Potentials of Genetic Modification

What is the issue?

Despite the critical views on Genetic Modification (GM), there have been substantial benefits out of it, which needs recognition for further betterment.

What benefits has the GM technology brought?

• Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) in maize and cotton from 1996 to 2015 contributed to a reduction in the gap between actual yield and potential yield.

• This was under circumstances in which targeted pests caused substantial damage to non-GE (Genetic Engineering) varieties.
• Also, synthetic chemicals could not provide practical control.

• But GM technology adoption has reduced pesticide use by 37%, increased crop yield by 22%, and increased farmer profits by 68%.
• Yield gains and pesticide reductions are larger for insect-resistant crops than for herbicide-tolerant crops.
• Yield and profit gains are higher in developing countries than in developed countries.

What is the case with India?

• Cotton - Certainly, Bt cotton is not a failure in India. Farmers continue to grow Bt cotton.
• The yields hovering around 300 kg/ha at the time of introduction of Bt cotton (2002) have increased to an average of over 500 kg/ha.
• It has converted India from a cotton-importing country to the largest exporter of raw cotton.
• There was a small dip for a couple of years and the yield has now increased to over 550 kg/ha.
• Further, the development of resistance can be tackled through practices like Integrated Pest Management and by stacking Bt genes to fight secondary pests.
• The priority now is to accelerate development of Bt cotton varieties that can be packed densely in fields.
• By doing so, yields could be increased to over 800 kg/ha, as is the case with other countries.
• Mustard - GM mustard (DMH-11) is a technology to create mustard hybrids.
• Being a self-pollinator, mustard is difficult to hybridise through conventional methods.
• So genetic modification allows different parents to be combined easily, helping yields go up substantially.

What lies ahead?

• Genetic engineering technology has opened up new avenues of molecular breeding.
• However, their potential undesirable impacts will have to be kept in view.
• What is important is to choose the one which can take the country to the desired goal sustainably, safely and economically.
• There is scope for further improvement in terms of technology and regulatory protocols for GM technology in India.

Source: The Hindu