Agricultural Biotechnology: For health and happiness, the future lies in genetically modified food: Experts
Express India
June 8, 2007
Experts met June 7, 2007, at a workshop on agricultural biotechnology held at Chandigarth Press Club…
Excerpt…
Chandigarh, June 7: AT a stage when agriculture growth has come down from 4 to 2.6 per cent, experts say a lot is in store when it comes to genetically modified (GM) products. Apples that could fight tooth cavity, nicotine-free coffee, plant-based edible vaccines, Vitamin A-enriched golden rice, genetically modified tomatoes with much longer shelf life et al is the future, said R G Saini, a senior Geneticist from Punjab Agriculture University (PAU), Ludhiana, at a workshop on agriculture biotechnology held at Chandigarh Press Club today.
He said many of these products, which will eventually make living healthier, were in the trial stage globally and would take time before they can be finally consumed.
Golden rice, which is a modification of maize gene and rice, will have enriched Vitamin A to prevent eye disorder, especially among children, said Dr S R Rao, Advisor Department of Biotechnology, Government of India. He added that golden rice was in its trial stage and is likely to be ready by 2013. “Nearly 2 per cent of children suffer from sub-clinical symptoms of eye disorder largely because of deficiency of Vitamin A. Golden rice could be a natural way to prevent this disorder,” Dr Rao said.
The media workshop was jointly organised by Punjab State Council for Science and Technology, Union Ministry of Environment and Forest, International Service for Acquisition of Agri-Biotech Application (ISAAA) and Chandigarh Press Club.
Dr Rao said, “Globally, even in some state-run laboratories in India, trials are also on for genetically modified brinjals, tomatoes, iron enriched maize, wheat et al.”
R G Saini said India is currently ranked fifth in the world in use of GM crop with 3.8 million hectares area under BT cotton, the only commercially-used GM product in the country. “The US, which tops the list, produces GM soya, maize, papaya and squash. As many as 20 different GM food including watermelon, sunflower, sugarcane are in the experimental stage,” he said, adding that Maharastra tops GM produce in India….
Full article at Express India.
