Manila

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Public participation and awareness on genetically
engineered technologies of crops in India
Desh Deepak Verma Joint Secretary Ministry of
Environment an Forests

• Manila
• 21-25 June, 2004

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• The Ministry of Environment and Forests is the
  focal point for Convention on Biological
  Diversity and all biodiversity related matters
  including biosafety and
• Ratified the Cartagena Protocol in January, 2003.

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Biosafety Framework in IndiaGovernment
Commitment

• Government of India has committed to biosafety
  issues by framing Rules for Manufacture, Use,
  Import, Export and Storage of Hazardous
  Microorganisms/ Genetically engineered organisms
  or cells under the EPA (1986).
• The 1989 Rules cover the entire spectrum of
  activities relating to research, development and
  use of Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) and
  their products.

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• Four principal facets of the biosafety regulatory
  framework namely, institutional, legal,
  environmental and public information are in
  place.
• In accordance with Article 8(g) of the
  Convention, India is committed to establish or
  maintain means to regulate, manage or control the
  risks associated with the use and release of LMOs
  resulting from biotechnology.

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Current Regulatory Mechanism for GMOs Statutory
Bodies

1. Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBSC)
2. Review Committee on Genetic Manipulation (RCGM)
3. Genetic Engineering Approval Committee (GEAC)
4. State Biotechnology Coordination Committee (SBCC)
   
5. District Level Committee (DLC)

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BENEFITS OF GMOs IN AGRICULTURE

• Increased production to ensure food security
• Reduced need for clearing more land for farms
• Improved productivity of marginal lands
• Fall in the irrigation and agrochemical
  requirements

Weed infested
Weed resistant
Golden rice with Vitamin A
Soyabean
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POTENTIAL ENVIORNMENTAL AND RELATED PROBLEMS

• Development of insect resistance
• Effect on non target herbivore insects,
  pollinators etc.
• Gene flow to wild relatives leading to gene
  contamination
• Health hazard for human beings and cattle
• Possible transfer of antibiotic resistant genes
  to other soil bacteria
• Loss of local biodiversity
• Capture of market by GMO seed-Monopoly

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ONGOING FIELD TRIALS IN THE WORLD
Red countries that are growing GM crops
Yellow countries that are field testing GM crops
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MAJOR GM CROPS, THEIR TRAITS AND AREA (MHA)
Crop Trait Area in 2001
1. Soybean Herbicide-tolerant 33.3
2. Corn Insect resistant (Bt) 5.9
3. Canola Herbicide-tolerant 2.7
4. Cotton Herbicide-tolerant 2.5
5. Cotton Insect resistant (Bt)/ Herbicide-tolerant 2.4
6. Corn Herbicide-tolerant 2.1
7. Cotton Insect resistant (Bt) 1.9
8. Corn Insect resistant (Bt)/ Herbicide-tolerant 1.8
TOTAL 52.6
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GM CROPS APPROVED IN INDIA

• Only one crop i.e. Bt cotton approved recently
  with various conditions for a period of three
  years by GEAC based upon recommendations of the
  Monitoring and Evaluation Committee (MEC), ICAR
  and biosafety evaluation.

Results of insect infestation on Bt (right) and
non-Bt (left) cotton bolls
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Information sharing and data base management

• Networking with various institutes and agencies.
• Development of databases.
• Web management for information dissemination to
  various stakeholders.

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Involvement of stakeholders

• Societal acceptance is the key element for
  successful implementation of various polices and
  adaptation of technologies.
• Introduction of public consultation mechanism.
• Public Awareness programs.

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Institutions and Public participation

• Indian R D institutions have expertise for
  conducting research in this area. However,they
  need to be strengthened meet the challenges that
  are emerging with the rapidly changing biosafety
  scenario.
• Information sharing protocols and additional data
  capacity are needed to keep pace with the
  expected increase in trans-boundary movement of
  LMOs.

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• Increasing public participation and awareness
  building programmes for all stakeholder groups
  play an important role.
• Knowledge and methodologies on Biosafety will be
  shared and transferred to the state agencies
  through training and awareness programmes.

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• Strengthening institutional capacity for
  coordination and decision making across
  ministries, specialized agencies and in state
  government in areas related to biosafety and the
  CP.
• strengthen technical capacity to assess, manage
  and monitor risks associated with biosafety
  through the provision of training for core
  capacity development in relevant stakeholder
  ministries, specialized agencies and in state
  governments.

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Training cum awareness workshops in India

• To share the experience of the industry and
  farmers with scientists, policy makers, state
  governments and NGOs.
• To sensitize and train state government officials
  and other stakeholders for effective monitoring
  of transgenic crops and review their performance.

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• To demonstrate monitoring techniques to the
  agriculture related officials in the states where
  Bt cotton has been introduced.
• To create a better understanding of the rules and
  regulation related to biosafety of transgenic
  crops and apprise about developments related to
  transgenic crops in India.
•  

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The complexities of controversy

• Recent developments in the agricultural
  biotechnology arena claim different degrees of
  trust in regulatory institutions.
• Risks are not resolved easily once they become
  public controversies.
• Public risk perception is influenced as much by
  social relations and feelings of power.

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• There is a need for developing integrated
  information systems through networking of
  institutions, databases, and establishment of a
  biosafety-clearing house that would interalia
  cover information on transboundary inventories of
  GMOs.

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• In addition to the scientific assessments,
  socio-economic evaluation is also important for
  acceptance of GMOs.
• In this regard, creating awareness amongst
  various stakeholders is extremely important.

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Capacity Building in Biosafety in India

• Efforts are being made towards capacity building
  within the country with the key thrust on
  training and awareness.
• Currently two such projects are underway
• FAO Regional Capacity Building Project on
  Biosafety of GM Crops in Asia and
• GEF-World Bank aided Capacity building project.

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Thank You