Supreme Court’s Split Verdict on Permission for GM Mustard

What’s in today’s article?

• Why in the News?
• About Genetically Modified (GM) Crops
• Regulations w.r.t. GM Crops in India
• About GM Mustard
• News Summary

Why in the News?

• The Supreme Court on July 23 pronounced a split verdict on the validity of the Centre’s 2022 decision granting conditional approval for environmental release of genetically modified (GM) mustard crops.

About Genetically Modified (GM) Crops

• Genetically Modified (GM) crops are plants whose DNA has been altered through genetic engineering techniques to introduce desirable traits.
  • These traits may include resistance to pests, diseases, or environmental conditions, improved nutritional content, or increased yield.
• Unlike traditional crossbreeding methods, genetic modification allows for the direct manipulation of a plant’s genetic material, often incorporating genes from different species to achieve specific results.
• Benefits of GM Crops:
  • Increased Yield: GM crops can produce higher yields, contributing to food security.
  • Pest and Disease Resistance: Crops can be engineered to be resistant to specific pests and diseases, reducing the need for chemical pesticides.
  • Herbicide Tolerance: Some GM crops are designed to withstand certain herbicides, making weed control more effective.
  • Enhanced Nutritional Content: Crops can be modified to contain higher levels of essential nutrients, addressing malnutrition in developing countries.
  • Environmental Benefits: Reduced need for chemical inputs can lower the environmental impact of agriculture.
• Concerns / Controversies w.r.t. GM Crops:
  • Environmental Impact: There is ongoing debate about the potential for GM crops to affect non-target species and lead to a reduction in biodiversity.
  • Health Concerns: While extensive research indicates that GM foods are safe to eat, public concern about potential long-term health effects persists.
  • Economic Issues: GM seeds are often patented, leading to concerns about corporate control over the food supply and the economic impact on small-scale farmers.
  • Ethical and Labeling Issues: There are ethical debates surrounding the manipulation of genetic material, and many advocate for clear labeling of GM products to inform consumer choice.

Regulations w.r.t. GM Crops in India

• The adoption and regulation of GM crops vary globally. In some countries, GM crops are widely grown and consumed, while others have stringent regulations or outright bans.
• In India, the Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change oversees all activities, operations, and products associated with genetically modified organisms.
• These are regulated under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.
• The Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC), part of MoEFCC, has the authority to review, monitor, and approve all GMO-related activities, including import, export, transportation, manufacture, use, and sale.
  • GEAC is a statutory body established under the Environment Act.
• Additionally, GM foods must comply with the regulations set by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI).
• Currently, cotton is the only GM crop approved for commercial cultivation in India.

About GM Mustard

• In 2023, the GEAC had recently given the green light for the commercial cultivation of genetically modified mustard.
• Dhara Mustard Hybrid (DMH-11), created by scientists at Delhi University, employs genes from soil bacteria to make mustard, typically a self-pollinating plant, more suitable for hybridization than traditional methods.
• The GEAC approved "the environmental release of mustard hybrid DMH-11 for seed production and testing in accordance with existing ICAR guidelines and other applicable regulations prior to its commercial release."

News Summary

• The Supreme Court delivered a split verdict on the Centre's 2022 decisions regarding the environmental release of the genetically modified mustard hybrid DMH-11 for seed production and testing. The case was heard by Justices B V Nagarathna and Sanjay Karol.
• Petitions:
  • The court was responding to pleas by activist Aruna Rodrigues and the NGO 'Gene Campaign,' which called for a moratorium on the release of any GMOs into the environment until a comprehensive, transparent, and rigorous biosafety protocol is publicly available and conducted by independent experts.
• Divergent Opinions:
  • Justice Nagarathna: She deemed the October 18 and 25, 2022, decisions of the GEAC invalid due to the absence of a health department member and the absence of eight members from the meeting.
  • Justice Karol: He found no manifest arbitrariness in the GEAC decisions and stated that field trials should proceed with strict safeguards.
• Next Steps:
  • The bench referred the matter to Chief Justice of India D Y Chandrachud for further adjudication by the appropriate bench.
• National Policy on GM Crops:
  • Both justices agreed on the need for a national policy on Genetically Modified (GM) crops.
  • They directed the Centre to consult all stakeholders and experts within four months to formulate this policy.

Q1. What is the basic difference between DNA and RNA?

DNA is a double-stranded molecule that has a long chain of nucleotides. RNA is a single-stranded molecule which has a shorter chain of nucleotides. DNA replicates on its own, it is self-replicating. RNA does not replicate on its own.

Q2. What is Genetic Engineering in simple terms?

Genetic engineering (also called genetic modification) is a process that uses laboratory-based technologies to alter the DNA makeup of an organism. This may involve changing a single base pair (A-T or C-G), deleting a region of DNA or adding a new segment of DNA.

Source: Supreme Court delivers split verdict on nod for GM mustard | ET