Science-based reforms, faster approvals for GM, genome-edited crops needed: Agriculture Ministry roundtable
New Delhi, July 26
A high-level roundtable convened by the Trust for Advancement of Agricultural Sciences, in collaboration with the Indian Council of Agricultural Research and the Federation of Seed Industry of India, has called for science-based regulatory reforms and faster approval processes for genetically modified and genome-edited crops to accelerate their safe adoption in India.
According to the statement released by the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, participants at the roundtable reached a broad consensus that India's biotechnology regulatory system should be made more efficient, transparent and globally competitive while maintaining high biosafety standards.
The roundtable said that "the regulatory framework must evolve to keep pace with advances in biotechnology, particularly genome editing, while maintaining the highest standards of biosafety and environmental protection."
It further called for "a science-based, transparent, efficient, and risk-proportionate regulatory framework with streamlined, time-bound approval processes accessible to both public and private innovators."
The participants also stressed that "timely adoption of safe GM and GE crops is vital for enhancing climate resilience, productivity, nutritional security, farmer incomes, and the global competitiveness of Indian agriculture."
The ministry said India already has a multi-tiered regulatory framework for transgenic crops under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, involving agencies such as the Department of Biotechnology's Review Committee on Genetic Manipulation (RCGM), the Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC), the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), ICAR and other ministries.
However, it noted that rapid advances in genome-editing technologies, including CRISPR-based systems, changing global regulatory practices and the need for climate-resilient agriculture require a review and modernisation of the existing framework.
ICAR Director General and DARE Secretary Dr ML Jat said there was a need for "a balanced regulatory system that facilitates the safe deployment of modern biotechnologies to achieve food and nutritional security, climate resilience, and sustainable agricultural growth."
TAAS Chairman Dr RS Paroda said India has the scientific capability to become a global leader in agricultural biotechnology and added that the recommendations from the roundtable should help create "an enabling policy environment that promotes responsible innovation while safeguarding human health, biodiversity, and the environment."
The recommendations from the meeting will be compiled into a policy document for submission to the concerned ministries and regulatory authorities to support evidence-based reforms in the regulation and approval of GM and genome-edited crop plants in India.
— ANI
Reader Comments
As someone who's worked in agricultural policy, I think this is a well-intentioned but potentially problematic move. The rush to approve GM crops without adequate long-term studies on biodiversity and soil health could backfire. India's small farmers don't have the safety nets that Western farmers do. We need a middle path—faster approvals yes, but with robust monitoring mechanisms.
Great to see ICAR and industry coming together! Genome editing (CRISPR) is totally different from older GM methods—it's more precise and doesn't introduce foreign genes. India should definitely create separate faster-track approvals for genome-edited crops. This could be a game-changer for drought-resistant varieties and higher nutrition. 👨🌾🔬
I'm cautiously optimistic. The article mentions "maintaining high biosafety standards" but does the roundtable have enough representation from environmentalists and farmer organizations? The industry lobby is obviously pushing this. I want our scientists to innovate but not at the cost of our traditional seed diversity and organic farming potential. Let's not repeat the mistakes of the Green Revolution.
Finally some sensible talk! Our regulatory system is so slow it discourages innovation. Small biotech startups can't afford to wait 5-7 years for approvals. The current multi-tier system with RCGM, GEAC, FSSAI is bureaucratic nightmare. Streamlining it will help both public research institutions and private companies. Let science lead the way! 💪
While I agree we need modern agriculture, I wish the discussion included more about empowering small farmers with knowledge and fair pricing. Technology alone won't solve
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.