NAAS bats for present system of testing genetic modified crops

NEW DELHI: The National Academy of Agricultural Sciences (NAAS) has supported the present mechanism for testing of genetic modified (GM) crops, saying the process is "stringent" and "adequate" enough.

"NAAS feels strongly that the mechanism in place for certifying the safety of transgenic crops and GM food in India is most stringent, adequate and at the same time dynamic," the academy said in a statement

A five-member technical expert committee ( TEC) appointed by the Supreme Court has recommended banning research field trials of all biotech crops in the country.

NAAS President R B Singh said the committee lacked an agriculture expert but after the request made by NAAS before the Supreme Court, R S Paroda, former Director General, ICAR, was included in it.

He claimed that five members of TEC did not include or seek his views on the issue, which compelled Paroda to submit a separate report with a request to the Supreme Court to consider his report along with the report submitted by the five other members.

Paroda's report clearly indicates the situation of Indian agriculture highlighting problem areas and need for exploring all scientific interventions, he further said and demanded that the report should be made available to all parties and the Supreme Court had issued the necessary direction.

Indian Council of Agricultural Reserach (ICAR) Director General S Ayyappan assured full support for strengthening of the bio-safety evaluation of GM crops including establishment of an 'all India coordinated research project on transgenic testing and evaluation' as suggested in Paroda's report.

NAAS has more than 500 top agricultural scientists from India and abroad including leading biotechnologists as its fellows, who provide critical inputs in shaping the agricultural policy and research dimension in the country.