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DBT allocates Rs. 300 crore for research on GM crops
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Friday, 22 April, 2011, 08 : 00 AM [IST]
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Nandita Vijay, Bangalore
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The department of biotechnology (DBT) has allocated Rs 300 crore specifically for conducting research on genetically-modified (GM) crops. There are currently around 400 research centres in the country which are carrying out research of which 200 are part of the DBT grant. The effort is to improve the productivity of range of GM crops, according to S R Rao, advisor, department of biotechnology, Government of India.
Dr Rao was addressing the GM Foods Perspective at a seminar organised by the Bangalore Chamber of Industry and Commerce (BCIC), under the aegis of Agro & Food Processing Expert Committee, on Thursday.
The government has been looking at biotech intervention for improving productivity. Today, more than 200 laboratories and 1,000 researchers in public and private sectors are engaged in plant biology; transgenic research and development; molecular marker assisted breeding; genome sequencing and functional genomics. Technology platforms, research resources, facilities and services coupled with training skilled human resources, networks and public-private partnerships are supported in the pathway from discovery to market for desired level of development, stated Dr Rao.
The government has translated these recommendations from committees into new guidelines and protocols for risk assessment are immediate challenges to the GM food crops in regulatory pipeline. Further, government has taken decision to establish a scientific, rigorous, efficient, predictable and consistent regulatory regime articulated as autonomous 'National Biotechnology Regulatory Authority' empowered by new Biotechnology Regulatory Act to provide single-window clearance mechanism, he said.
Further DBT is spearheading this task through consultative process with all stakeholders. Other policy-related developments, which would shape the future of GM foods in India, include Food Safety and Standard Act (2006), evolving debate on labelling policy of GM foods and inclusion of GM food trade issues in the foreign trade policy. So far, no permission has been given for the commercial production of GM food crops although nine such crops are in regulatory pipeline, said Dr Rao.
According to Dr Shanthu Shantharam, executive director, Association of Biotechnology Led Entrepreneurs (ABLE) Agriculture Group, the regulatory oversight for GM food safety is matter of intense global debate for over two-and-a-half decades. Fundamentally, the debate is about the real need for modern-day GM foods. Most of the anti-GM activists argue that GM technology is costly and unnecessary. GM foods will not serve to address food security or nutritional security problems of the world. Then, they argue that GM technology is inherently unsafe, and scientists do not understand the long-term consequences of human and animal health by consuming GM food. Therefore, by invoking the precautionary principle, they would like a moratorium on GM food for the next few decades.
Dr B Sesikeran, director, National Institute of Nutrition, Hyderabad, stated that application of GM technology and the use of the GM products required systematic assessment of potential impacts on food and feed safety and safety of environment before they were used for marketing and consumption.
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