From Lab to Land: Rethinking GM Crop Adoption in India
This year’s Nobel laureates in Economics affirm that innovation will drive future economic growth. This is both a challenge and an opportunity, and resonates deeply with India’s agricultural ambitions.
As the country seeks to boost agricultural productivity, few innovations have sparked as much debate and promise as genetically modified (GM) crops. In many ways, the story of GM crops in India mirrors the invention of the light bulb as a paradigm-shifting innovation. GM crops arrived with the promise of solving persistent agricultural challenges, such as pest infestations, low yields, and climate stress, thereby shrinking crop yields and incomes. But its journey from lab to land has been uneven.
Just as consumers were once reluctant to switch from incandescent bulbs to LEDs due to cost and unfamiliarity, GM crops face scepticism related to ethical concerns, regulatory hurdles, and public mistrust. Yet, the parallels continue. Like LEDs use less energy and last longer, GM crops use less pesticides and water, and produce more food per acre. While LEDs cost more upfront but save money over time, GM crops also require investment in research and regulation, but promise long-term gains in food security and sustainability. Customization is another shared trait. Akin to LEDs that can be tuned for brightness and colour, GM crops can be designed for drought tolerance, enhanced nutrition, and a longer shelf life. Like LEDs, GM crops have the potential to reduce environmental impact in terms of chemical runoff, greenhouse gas emissions, and resource utilisation, making them a compelling tool to combat climate change.
The light bulb analogy is a reminder that innovation often begins with hesitation, but its true value lies in what it illuminates. The question is no longer whether GM technology works, but how India can use it wisely, ensuring that farmers are benefited, ecosystems are protected, and decisions are guided by science and trust. After all, the real impact will not be seen in labs, but in the lives of farmers and the resilience of our food systems.
India’s engagement with GM crops began in 2002, when the imported Bt cotton gene (Cry1Ac) engineered to combat the American bollworm was approved for commercial use by inserting it into Indian cotton hybrids. The results were promising as yields improved, pesticide use declined, and many farmers reported better incomes. Within a decade, Bt Cotton hybrid spread over 90% of India’s cotton-growing area, and cotton yields surged from a stagnant 6 quintals per hectare (q/ha) to 16 q/ha by 2013. However, the story didn’t end there.
Over time, the pink bollworm pest began to develop resistance to the Bt toxin, forcing farmers to use pesticides again, and they were back to square one. This not only increased costs but also reignited concerns about environmental and health impacts. Simultaneously, debates emerged around GM seed pricing, intellectual property rights, and the role of multinational corporations. In response, the public-sector institutions attempted to develop indigenous Bt cotton hybrids, unlike the pure-line GM cotton popular globally. This experiment failed in India due to poor adaptation to the uncertain rainfed conditions. Therefore, some narratives link high seed costs, rising input costs, and crop failures in rainfed areas to farmer distress. Research suggests that these issues are often rooted not only in biotechnology but also in broader systemic issues such as market volatility and inadequate support systems.
The need for next-generation GM traits, such as stacked genes and herbicide tolerance, has been recognized. Yet, their approval remains pending, reflecting the importance of thorough regulatory review and public scrutiny. India’s regulatory framework for GM crops is overseen by the Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC) under the Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change. The committee undertakes rigorous biosafety assessments, multi-location field trials, and public consultations. State governments also play a role in granting final approvals for cultivation. Despite these provisions, the pace of approvals has been slow. For instance, Bt Brinjal was approved in 2009, but placed under indefinite moratorium following public opposition. On the other hand, GM Mustard, developed in India, has passed safety evaluations but awaits final clearance amid ongoing debate. This cautious approach reflects a desire to balance innovation with safety, while raising concerns about delays in accessing potentially beneficial technologies.
India’s competitiveness in cereals and pulses could improve significantly with the adoption of GM technology. Presently, India’s maize yield (2,703 kg/ha) is barely half the GM maize yield in countries like Ukraine, Brazil, and Argentina (average of 6,045 kg/ha). Preliminary research also suggests that GM pulses could raise India’s yield from 655 to 1,009 kg/ha. If India pivots toward GM crop production, farmer incomes could also increase. Maize farmers could increase their earnings twofold from INR 60,000/ha to INR 1.34 lakh/ha, while the income of pulses farmers could increase from approximately INR 51,000/ha to INR 80,000/ha. This could be a strategic step towards enhancing the economic resilience of the farm and the farmer.
However, public perceptions of GM crops in India are shaped by a confluence of scientific discourse, cultural perspectives, and media narratives. While some view GM technology as a tool for progress, others worry about its long-term impacts on health, biodiversity, and traditional farming practices. Therefore, the policymakers face a delicate task of ensuring food security and farmer welfare while maintaining public trust and ecological integrity. In addition to technological advancement, this calls for clear and participatory regulation, accessible farmer education, and sustained public engagement.
Rather than viewing GM crops as a binary choice between good and bad, it may be more productive to see them as tools. Like any tool, their value depends on how they are integrated into broader agricultural strategies. As India continues to explore this path, the goal should be to empower farmers, protect ecosystems, and ensure that the light of innovation reaches every corner of the field.
The article was published with Financial Express on December 6, 2025.
