d`f"k vkSj fdlku dY;k.k ea=h be pleased to state:

- (a) whether it is a fact that the Government has made a study on cultivation of GM Crops and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether it is true that in spite of completion of tests conducted on the cultivation of these crops, it is showing its unconcern on taking a final decision on the matter;
- (c) if so, the reasons therefor;
- (d) whether any request has been received requesting for a decision on the matter and if so, the details of the same; and
- (e) the stand of the Government in this regard?

## A N S W E R

THE MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

d`f"k vkSj fdlku dY;k.k ea=h

(SHRI NARENDRA SINGH TOMAR)

- (a) Bt cotton is the only genetically modified (GM) crop that has been approved for commercial  cultivation  in  2002  by  the  Government  of  India.  Long  term  studies  were conducted by ICAR on the impact of Bt cotton which did not show any adverse effect on soil,  microflora  and  animal health. However, the  Parliamentary Standing Committee on Science and Technology, Environment and Forests, in its report on 'Genetically modified crops  and  its  impact  on  environment',  submitted  to  parliament  on  August  25,  2017, recommended  that  GM  crops  should  be  introduced  in  the  country  only  after  critical scientific  evaluation  of  its  benefit  and  safety,  and  also  recommended  restructuring  of regulatory framework for unbiased assessment of GM crops.

(b) to (d): In 2002 approval for the commercial release of Bt cotton hybrids/ varieties resistant to cotton bollworm was given.

Bt Brinjal resistant to brinjal shoot fly developed by M/S Mahyco in collaboration with University of Agricultural Sciences, Dharwad; Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore and ICAR-Indian Institute of Vegetable Research, Varanasi was approved by GEAC in 2009 but due to 10 years moratorium imposed on GM crops by the Technical Expert Committee (TEC) appointed by the Hon'ble Supreme Court of India, no further action on commercialization has been taken. Recently the Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee  (GEAC),  MoEF&CC,  Govt.  of  India  has  again  allowed  biosafety  research field trials of two new transgenic varieties of indigenously developed Bt Brinjal in eight states  during  2020-23  only  after  taking  no-objection  certificate  (NOC)  from  states concerned  and  confirmation  of  availability  of  isolated  stretch  of  land  for  this  purpose. These indigenous transgenic varieties of brinjal hybrids  - namely  Janak and  BSS-793, containing Bt Cry1Fa1 gene (Event 142) - have been developed by the National Institute for Plant Biotechnology, ( NIPB, erstwhile National Research Centre on Plant Biotechnology, New Delhi), Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR).

GM mustard Dhara Mustard Hybrid 11 (DMH 11) developed by Delhi University is  pending  for  commercial  release  as  GEAC  has  advised  to  generate  complete  safety assessment  data  on  environmental  bio-safety,  especially  effects  on  beneficial  insect species. No such request is pending in the matter.

(e) ICAR always promotes the science based innovative technology including research on GM crops. 'Network Project on Transgenic in Crops' (presently Network Project on Functional Genomics and Genetic Modification in Crops) was launched by ICAR in 2005 for  development of GM crops in case of pigeonpea, chickpea, sorghum, potato, brinjal, tomato  and  banana  for  different  traits and  the material is in different stages of development.

The  Government  of  India  has  very  strict  guidelines  to  test  and  evaluate  the agronomic  value  of  the  GM  crops  so  as  to  protect  the  interests  of  the  farmers.  These guidelines  address  all  concerns  with  regard  to  the  safety  of  GM  seeds.  The  regulatory system  for  GM  crops  as  operative  in  the  Department  of  Biotechnology,  Ministry  of Science  and  Technology  (Review  Committee  on  Genetic  Manipulation;  RCGM)  and Ministry of Environment and Forests (Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee; GEAC) has guidelines to consider the GM crops on case-by-case basis towards testing.

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