THE FOOD Safety and Sta- ndards Authority of India (fssai), the country’s nodal food regulatory body, does not know if the fresh food produce imported in the past five years included genetically modified (GM) varieties. Neither does fssai have information on tests undertaken to check for the presence of such varieties. These are the findings of a Right To Information (rti) investigation by Down To Earth (dte). This raises questions whether the fruit and vegetables sold currently in the country— at supermarkets and by roadside vendors—are free of GM varieties or not.
When a new variety of plant is created by inserting in it the genes of another plant, organism or bacteria, the variety becomes a genetically modified organism (gmo). Since there is not enough data or research on the long-term impacts of gmo on human health, there is no unanimity in the scientific community on their regular consumption.
Globally, about a dozen gmo species are being farmed on a large scale. Some 28 countries allow large-scale farming of these gmo crops, states a 2015 report by The Royal Society, a London-based fellowship of scientists and the world’s oldest scientific academy in continuous existence. In India, the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, prohibits import, manufacture, use or sale of GM food without fssai’s approval (see ‘We all eat genetically modified food’, dte, 1-15 August 2018). So far, the country has allowed cultivation and import of only one gmo—cotton, a non-food crop. In 2022, India also allowed commercial cultivation of GM mustard, but the move has been challenged and is pending at the Supreme Court.
Denne historien er fra November 16, 2023-utgaven av Down To Earth.
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Denne historien er fra November 16, 2023-utgaven av Down To Earth.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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A SPRIG TO CARE FOR
Punarnava, a perennial herb, is easy to grow and has huge health benefits
DIGGING A DISASTER
Soapstone mining near Dabti Vijaypur village has caused many residents to migrate.
REVIEW THE TREATMENT
Several faecal sludge treatment plants in Uttar Pradesh suffer from design flaws that make the treatment process both expensive and inefficient
MAKE STEEL SUSTAINABLE
As India works to double its GDP by 2030, its steel industry must balance growth with sustainability. By embracing policies like the Steel Scrap Recycling Policy 2019 and adopting green technologies, India is paving the way for a more sustainable future in steel production
Can ANRF pull off the impossible for India?
Anusandhan National Research Foundation is expected to reorient India's innovation goals but funding issues, old mindsets remain a drag
TROUBLED WOODS
Forests are a great bulwark against climate change. But this is fast changing. AKSHIT SANGOMLA travels through some of the pristine patches of the Western Ghats to explore how natural disturbances triggered by global warming now threaten the forest health
BLINDING GLOW
The science is clear: increased illumination has damaging consequences for the health of humans, animals and plants. It’s time governments introduced policies to protect the natural darkness and improved the quality of outdoor lighting.
GROUND REALITY
What happens when the soil loses the ability to grow healthy, high-yield crops on its own?
GM POLICY MUST BE FARMER CENTRIC
On July 23, the Supreme Court of India directed the Union government to develop a national policy on genetically modified (GM) crops for research, cultivation, trade and commerce through public consultation.
Vinchurni's Gandhi
A 96-year-old farmer transforms barren land into a thriving forest in drought-prone region of Satara
