www.checkbiotech.org ; www.raupp.info ; www.czu.cz

Genetic modification is going through the same fear process which many
technologies have seen in the past. ?Any new technology would reach
perfection over time and the same holds true for genetically modified (GM)
or transgenic crops,? says B Sesikeran, director, National Institute of
Nutrition, March 2007.

Despite remaining a sensitive issue here as well around the world, India
is emerging as a test-bed for biotech crops. Several government-funded R&D
projects are being carried out in research institutions to achieve this.
Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), New Delhi, Central Rice
Research Institute, Cuttack, Centre for DNA Fingerprinting and Diagnostics,
Hyderabad, among others, are engaged in advanced research to develop
transgenic rice.

Reduction of post-harvest losses, particularly in fruits and vegetables,
through delayed ripening genes, is also a major thrust. Besides IARI,
International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT),
Hyderabad, Mahyco, Sungro Seeds and Monsanto are conducting multi-location
field trials of transgenic crops like cabbage, cauliflower, corn, brinjal,
groundnut, mustard, rice and tomato. Others like Indo-American Hybrid Seeds,
Syngenta and Metahelix are working on this front to create their own
indigenous technology.

The march to explore new transgenic crops comes from the newfound confidence
gained from growing acceptance of Bt cotton, the only transgenic crop
approved for commercial cultivation. The country tallied the most
substantial percentage increase at 192% or 2.5 million hectares to total 3.8
million hectares, jumping two spots in the world ranking to become the fifth
largest producer of biotech crops in the world, surpassing China for the
first time.

The United States continues to drive growth in North America and globally,
accounting for the greatest absolute acreage increase in 2006 with the
addition of 4.8 million hectares. Brazil leads growth in South America with
an increase of 22% to total 11.5 million hectares of soybeans and biotech
cotton. Growth also continues in the countries of the European Union (EU)
where Slovakia became the sixth EU country out of 25 to plant biotech crops.

All in all, farmers around the world continue rapid adoption of biotech
crops. Biotech crop area is now 102 million hectares. The number of farmers
planting biotech crops too has gone up to 10.3 million. Agriculturalists
expect these adoption levels to continue accelerating in the times to come.
By 2015, more than 20 million farmers are expected to plant 200 million
hectares of biotech crops in about 40 countries.

Scientists aver that the importance and potential of transgenic crops is
hard to ignore. Importantly, India ? a country with first-hand experience of
the life-saving benefits of the Green Revolution in wheat and rice ?
exported rice and imported wheat last year. Yields in both wheat and rice
are now plateauing and the conventional technology currently used in wheat
and rice and other crops will need to be supplemented to feed a growing
population that will increase by 50% to 1.5 billion by 2050. Hence, the
aggressive focus in research on new biotech crops.

KC Bansal, principal scientist, National Research Centre on Plant
Biotechology (NRCPB) says, ?Higher adoption rates reflect farmer
satisfaction with the products that offer substantial benefits ranging from
better crop management, lower cost of production, higher productivity and
net returns per hectare.?

The adoption of Bt cotton by India and China can greatly influence the
adoption and acceptance of biotech crops in countries throughout the world,
particularly in developing countries. It is noteworthy that both countries
elected to pursue a similar strategy by first exploring the potential
benefits of crop technology with a fibre crop, Bt cotton, which has already
generated significant and consistent benefits in China, with the same
pattern emerging in India, the largest grower of cotton in the world.

Going forward, research focus will be on new robust varieties of food crops
that could be drought or salinity tolerant, says Sesikeran. Biotech crops
with drought-tolerant traits are expected to reach the market within the
next five years, unlocking substantial production opportunities in dryer
climates. Also, biofuels will be a major growth driver. Biotech crops will
be used to increase the efficiency and meet added demand for alternative
energy, as well as exploring biotech options to bring cellulose-based
ethanol from energy crops to market.

No wonder, India?s thrust on research will speed up the introduction of new
biotech crops not only here but also influence others in adopting them.

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