'Regulatory oversight of agricultural biotech should be science-based'

One of the major goals of TERI?s Division of Bioresources and Biotechnology has been application of biotechnological techniques to supplement conventional methods for improvement of plant species. Biotechnology research is being carried out in the areas of micropropagation and transgenics, plant tissue culture, genetic engineering, and microbial biotechnology, among other fields. In an interview with Sudhir Chowdhary, the director of the division, Dr Vibha Dhawan, talks about the crucial role of biotechnology in accelerating agricultural productivity. Excerpts: How can biotechnology play a crucial role at this juncture in accelerating agricultural productivity? Biotech crops deliver a unique set of benefits to the growers. The benefits largely depend upon pest control issues, particular to each crop. About six million farmers in some 17 countries now cultivate genetically-engineered (GE) crops on about 125 million acres, a 30-fold increase over 1996. Bt cotton, one of the known varieties, has allowed growers to reduce insecticide use and attain better control of pests, which has resulted in increased yields. According to an European Community study, which involved more than 400 research teams and 81 projects spread over a 15-year period, GE products are no greater a risk to human health or environment than conventional crops. Nevertheless, caution and examining issues case by case, is the watchword of technologists, who are aware of their responsibilities. Will GE solve the problems associated with various biotic and abiotic stresses on crops including pest infestation, frost, draught and salinity? Yes, biotechnology offers solution for biotic and abiotic stresses. More than 40 transgenic crop varieties have been cleared through the federal review process with enhanced agronomic and/or nutritional characteristics or one or more features of pest protection and tolerance to herbicides. Crops and foods produced using recombinant DNA techniques have been available for fewer than 10 years and no long-term effects have been detected to date. In my opinion, federal regulatory oversight of agricultural biotechnology should be science-based. Methods to ensure the safety of foods derived from genetically-modified (GM) crops should continue to be refined and improved. What are the challenges facing agricultural biotechnology in India? One of the major challenges for India is to see whether it can successfully transform scientific progress into business opportunities. Will biotechnology create huge businesses or increase fragmentation and disintermediation in the pharmaceutical and IT sectors? After all, genetic discoveries don?t mean anything without an industrial effect to develop the biotech crop, and complete the rest of the cycle. Another challenge concerns lack of farmers? awareness about agricultural biotechnology. Farmers are the ones who adopt the technology, and thus, they should be properly educated about the benefits and risks associated with new technologies. In spite of excellent extension system established by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research, percolation of the latest technologies, especially in remote villages is far from satisfactory. Further, in most cases, farmers are not involved in the decision-making process. Why is it that India?s efforts in agricultural biotechnology have not reached a critical mass yet? A recent report said that India does not figure in the global listing of bio clusters. It is largely because research institutions were working independent of the corporate, till recently. These studies were not suited to the requirements of the industry. There was lack of confidence among the industrialists on R&D institutions and lack of communication by scientists to market their research. Further, biotech requires enormous infrastructure, which is proving to be one of the major bottlenecks in its application intent. Why is it that India has been slow in its endeavour to adopt biotech crops? India is blessed with vast agro-climatic zones and thus has the choice of growing different varieties in various parts of the country. Developing transgenics is an expensive exercise and India being rich in biodiversity, there is some reluctance in adopting single variety for the entire country. Further, developing transgenics and its regulatory approvals takes up substantial time and many a time, the varieties so developed become obsolete. The genetically-modified (GM) crop opponents in India are playing a negative role through misinformation. Any comments? Agricultural biotechnology is comparatively new here and not many people understand it well. It is the fear of the unknown to some, while others, who don?t fully understand the technology, opt for negative campaign. Scientists are typically bad communicators and thus never really try to reach to the masses with facts and figures. No technology is risk-free and what we need to do is carry out assessment of risks linked to a technology with potential benefits. In that assessment, perhaps GM technology will emerge as a leading technology to supplement all our ongoing efforts of crop improvement.