Genome-Edited Rice Varieties: Scientists Raise Concerns
Why in the news
The Agricultural Scientists Manch wrote to Prime Minister Modi raising serious concerns over the release of the first genome-edited rice varieties, which the government frames as part of a sustainable rice future.
Concerns
- IPR issues may make Indian farmers rely on foreign seed technology.
- Off-target edits could cause unwanted effects despite CRISPR’s precision.
- Large-scale cultivation might contaminate native rice germplasm.
- Clearance allegedly lacked enough evaluation.
Exam angle
- Technology: CRISPR-Cas9.
- Varieties released the previous month: Kamala-DRR Dhan-100, Pusa DST Rice 1.