Agricultural scientists and industry representatives have called for a more efficient, transparent and science-based regulatory system to accelerate the safe approval of genetically modified and genome-edited crops in India.
The recommendations emerged from a high-level roundtable organised by the Trust for Advancement of Agricultural Sciences in collaboration with the Indian Council of Agricultural Research and the Federation of Seed Industry of India.
According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, participants broadly agreed that India’s biotechnology regulations must evolve in line with advances in genome editing while continuing to maintain strong biosafety and environmental safeguards.
The roundtable recommended a risk-proportionate regulatory framework supported by streamlined and time-bound approval processes. It also stressed that the system should remain accessible to both public-sector institutions and private innovators.
Experts said the timely adoption of safe GM and genome-edited crops could help improve agricultural productivity, climate resilience, nutritional security, farmer incomes and India’s competitiveness in global agriculture.
India currently follows a multi-tiered regulatory system for transgenic crops under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986. The framework involves agencies including the Department of Biotechnology’s Review Committee on Genetic Manipulation, the Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee, FSSAI, ICAR and other government departments.
However, rapid developments in technologies such as CRISPR, changing international regulatory approaches and the increasing need for climate-resilient crops have created a strong case for reviewing and modernising the existing system.
ICAR Director General and DARE Secretary Dr M.L. Jat said India requires a balanced regulatory framework that enables the safe use of modern biotechnology to support food and nutritional security, sustainable agricultural growth and climate resilience.
TAAS Chairman Dr R.S. Paroda said India has the scientific capability to become a global leader in agricultural biotechnology. He added that the roundtable’s recommendations could help create a policy environment that encourages responsible innovation while protecting human health, biodiversity and the environment.
The recommendations will now be compiled into a policy document and submitted to the concerned ministries and regulatory authorities. The document is expected to support evidence-based reforms in the approval and regulation of GM and genome-edited crop plants in India.