Ten leading agricultural scientists have asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi to quickly remove the hold on genetically modified (GM) mustard. Three of these scientists have received the Padma Bhushan award, and two have received the Padma Shri.
The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) had approved the use of GM mustard for producing hybrid seeds in October 2022. This included the first hybrid, DMH-11. The approval also involved trials after its release and studies on how it affects pollinators, led by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR).
However, a legal case filed as a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) led to a temporary ban on these trials. A court order on November 3, 2022, stopped the post-release trials. Later, in August 2024, a court gave a split decision. One judge agreed with the release, citing scientific reasons. The other judge cancelled it. This has created ongoing uncertainty and the ban remains.
Prominent scientists, including Dr R.S. Paroda and Dr G. Padmanaban, have expressed their worries. They stated that India has already lost two valuable years since GM mustard was approved in 2022. This has prevented farmers from benefiting from a technology developed in India.
They warned that if the sowing period in mid-October 2025 is missed, another season will be lost. This lost time means delays in collecting important data, developing new hybrids, and finally making the technology available to farmers.
In their joint appeal, the scientists pointed out India’s progress in agricultural biotechnology. They mentioned that ICAR’s release of two types of genome-edited rice was a global first. However, the progress on GM mustard is still stuck, even after the MoEF&CC’s environmental approval in October 2022.
The scientists emphasised that the genes used in GM mustard hybrids have been used safely in rapeseed hybrids in countries like Canada, the USA, and Australia for many years without any bad effects. They also noted that all the safety tests done in India showed no negative impacts.
They asked the Prime Minister to guide the legal team and relevant ministries to work together. Their goal is to ensure that the MoEF&CC’s decision is upheld. The scientists stressed that India already has a policy framework for GM crops. Implementing the MoEF&CC’s decision is crucial to increase mustard production and achieve self-reliance in edible oils.
The appeal was signed by several respected figures. These include Dr R.S. Paroda, former Director General of ICAR; Dr G. Padmanaban, former Director of IISc Bangalore; Prof R.B. Singh, former Director of IARI; and Dr B.S. Dhillon, former Vice-Chancellor of PAU Ludhiana, among others.