The Transgenic crop debate and food security in India

Abstract

Genetically modified crops or transgenic crops are plants used in agriculture, the DNA of which has been modified using genetic engineering methods. The aim is to introduce a new trait that does not occur in the natural phenotype, like resistance to pests, diseases or environmental conditions, reduction of spoilage, or resistance to herbicides, or improving the nutrient profile.1 Now the question arises as to whether GM crops are safe, whether they can address the world’s food needs, whether they are readily accessible to the farmers, and how farmers can wriggle out of intellectual property rights.History of GM Crops: The first GM crop plant was produced in 1982 when tobacco plants were engineered for herbicide resistance, incorporating genes that produced insecticidal proteins from Bacillus thuringiensis(Bt). China first commercialised transgenic plants, introducing a virus resistance tobacco in 1992 but later it was withdrawn in 1997. The first GM crop approved for sale in the US was Flavrsavr tomato in 1994 which had a longer shelf life because it took longer to soften after ripening. European Union approved GM tobacco resistant to herbicide Bromoxynil. USA approved Bt potato, maize and canola in 1995, as well as glyphosate resistant soyabeans(Monsanto), and virus resistant squash(Asgrow). In 2000 Vitamin A enriched golden rice was developed but till date it is not in commercial production. In 2013 the World Food Prize was awarded to leaders of three teams of researchers Robert Fraley, Mac van Montagu and Mary Dell Chilton. 2