Introduction

All aspect of human knowledge especially natural sciences were directed to develop with technology to add  creature comfort  and  add value to human live. In the present scenario the whole approach of understanding natural phenomena has became anthropocentric. In this context modern biological approach of biotechnology and its evolutionary application of genetic engineering proved to be ambrosia   for qualitative improvement of food production. 

By the studies of Herbert Boyer in 1969 on couple of restriction enzymes of E. coli bacterium. He discovered the DNA strand cutting in particular fashion, leading to the pasting of DNA pieces together which in turn led to a rich and rewarding experiment done by Stanley Cohen, he discovered the method of removing plasmids from the cell and then reinserting them into the other cells. And by combining the processes enabled by Boyer and Cohen to recombine the desired configuration to DNA and insert it into bacterial cell which then led to the manufacturing of plants of specific protein. Which is major breakthrough in the history of biotechnology known as recombinant DNA technology or Genetic engineering.

 To meet the food demands of growing population, after so many critical researches, genetically modified crops were introduced. Which less or more satisfied the eyes of farmers and cultivators but burnt a hole in the pocket as well as led to everlasting devastation to the environment.

Genetically modified crop and it’s impact

 India being the agrarian country, its agrarian communities comprises over 58% of its total population and are engaged primarily in farming. But the major abiotic stress such as salinity, high temperature, drought  and biotic components as insects and pests are  persistent problems of sustainable agricultural development which often lead to starvation and other social issues , in year 1972 green revolution on the land of Punjab, Haryana and part of Uttar Pradesh became a landmark victory in order to combat such stresses. After a passage of time and experiment by crossing many hurdles India got its first GM crop Bt–cotton commercialized in 2002. It was introduced by Maharashtra Hybrid seed company in collaboration with MONSANTO – world’s biggest seed company, initially on 6 states were allowed to grow GM crops, now the numbers of states are 10. As per professor Snehlata Singh Parekh a group leader and national officer at ‘International Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Delhi  to carry out evolution in GM  crops there group had designed technology to increase the ‘Lycopene’-an potent antioxidant content in GM tomato, to ensure the longevity boost crop production. These mechanism of genetics are emerging as kind of new green revolution in the world, but in this very aspect India experienced the other side of the coin. 

India’s first GM crop Bt- cotton crop besides many promises suffered drastically by the attack of pests. Enormous complaints of crop losses and increased numbers of suicides of farmers in cotton growing areas added a new concern to the very topic,  a new chapter was added by the  Delhi high court verdict on 11th March 2018 that MONSANTO a company who provide GM crops to India cannot claim patent on its GM cotton seeds as per law of land. 

When in 1996 GM crops were approved for commercial purposes it claimed to increase crop yields and bring profits to farmers but the plight of farmers remained unchanged and companies providing GM crops grew richer and prosperous. The main aim of GM crop was  to combat the pests that reduces the crop production. Initially it was intended to resist American and Pink bollworm and hence will limit the use of pesticides, claiming to be drought and flood resistant add bonus to the process.  But all the promises and claims vanished into thin air as GM crops got resistance to pests and led to depletion of crop yields. It was confirmed by Central Institute Of Cotton Research in 2017 that GM seeds susceptible to pink bollworm. A detailed study by CRCR- Ignorance of farmers towards technology cited as the main cause of development of resistance of pink bollworm. 

Under regulatory guidelines: 

Farmers who cultivate GM crops as Bt- cotton must plant varieties of cotton plant at least 20 per cent without having  Bt gene to curb the pests from developing resistance against Bt -toxins. And seed companies are required to provide mix Bt- cotton seeds with refuge seeds but the present scenario is that about 90 per cent of refuge seeds shows poor cultivation and do not act as same due to having different window periods. 

In India Genetically modified crops are regulated by Ministry of Environment and Forest. But the safety aspect is looked by statutory bodies of three committees. Namely:

1. Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GMAC) 

It is constituted under the rule of the manufacture use, export/import and storage of hazardous microorganisms or cells,1989, notified under the Environment (protection)Act,1986.  It was initially formed as Genetic Engineering Approval committee and was renamed as its current name in 2010. It’s main work is appraisal of activities that consist of large scale use of hazardous microbes and recombinants in research and industrial production from the environmental angle. It also assesses the proposals regarding the release of genetically engineered products and organisms on mass scale into the environment, and it includes experimental fields. The  Committee also looks into the  matter regarding the use of living modified organism that comes in the risk category III and above, in the import/manufacture of recombinant pharma products, or where the end-product of the recombinant pharma product is a modified living organisms. The committee also enjoys the power to take punitive actions against people or body under Environment protection Act. The GEAC provides mandatory approval before genetically modified organisms and products derived from them can be commercially accessible. GMAC is headed by the Special Secretary or Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change, GOI. And a next to him is headed by the representative of the Department of Biotechnology. Every month meetings are held by many members to review the applications in the Committee’s domain They are experts from other ministries as well as institutions such as the ICAR, ICMR, CCMB, etc.

2. Recombinant DNA Advisory Committee:  It is an advisory committee  

3. Review Committee on Genetic Manipulation (RCGM) 

4. Institutional Bio Safety Committee (IBSC)   

These committees provide permission for release and cultivation after having assured of environment and food safety assignment, but since 2011 it became mandatory to take state‘s permission to conduct large scale experiments in open fields. The trials of many GM crops were accepted by UPA government. Around 10 GM crops such as wheat, paddy, Jawar ,bajra ,and maize  were approved but in 2010 the then environment minister  Jai Ram Ramesh banned the trials. And for the very first time the standing committee on agriculture did a deep investigation in 2013- 2014. The committee held 27 meetings and discussed with the experts of the concerned topic and drew a conclusion that besides possessing risk to human and animal health it also poses threats to another crops.  

CONCLUSION: – 

Nature has evolved a specific kind of evolutionary balance. But with the forceful injection of bacterial DNA or any foreign component is completely unnatural and is injustice to environment. This aggressive bombardment of  gene to the plants lead the plants to react and can produce toxins which may be harmful or allergic. According to WHO, DNA  in GMO is changed in such a way that now there is no natural occurring of reproduction process. Environmentalist are very much concerned about the  safety of the country’s ecological diversity  due to trans-boundary  movement in Bangladesh  so they wrote to the ministry urging to explore all the options of “Cartagena Protocol “ 

If we really want to see bottle – neck production of the crops without harming environment, then we must provide farmers with plenty of water. As paucity of water is the major problem to farmers interest world wide

There is no use of GM crops  as it has no better taste not cheaper as Bt cotton seeds are 200 times more expensive than normal one, instead it is risky. It only benefits to the companies neither to the farmers nor the consumers. Adding more to the disability part the impact of genetically modified crops on  Environment is unrepairable, and the whole ecological structure of the world is  under threat.