The Hindu Business Line : Draft for biotechnology regulation proposed

ENHANCED transparency and participatory approach to regulate commercialisation of transgenic plant varieties were among the recommendations at the four-day international workshop on transgenic rice that concluded on Wednesday.

At the workshop organised by the National Academy of Agricultural Sciences and sponsored by Syngenta International Ag, scientists came out with a draft recommendation expected to serve as a guideline for biotechnology regulators in developing and developed countries. The recommendations based on scientific data available with focus on socio-economic aspects called for appropriate regulatory supervision to be an inherent part of the release procedures. Release of genetically modified rice should be avoided in areas that are identified as being the source or origin of rice varieties. The final draft is to be made available shortly on the Web site, www.gmriceworkshop.com.

About 30 scientists including biotechnologists, agricultural economists and sociologists from India, the US, Switzerland, China and the Netherlands, discussed the impact of commercialisation of such crops, particularly rice, on human and environmental health.

Addressing the workshop, Dr M.S. Swaminathan, Chairman, M.S. Swaminathan Research Foundation, said against the backdrop of rapid developments in technology, the scientists should thoroughly investigate the impact of technology and the Government should do a cost-benefit and risk analysis. With the need to enhance food grain productivity to keep pace with the increase in population, synergy between biotechnology and organic cultivation could help enhance production while conserving environment. Organic cultivation by itself was more suited to large farms, he said.

Later, during the discussion session, Dr Swaminathan said organic farming with inputs from modern biotechnology would be crucial to enhancing productivity and ensuring a marketable surplus for the small farmers.

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