Scientists body criticises moratorim on GM crops field trials

NAAS, India's premier body representing around 500 agriculture scientists has strongly condemned the final report of the Supreme Court TEC on GM crops

The National Academy of Agriculture Sciences (NAAS), India’s premier body representing around 500 agriculture scientists has strongly condemned the final report of the Supreme Court Technical Expert Committee (TEC) on GM crops which has recommended a indefinite moratorium on field trials of GM crops. 

 

'NAAS feels that Dr R.S. Paroda, who has opposed the proposed moratorium on field trials of GM crops, has given a scientific report and it should given due credence' Prof R.B. Singh, president of NAAS told reporters. The Technical Expert Committee (TEC) comprised of experts in the fields of molecular biology, toxicology, nutrition science, and biodiversity and agriculture science 

 

NAAS was instrumental in placing Dr Paroda in the Technical Expert Committee, following strong opposition from the scientists that their voice was not heard in the Committee. 

 

Quoting the report submitted by Paroda to Supreme Court, NAAS said that his report clearly indicates biotechnology is the most important technology that can take India to the next food and agriculture revolution. World over farmers are cultivating more than 170 million hectares of area under GM crops, which is more than the total cultivatable land of entire India. 

 

Addressing the media, Dr S. Ayyappan, director general of ICAR and secretary of Department of Agriculture Research and Education (DARE) assured all support for further strengthening of infrastructure for agronomic performance and bio-safety evaluation of GM crops. 

 

'We are ready to set up an All India Coordinated Research Project On Transgenic Testing and Evaluation as suggested by Dr Paroda,' Ayyappan said. Ayyappan is also a distinguished fellow of NAAS. 

 

NAAS also alleged TEC was unable to submit a single report on field trials of GM crops in line with the Terms of Reference of the Committee. It also alleged that the TEC member refused to cooperate with Dr Paroda. 

 

'The TEC refused to have a structured discussion on the objections raised by Dr Paroda in his dissent note largely due to their prejudiced mindset,' the scientists and academicians said. 

 

It said though the TEC has recognised that agriculture research in glass houses cannot subsititute field trials, but it has not stopped them from recommending a ban on field trials. 

 

The academicians said that any ban on research and testing of GM technologies would push our country atleast 20 years behind and eventually all of us will have to pay a price for the same. 

 

Recently, the Supreme Court appointed TEC is believed to have recommended a moratorium on field trials of Bt food crops as there is no definite information on long term safety of Bt on food crops. 

 

Officials in the know said that the TEC in its final report has also recommended that any commercial release GM crops for which India is a centre of origin or diversity should not be allowed. Crops like brinjal, okra etc fall under this category. 

 

The TEC in its interim report in October 2012 had advocated a 10-year moratorium on commercial release of GM crops almost on the same grounds. The Supreme Court has directed the constitution of TEC on a writ petition filed by some social activists.