For our food security, the next regime must be cautious about genetically modified crops, says NEHA SAIGAl
Election fever is on the rise in the country with the nation casting its vote for the candidate that is able to deliver a better India. One of the issues that has gained importance and found its way into the manifesto of the main political parties, is the controversial Genetically Modified crops. There is a raging debate around this risky technology, and whether it should be released into our farms and plates. There is growing opposition to GM crops and discussions about them is not limited to scientific forums but has moved to the realm of the aam aadmi. This is for good reason as the impacts of this technology cut across health, environment and livelihoods; GM crops is an issue that will affect every citizen.
While there have been objections to this unpredictable and uncontrollable technology since 1996, when there were illegal field trials of BT cotton, it caught political attention in India in a big way only when BT Brinjal came up for approval in 2009. After detailed consultations with all stakeholders and application of sound science, then Union Minister for Environment and Forests, Mr Jairam Ramesh, declared an indefinite moratorium of BT Brinjal. This was a milestone victory for people trying to keep their food and farms safe. Since then there has been much evidence put out in the public domain — the most recent are recommendations by the Supreme Court appointed Technical Expert Committee and the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Agriculture. Both suggest a precautionary approach to this technology given the huge risks and a moratorium on open GM field trials till the current regulatory system is re-vamped to ensure bio-safety.
Both these panels have further strengthened the growing scientific evidence against the safety of GM crops and brought attention to the risks associated with the technology and the lack of readiness by our regulator to deal with these risks.
The Congress-led UPA Government, however, has sidelined Mr Ramesh and his successor Ms Jayanthi Natarajan and turned a blind eye to the scientific evidence and public opposition to GM crops. It even replaced Ms Natrajan with Mr Veerappa Moily, who is known for pushing corporate interests over public interests. Ms Natrajan reportedly held a precautionary approach to GM crops and wanted to hold her own views on the issue and not be influenced by the Ministry of Agriculture, which supports GM crops. But, of course, the Congress that prides itself on systems for democratic decision-making failed miserably in practicing democracy within its own party, to please a section of corporates before the election.
The Congress has further ignored the concerns around GM crops by releasing a manifesto that does not mention safeguarding citizens from the risks associated with this technology. This is despite the fact that UPA2 saw two Environment Ministers who were cautious about GM crops. Also recently in the Congress-ruled State of Karnataka, the Agriculture Department banned Monsanto-Mahyco's BT cotton. The crop had failed across the State, causing farmers a loss of about `230 crore. As we vote for the next Government, the Congress leaves us with the sense that it has knowingly promoted anti-people technologies like GM.
But have the other national political parties fared any better on this frontIJ While one can say that yes, some parties have done better than the Congress, the fact is that none has promised to apply the recommendations of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Agriculture and the Supreme Court-appointed TEC.
The manifesto of the Bharatiya Janata Party states that “genetically Modified (GM) foods will not be allowed without full scientific evaluation on its long-term effects on soil, production and biological impact on consumers”. And the manifesto of the Aam Aadmi Party promises that it will “regulate GM crops to ensure the safety to food, human health and environment is ensured before introduction of irreversible technologies.” Both the BJP and the AAP have stressed on the need for regulation and long-term scientific evaluation, but none has emphasised the precautionary approach which would include holding off any open release of Genetically Modified Organisms until the current regulator is re-vamped to protect citizens.
The Communist Party of India (Marxist) has touched upon important issues involving GM crops in its manifesto and promised to “reverse changes in the intellectual property regime that favour big business and break monopolies of companies such as Monsanto in seeds”, but it has not stated its position on the release of GM crops.
So where does this leave the public who is going to cast its vote for the one who is to deliver on many important fronts including ensuring our right to safe foodIJ It is widely recognised that GM crops are neither safe nor will they help us achieve food security or help farmers move towards welfare. While there are limitations to manifestos, one hopes that the new Government that will take over after this general election will have a stronger stance against GM crops to ensure food security and seed sovereignty.