The Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC), Approved Mustard

The Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC), Approved Mustard For using Genetic Engineering.

• The Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC), approved Dhara Mustard Hybrid­11 (DMH­11), a variety developed using genetic engineering techniques by Indian scientists and public funds for environmental release.

DMH-11

• DMH­11 employs genes from a soil bacterium that makes mustard, a self­pollinating plant, amenable to being crossed with other varieties and producing hybrid varieties. 
• Hybrid varieties are generally more vigorous and, in the case of mustard, an oil seed, will produce more oil.

Problems with Mustard Production

• India continues to be a net oil importer due to poor yields despite having varieties of mustard. 
• The food crisis due to the Ukraine war has only exacerbated the problem.

 Political Hindrance

• Mustard hybrids have not made it to Indian farmers because of activists opposed to genetic modification technology in principle and some farmer groups that believe them to be dangerous despite decades-long trials.
• In 2017 too, GEAC cleared the plant and then did a backtrack by introducing additional tests after protests. 
• In 2009, GEAC had cleared Bt Brinjal, a transgenic food crop, only to be over­ruled by the UPA government — again after protests. 

Agriculture as a State Subject

• Agriculture, being a state subject, may merit political scrutiny before a seed can be commercially released; however, in the case of transgenic technology, these decisions have only served to throttle technological progress. 
• The moratorium on Bt Brinjal persists and it was only in 2020 that GEAC approved fresh field trials, which were in effect repetitions of earlier tests. It is unclear if it will be available in the immediate future. 

Drawbacks 

• The barnase­barstar system, used in DMH­11, is promising but already outdated given that cutting­edge technology such as CRISPR is in vogue. 
• DMH­11 represents a platform technology that requires seed companies to invest and develop their hybrids. The uncertainty around regulatory policy regarding seed development hinders this. 

Fixing the Problem

• The Government must approve GEAC and restore the system, whereby scientific consent determines the availability of products to farmers and consumers rather than political considerations.