AgroSpectrum - AgroSpectrum July 2024

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India Needs GEd to Usher in A New Agri Revolution Genome editing technology has the potential to offer solutions to address various problems the Indian agriculture sector is facing – from climate change and disease pressure to high input cost and declining income of farmers. Rapidly increasing population is intensifying the gravity of the problems. Precise genetic modifications, leading to the development of superior crop varieties with improved traits in a short time frame is a solution in sight. In 2022, the Indian government exempted certain gene-edited plants from stringent biosafety regulations. SDN-1 and SDN-2 plants are thus freed from the cumbersome and time-consuming regulations currently imposed on the commercialisation of genetically modified transgenic crops. With this exemption, India's seed sector is making good efforts for enhancing crop productivity, nutritional value, and sustainability. However, for the development of gene-edited crops in India, seed industry requires infrastructure support, clear Intellectual Property Rights policies, investment in R&D and policy for technology licensing. Strengthening partnerships among academia, seed industry and government agencies will pave the way towards development of gene-edited crops in India.