After furore on paper criticising GM crops, M S Swaminathan says he supports genetic modification

Leading agriculture scientist M S Swaminathan has said that he supports modern technologies, including genetic modification and gene editing, days after Indian researchers denounced him for co-authoring a research paper criticising genetically modified (GM) crops.

In a statement published on the website of the M S Swaminathan Research Foundation, the father of green revolution said, "I wish to reiterate my total commitment and support to modern technologies including genetic modification and gene editing. Also, my emphasis has been on generating synergy between technology and public policy."
Swaminathan said, "In view of my extremely limited role in the paper, it would have been appropriate for Prof Kesavan to have been designated as the sole author of the paper."
In reply to a letter by K VijayRaghavan, Swaminathan had earlier said, "It is unfortunate if the article has created the impression that I am opposed to GM as a technology."