Biotechnology can provide effective solutions to the rising food security problems of the country on the back of rising population and inflation concerns.
“With rising population, depleting land and water resources, and a rapid increase in food prices in India, the application of innovation and crop biotechnologies will be critical in enhancing agricultural yields along with achievement of food security for the nation,” G Padmanaban, NASI-Platinum Jubilee Chair of Indian Institute of Science said at the Bangalore India-Bio event here.
He also said that the country should boost its crop productivity through better seeds and technologies, along with other agri-inputs.
According to the latest Census, India’s population rose to 1.2 billion people over last 10 years, an increase of 181 million over the 2001 census. Industry experts are of the opinion that the challenges of food security and the need to meet food and nutritional needs amidst the diminishing natural resources and a changing climate along with rising inflation.
“In India, food demand is likely to almost double by 2020 from the present productivity level of 200 million tonnes. Meeting the national food requirement will necessitate an increase in production by 100 per cent in the next few years. We need to integrate the best of conventional crop technology and crop biotechnology applications for increasing national food, feed and fibre productivity,” Padmanaban said.
He also said that genetically modified crops would help in increasing productivity of food crops in the country.
Indian government is yet to allow commercialisation of Bt brinjal due to concerns raised by certain sections of society with regard to safety aspects. The only Bt crop allowed in the country is Bt cotton which has witnessed a rapid expansion of the area under the crop in the recent times.
Referring to this matter, Ajay Jakhar, chairman of Bharat Krishak Samaj, said, “Bt cotton has proven safe and has demonstrable benefits for the farmers and environment since its launch. If India has to increase crop yields sustainably and substantially to feed its ever-growing population, it needs to adopt the latest technologies like agri-biotech in combination with traditional practices for input optimisation and there by bolster productivity.”
Presently, various public and private sector institutions are conducting extensive agriculture and plant research to increase food security and provide nutritionally-enhanced food to meet the nation’s growing food and nutrition needs, he added.
Industry experts also said that there was need for public awareness about the benefits and safety of biotech crops.
“There is a need for increased public awareness about the benefits and safety of biotech crops, noting that plant biotechnology offers tangible benefits to farmers, consumers and the environment,” an industry expert said.
M N Vidyashankar, secretary of IT, BT and S&T of Government of Karnataka said that CSIR would collaborate with the state government to set up an innovation centre complex dedicated to agri-biotech.
“These two agencies will invest Rs 100 crore in the centre which shall be built up in 200,000 sq ft area and would be operational in two years,” he added.
