Reddy wants early consensus on GM crops

The ministry of science and technology seems to be veering towards giving the green signal to GM crops. Minister for science and technology Jaipal Reddy conveyed as much when he declared, “We are making all effort to successfully arrive at a consensus on GM foods soon. We are talking to all stakeholders, including parliamentarians, experts and the industry.” The minister said, “We need to build a consensus but it cannot take aeons of time.” Interacting with the press on the occasion of the foundation day of the Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC) Mr Reddy said, “This is a subject (GM crops) that we cannot afford to abandon. Nor can we neglect international developments on this subject.” “We cannot dismiss anxieties on this subject. The government therefore favours a careful and calibrated approach,” he added. Biocon Ltd chairman Dr Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw also pitched in strongly for GM crops stating, “The biotech sector has an enormous and inclusive economic agenda for India’s growth. We support safe technology which needs to be delivered safely.” She, however, strongly opposed the moratorium on GM crops, especially since field trials on some GM crops had been approved. Shaw also came out strongly against the criticism of clinical trials. “The entire sector should not be punished for the wrongdoing of a few.” In his inaugural speech, the minister stated that India’s biotech sector had grown from $500 million in 2003 to $4 billion in 2011-12. “Today Indian biotech stands fourth in terms of volume and 13th in terms of value holding two per cent of the global biotech industry share.” Mr Reddy added that the industry registered a 14.75 per cent growth during the last five years and will grow to $100 billion by 2025. It is well known that the National Academy of Agricultural Sciences, the department of biotechnology and the industry are pushing for GM crops even as farmers bodies and NGOs insist the moratorium on GM crops must continue till such time as there is more conclusive evidence in its favour.