In an effort to increase the production of edible oils for its enormous population, India stated on Thursday that it was critical for the country to adopt farming technology like genetically modified (GM) crops in order to assure food security and reduce reliance on imports.
The environment ministry approved the release of locally made GM mustard seeds in October, potentially opening the door for the commercialization of the nation’s first food crop in around two years.
The only GM crop currently permitted for production in India is cotton.
India imports edible oil from nations like Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Black Sea region to meet more than 60% of its overall need.Ashwini Kumar Choubey, a minister of state in the environment ministry, used the term “genetically engineered,” or GM, in a speech to the legislature. “Strengthening of plant breeding programmes, including the use of new genetic technologies such as GE technology, is important for meeting emerging challenges in Indian agriculture and ensuring food security while reducing foreign dependency,” he said.
India spent a record $19 billion importing vegetable oils last fiscal year that ended on March 31. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine also disrupted imports and raised prices, before supplies improved.
GM mustard, according to activists, would put honey bees in danger and necessitate the widespread use of herbicides.
The decision to allow mustard hybrid “DMH-11” to be released into the environment for seed production and other tests prior to commercial release is being contested in India’s Supreme Court.
According to Choubey, the environmental release would enable researchers to track any impacts that GM mustard may have on bees and other pollinators.
India, which is expected to surpass China as the most populous nation in the world next year, prevented the introduction of a genetically modified variety of eggplant in 2010 due to resistance from farmers and environmentalists.
According to scientists, India needs to adopt more effective farming practises to feed its almost 1.4 billion people because of its expanding population and decreasing amount of arable land.
