NEW DELHI: The Niti Aayog's recent withdrawal of its working paper, which had suggested opening up import of genetically modified (GM) soybean and corn from the US, has given a peek into India's red-line on transgenic food items .
Though the US, during its trade negotiations with India, considered the stand as one of the non-tariff trade barriers, India preferred not to open up its market for GM food items over biosafety concerns, notwithstanding its primary think tank arguing in favour of import of transgenic soybean and corn without harming domestic production.
The working paper on 'promoting India-US agricultural trade under the new US trade regime', released in May, had suggested that GM corn may be imported for ethanol blending and its by-products, like Distiller's Dried Grains with Solubles. "US corn is cheaper and can be used to meet India's biofuel targets without disrupting local food and feed markets," said the authors - Raka Saxena and Ramesh Chand - of the working paper. Chand is member, Niti Aayog, while Saxena is senior adviser at the think tank.
Although the paper used a disclaimer terming the content as personal views of authors, its recent withdrawal from the think tank's website reflects govt's thinking on the issue of GM products. India currently allows commercial cultivation of only transgenic cotton, a non-food farm item.
Govt's stand is in sync with RSS-affiliate Swadeshi Jagaran Manch's opposition to the cultivation and import of GM farm products. In its opposition to transgenic food items, the SJM has even joined hands with several left-leaning farm groups in the past.
The working paper had pitched for a "dual-track" approach while negotiating the trade deal on agricultural items with the US and appeared keen on opening the country's market to specific non-sensitive imports of farm products that do not face direct competition from local producers, such as almonds, pistachios, and walnuts.
India has maintained a surplus in agriculture trade with the US and it has increased over time. India's agricultural exports to the US grew nearly fivefold between 2004 and 2024, from $1.18 billion to $5.75 billion, while imports however, grew faster - from $291 million in 2004 to $2,218 million in 2024.
Though the US, during its trade negotiations with India, considered the stand as one of the non-tariff trade barriers, India preferred not to open up its market for GM food items over biosafety concerns, notwithstanding its primary think tank arguing in favour of import of transgenic soybean and corn without harming domestic production.
The working paper on 'promoting India-US agricultural trade under the new US trade regime', released in May, had suggested that GM corn may be imported for ethanol blending and its by-products, like Distiller's Dried Grains with Solubles. "US corn is cheaper and can be used to meet India's biofuel targets without disrupting local food and feed markets," said the authors - Raka Saxena and Ramesh Chand - of the working paper. Chand is member, Niti Aayog, while Saxena is senior adviser at the think tank.
Although the paper used a disclaimer terming the content as personal views of authors, its recent withdrawal from the think tank's website reflects govt's thinking on the issue of GM products. India currently allows commercial cultivation of only transgenic cotton, a non-food farm item.
Govt's stand is in sync with RSS-affiliate Swadeshi Jagaran Manch's opposition to the cultivation and import of GM farm products. In its opposition to transgenic food items, the SJM has even joined hands with several left-leaning farm groups in the past.
The working paper had pitched for a "dual-track" approach while negotiating the trade deal on agricultural items with the US and appeared keen on opening the country's market to specific non-sensitive imports of farm products that do not face direct competition from local producers, such as almonds, pistachios, and walnuts.
India has maintained a surplus in agriculture trade with the US and it has increased over time. India's agricultural exports to the US grew nearly fivefold between 2004 and 2024, from $1.18 billion to $5.75 billion, while imports however, grew faster - from $291 million in 2004 to $2,218 million in 2024.
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