Public Education on Genetically Modified Crops and Foods and Fostering Participatory Decision Making to Ensure Food and Livelihood Security: A Proposal for India and Asia

PROJECT BACKGROUND

The current problem with GM crops is that there are few foods or agricultural biotechnology products whose usefulness to the poor and hungry is unequivocal. If there were a genuine intention of addressing the needs of the poor, the biotechnology industry would have to radically change the scientific priorities and goals of its research and technology development to address the direct welfare of people, specially the poor in developing countries, safety for the environment, and an equitable distribution of the benefits accruing from the technology. There is not much evidence of this happening as yet.

 

PROJECT RATIONAL

Globally the scientific technology termed genetic engineering has received far greater acceptance in the field of medicine and health care than in the field of food and agriculture. The prospect of obtaining medicines and diagnostic kits using r DNA technology is more acceptable because it is seen as having the potential to save lives and has direct and tangible consumer benefits. In the case of food, the benefits are neither direct nor visible. There is great scepticism and opposition to transgenic crops in many parts of the world also because the seed corporations appear to be the primary beneficiaries (not the consumer) of GM technology. Read More

 

 

OBJECTIVES

  • Debate the various aspects of the technology including research, policy, implementation and impact

  • Assess what could be of relevance to Indian agriculture and small farmers in consultation with stakeholders

  • Identify what could be beneficial and what could be harmful for domestic use and international trade

  • Hold consultations to identify ways to make governance more responsible and regulatory structures more competent, transparent and accountable.

  • Involve people in the larger discussion on GM crops and enable participatory decision-making.

 

METHODOLOGY

  • Creating Information Materials

  • Public debates for better awareness and participatory and  informed decision making

  • Research and Advocacy

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PROJECT OUTPUT

The successful completion of the project will have following tangible and intangible outcomes.

  • Tangible Outputs

  • Intangible Outputs

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