Experts on GM crop panels to declare conflict of interest

Context: The Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has amended
the rules governing the selection of experts to the Genetic Engineering
Appraisal Committee (GEAC), the apex technical body regulating genetically
modified (GM) seeds in India. Under the new rules, an “expert member” ought to disclose
their “interest” that could conflict with their duties. The expert is also
expected to take all steps necessary to ensure that any conflict of interest does
not affect any decision of the GEAC. These rules come on the back of a Supreme
Court order in July 2023 requiring that the Centre form a national policy on GM
crops.

Key points

·       Overview: The Supreme
Court questioned the Centre on why reports of the court-appointed Technical
Experts Committee (TEC) on the biosafety of genetically modified (GM) crops
were not investigated by the Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC).

·       Genetic
Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC): The Genetic Engineering
Appraisal Committee (GEAC) is the statutory committee constituted under the
“Rules for the Manufacture, Use/Import/Export and Storage of Hazardous
Microorganisms/Genetically Engineered Organisms or Cells (Rules, 1989)” framed
under Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.

Functions - GEAC is
responsible for the approval of activities involving large-scale use of
hazardous living microorganisms and recombinants in research and industrial
production from an environmental perspective. Clearance of GEAC is mandatory
for the environmental release of GM crops.

Composition - GEAC is chaired
by the Special Secretary/Additional Secretary of MoEF&CC and co-chaired by
a representative from the Department of Biotechnology (DBT). Presently, it has
24 members and meets every month to review the applications in the areas indicated
above.

·       Genetically
Modified (GM) Plants: GM plants are plants that have undergone
intentional alteration of their genetic material through genetic engineering
techniques. These modifications are carried out to introduce specific traits or
characteristics that may not naturally occur within the plant’s genome. Example-

Ø  Bt Cotton - Bacillus
thuringiensis (Bt) cotton is engineered to produce a protein from the bacterium
Bacillus thuringiensis that is toxic to certain insect pests. The bacteria
release specialized proteins referred to as “cry proteins,” which exhibit
toxicity towards insects. This trait reduces the need for chemical insecticides
and helps protect the cotton crop from damage.

Ø  Golden Rice - Golden rice is
modified to produce higher levels of beta-carotene, a precursor of vitamin A.
This modification aims to address vitamin A deficiency, a major public health
concern in many developing countries.

·       Way
Forward: Genetically modified crops hold promise for addressing some of India’s
most pressing agricultural challenges, including food security, climate
resilience, and farm incomes. However, their adoption must be carefully managed
to avoid potential environmental and socio-economic risks. As India moves
forward with its policy on GM crops, it must strike a balance between
innovation and caution, ensuring that the benefits of biotechnology are
realized while safeguarding public and environmental health.