Non-GM soybean in interest of farmers, environment: Experts

India should continue with non-GMO (genetically modified) soybean in the larger interest of farmers and environment, experts said here today.
"Non-GMO soya is the pride of India. Value added soy products including soybean meal are fetching premium price in the international market for being authentic non-GMO soy products. It is a win-win situation for all stakeholders in the value chain," Ruchi Soya Industries founder and MD Dinesh Shahra told reporters on the sidelines of conference 'Soya Food- opportunities for growth and development' here.
"GM crops may turn out to be an evil for several reasons. Nearly 85 per cent of soybean grown in the USA is from GM soybean seeds, which is resistant to herbicides," C M Freire, CEO of CERT ID, a Brazil-based company which provides certification services, said at the conference.

He further said second generation seeds of this variant (herbicides resistant) have been found to be inferior in quality and thus fresh seed is needed for every planting, making it financially unviable for farmers in a country like India.
Japan-based Kanematsu Corporation's Kenji Mastumoto said that since GM crops are not naturally produced, natural foods supporter in Japan and other parts of the world do not recognise it. Most developed nations do not consider GMO foods to be safe.
"In more than 60 countries, including Australia, Japan and all nations in European Union, there are significant labelling restrictions on the production and sale of GMO foods," he said.

"It is observed that soybean prices in India have always been higher than USA and also much above the Minimum Support Price (MSP) announced by the Government of India. Thus Indian farmers are getting reasonable realisation for non-GMO soybean seeds produced by them," Girish Matlani, Soy Food Promotion and Welfare Association's President, said.
The experts were of the view that India should continue with non-GMO soybean in the larger interest of farming community, nation and environment, he added.