Why is it in the News?

The Supreme Court recently questioned the Centre on why reports of the court-appointed Technical Experts Committee (TEC) on the biosafety of genetically modified (GM) crops were not looked into by the Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC).

Context:

• The Supreme Court has raised concerns about the approval process for the transgenic mustard hybrid DMH-11, developed by Delhi University with herbicide-tolerant traits through genetic modification.
• The Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC) had recommended its environmental release in 2022, but the court questioned whether the reports from the court-appointed Technical Experts Committee (TEC) were adequately considered before approval.
• DMH-11 contains two alien genes isolated from a soil bacterium called Bacillus amyloliquefaciens.
• Indian scientists improvised the barnase/barster male sterility technique to produce the DMH-11.

• • Barnase/barster male sterility technique is a 1990s breeding innovation technique pioneered in Belgium.
  • Indian scientists arranged the genes in a way that will allow a large number of high-yielding varieties of mustard to be developed, which is normally not possible.

• Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) undergo genome alterations, and transgenic organisms result from the introduction of foreign DNA sequences.
• Approval process for transgenic crops:

• • Safety assessments by committees are conducted before the open field tests.
  • Transgenic plants must be better than non-GM variants and environmentally safe for commercial clearance.
  • GEAC recommends environmental release.
  • Final approval by MoEFCC.

• Benefits of GM crops:

• • Resistance against plant diseases.
  • Improved yields
  • Increased food security.

About the Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC):

• Establishment: GEAC operates as a statutory body mandated by the Environment Protection Act of 1986.
• Responsibility: It holds the responsibility for evaluating proposals concerning the environmental release of Genetically Modified (GM) organisms and associated products.
• GEAC operates under the purview of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.