India‑US Trade Deal Regarding GM Crops

India‑US Trade Deal Regarding GM Crops

Why in News India‑US Trade Deal Regarding GM Crops? 

Recently, on July 1, 2025, India and the United States advanced discussions toward a short-term trade agreement. The agreement would shield sensitive sectors like GM crops and dairy. Talks aim to prevent a 26% tariff from taking effect after the July 9 deadline.

• • Both governments aim to complete a comprehensive Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA) by autumn 2025, with a long-term goal to double bilateral trade to $500 billion by 2030.

• Sectors Covered: Industrial goods and automobiles, Agriculture, GM crops and cattle feed.

• India wants reciprocal tariff rollback, asking the US to drop both the 10% baseline and the 26% levy on steel and other items.
• Following the interim pact, both sides will begin phase-two negotiation on broader BTA segments by September–October, targeting expansion across services, digital trade, and investment.

What are GM Crops?

• Introduction:

• • • GM crops are developed by changing plant DNA through modern biotechnology techniques.
    • These changes aim to create traits not found in natural varieties. GM crops differ from hybrids and conventional breeds in basic structure and global use.
    • GM crops feature DNA sequences inserted through genetic engineering to introduce new traits.
    • They may resist pests, tolerate herbicides, endure environmental stress, reduce spoilage, or offer enhanced nutrition.
    • These crops support agriculture, food security, biofuel production, and biopharmaceutical supply systems.

• Global Adoption:

• • • In 1973, Herbert Boyer and Stanley Cohen pioneered recombinant DNA, laying the foundations of genetic engineering.
    • In 1987, scientists developed the first tobacco plant expressing insecticidal Bt proteins, establishing protocols for pest-resistant crops.
    • China became the first country to commercialize a transgenic plant in 1992 using virus-resistant tobacco.
    • From 1996 onward, global cultivation of biotech crops surged. 
    • In 2007, more than 114 million hectares of GM crops were grown across 23 nations worldwide.
    • By the year 2019, GM farming expanded to nearly 190 million hectares globally.

• GM Techniques:

• • Scientists use tools like gene guns, electroporation, microinjection, or Agrobacterium-mediated transfer to insert desired DNA into plant genomes.
    • Transgenic: introducing genes from different species, e.g., Bt toxin gene in cotton.
    • Cisgenic: adding genes from related plants.
    • Sub-genic: deleting or modifying internal gene segments.
    • Stacked traits: combining two or more traits—for example, drought resistance with herbicide tolerance

Status of GM Crops in India

• Bt cotton became the first GM crop approved in India in 2002 for commercial farming. It incorporates the Cry1Ac gene from Bacillus thuringiensis to resist bollworm.
• By 2018–19, Bt cotton covered approximately 95% of the total cotton area in India, planted on over 10 million hectares, reflecting its widespread farmer adoption and performance.
• Bt brinjal was approved by the Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC) in 2009, but a moratorium was placed in 2010 due to public concerns and lack of consensus among states.
  • Between 2020 and 2023, GEAC approved limited field testing of two Indian Bt brinjal lines, which needed approvals from state governments and had to be grown in isolated plots.
• GM mustard, known as Dhara Mustard Hybrid-11 (DMH-11), received environmental release approval from GEAC in October 2022.
  • This marks India’s first approved edible GM crop, intended to boost yield and reduce edible oil imports.
• India continues to conduct confined field trials for crops like rice, wheat, golden rice, chickpea, pigeonpea, sugarcane, and more—following stringent safety and containment requirements.

Regulatory Framework and Policy in India

• Under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 and the Rules, 1989, the Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change oversees all GM crop regulation.
  • It sets biosafety regulations, coordinates state and district biosafety committees, and monitors field trials.
• The Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC), the top regulatory body under the Environment Ministry, approves commercial cultivation or experiments involving GM crops.
  • It examines import, export, research, and release proposals for genetically engineered organisms.
• The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) now regulates GM food safety under the Food Safety & Standards Act, 2006.
• India maintains a multi-tiered biosafety management system:

• Institutional Biosafety Committees (IBSCs) oversee GM work in labs.
• Review Committee on Genetic Manipulation (RCGM) monitors contained and confined trials.
• State and District Biotechnology Committees (SBCCs/DLCs) manage regional oversight.

• India has agreed to the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety, which binds it to follow international rules for managing GMOs.

Advantages and Concerns of GM Crops

• Advantages

• • • Enhanced Pest Resistance: GM crops like Bt cotton and Bt maize include genes that produce specific proteins toxic to insect pests. This built-in defense significantly cuts pesticide use and reduces crop losses. In India, Bt cotton notably halved pesticide reliance and doubled yields by 2008–09.
    • Improved Crop Yields: Studies from 1996 to 2014 show GM crops, including herbicide-tolerant and Bt varieties, raise yields by roughly 22–25%. In developing nations, yield gains frequently exceed 14% compared to conventional seeds.
    • Reduced Input Costs: Though GM seeds can be pricier, they often lead to savings on pesticides, fuel, and labor. Research indicates input cost reductions for insect-resistant and herbicide-tolerant crops.
    • Environmental and Sustainability Gains: Reduced pesticide spraying has led to less water contamination and better air quality. GM crops support conservation tillage, which preserves topsoil and lowers soil erosion.

• Concerns

• • Ecosystem Risks: Pollen drift from GM to wild or heirloom plants may harm native genetic diversity. Superweeds and resistant insect populations could emerge in response to heavy GM crop use. This poses threats to ecosystems and traditional agricultural varieties.
  • Health Risks: Opponents stress the risk of unanticipated toxins, antibiotic-resistant genes, or new allergens in GM foods. The introduction of a new gene could also lead to the creation of a new allergen, or increase the levels of existing allergens in a food. 
  • Corporate Control: Market concentration has given a few large firms—like Bayer and Corteva—significant control over GM seed markets. This leads to rising seed prices and dependency, reducing farmers’ ability to reuse seeds.
  • Limits to Long-term Benefit: Widespread planting of Bt and herbicide-tolerant crops may speed the evolution of resistant pests and weeds. Over time, rising resistance in pests has reduced the effectiveness of GM crops on yields and cost savings.

Way Forward

• India needs to reinforce its regulatory systems to evaluate GM crops transparently and scientifically. The Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC) must function with updated protocols that incorporate modern safety standards.
• Research bodies like ICAR and IARI should lead in developing indigenous GM varieties suited for Indian agro-climatic zones.
• The government must initiate outreach programs to educate farmers on benefits, risks, and responsible usage. 
• GM crop expansion must not threaten native crop varieties. Seed banks and traditional seed conservation programs need support.

India should align its GM crop policies with global trade regulations under WTO and Codex Alimentarius.