Confined field trials of GM maize to begin at Punjab university

Current Affairs Today Current Affairs news Current Affairs PDF Current Affairs of India Today Current Affairs PDF Daily current affairs Latest GK&CA

 Confined field trials of GM maize to begin at Punjab university

What's Happening

Trials Approved:The Department of Biotechnology's Review Committee on Genetic Manipulation (RCGM) cleared biosafety trials (BRL-I & BRL-II) for two types of GM maize-herbicide-tolerant (HT, NK603) and insect-resistant (Bt, MON8903)-developed by Bayer. PAU received a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the Punjab government on May 29, 2025.

Trials Starting Soon:Confirmation of the trials commencing has appeared via social media posts, noting "Confined field trials" are about to begin at PAU.

Who's Involved

1.Bayer - developer of GM maize.

2.Department of Biotechnology & RCGM - national-level approval authority.

3. Punjab Government & PAU - sole state and university to grant the NOC out of 11 states approached

Concerns Raised

  • Environmental groups and GM-Free India coalition have demanded transparency, questioning Punjab's unique approval and citing ecological & health risks-especially as the state has banned glyphosate, against which HT maize is engineered
  • They've highlighted potential biosafety violations in past "confined" trials at PAU, urging withdrawal of the NOC and a formal inquiry

PAU's Stance

  • PAU Vice-Chancellor Satbir Singh Gosal emphasizes that:
  • These are restricted research trials-not commercial releases.
  • The trials comply with strict biosafety norms and Punjab-level clearances.
  • The goal is data-driven assessment to inform policy and evaluate next-gen GM crops, akin to their independent testing of nano-urea.

Why It Matters

Scientific:Enables study of effectiveness and safety of combined HT & Bt traits in maize.

  • Regulatory implication:Positive results from PAU could influence future approvals for commercial cultivation.
  • Local context: In Punjab-a region grappling with environmental and health issues and glyphosate bans-this move is controversial, particularly concerning herbicide use.

What's Next

  • Field phase: Confined field trials underway under supervised conditions.
  • Watch for updates: Environmental groups have demanded an inquiry; depending on their findings, the NOC could face suspension

Data outcomes: PAU is expected to compile agronomic and safety data to inform both regulators and the public.

Bottom line:PAU is moving forward with RCGM-approved confined trials of Bayer's dual-trait GM maize under strict control-but it's under scrutiny due to Punjab's herbicide bans and activists' biosafety concerns.


Comments