Genetically modified (GM) farm products

Economic think tank Global Trade Research Initiative (GTRI) today issued a cautionary statement regarding the potential implications of allowing genetically modified (GM) farm products from the United States under a proposed trade pact. GTRI warned that such a move could significantly impact India’s agricultural exports, particularly to the European Union (EU).

Key Concerns Raised by GTRI:

• Impact on EU Exports: Allowing the import of GM products like soybean meal and distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS) for animal feed could jeopardize India’s agri exports to the EU.
  • DDGS is a by-product of ethanol production, typically from corn or other grains.
  • The EU has strict GM labeling rules and strong consumer resistance to GM-linked products.
  • Even though GM feed is technically permitted in the EU, many European buyers prefer fully GM-free supply chains. This preference could lead to shipment rejections, higher testing costs, and an erosion of India’s “GMO-free” image, especially for sensitive export sectors like rice, tea, honey, spices, and organic foods.
  • GTRI highlighted that India’s fragmented agricultural logistics and lack of robust traceability systems could lead to cross-contamination of non-GM products with GM material.

Understanding Genetically Modified (GM) Crops:

• Definition: GM crops are created by inserting specific genes, often from bacteria, viruses, other plants, or occasionally animals, into a plant’s DNA.
• Purpose: The insertion aims to introduce new traits, such as pest resistance (e.g., the Bt gene from Bacillus thuringiensis allows the plant to produce a protein toxic to certain pests) or herbicide tolerance.
• Vegetarianism Concerns: While GM crops are biologically plant-based and function as vegetarian food, the presence of genes of animal origin in some GM crops can make them unacceptable to communities or individuals adhering strictly to religious or ethical definitions of vegetarianism.
• Animal Products and GM Feed: Foods like milk or chicken are not classified as GM, even if the animals were fed GM feed, as studies suggest GM DNA breaks down during digestion and does not enter the animal’s produce. However, critics argue this blurs the line for consumers who wish to avoid GM-associated products entirely.

India’s Current Policy on GM Crops:

• India maintains a relatively conservative policy on GM crops.
• Only one GM crop, Bt cotton, is approved for commercial cultivation in India.
• Import of GM soybean oil and canola oil are permitted.
• However, imports of GM grains, pulses, oilseeds, fruits, and similar food/feed products are currently not allowed.

(Source: TH)