The focus of the program on GM crops and foods is the following:

Creating information materials for public awareness and education for various target groups like

Rural and farming communities

Consumers, Housewives and Mothers

Judges and Lawyers

Policy makers

Media

Civil Society

Create multi-lingual information materials pertaining to Genetic Engineering (GE) and Agricultural Biotechnology like,

What are transgenic / GE crops

What are the environmental and health aspects of GE crops and foods

How relevant are GE crops for Indian agriculture and small farmers

What is desirable and undesirable from India’s standpoint

GE technology and governance in India: transparency; participatory decision making and technical competence

International trade in GE crops and Biosafety issues 

Issues of consumer choice like segregation of GM and non-GM crops and labeling .

Dissemination of this information in the form of Video films, CD ROMs, Books wall papers and a Traveling Exhibition through schools, colleges and academic institutions.

Developing an interactive website to make information easily available, hold discussions on happening subjects, address queries and register views and concerns of the public.

A monthly newsletter on developments in GE crops and foods in Asia.

Conducting Public debates for better awareness and participatory & informed  decision making Public debates will touch upon topics like :

What should be the national policy on agricultural biotechnology?

What should be the priorities for research on GM crops and how should these priorities be identified? How have the crops and traits been selected so far ?

How can biosafety provisions be implemented in small holding agriculture situations?

What are the structures that have been put in place for safe and responsible implementation of GM technology, how can they be improved?

Would it be possible to safely introduce ‘edible vaccines’ like for rabies and cholera in fruits like bananas and melons? Will it be possible to keep these segregated from ordinary fruit?

How closely are farmers and the public involved in the development of Agbiotech policy, the cost and risk benefit analyses of various GM crops and the ultimate decision making on what should be developed and for whom?

What is the process for deciding that a GM approach rather than a conventional approach is appropriate for achieving a desired goal?

Is it possible to implement GM technology safely in India, with its requirement for segregation, labeling and identity preservation, given the special constraints of Indian agriculture and small farmers?

Given the increasing global resistance to GM foods, are India’s agriculture trade interests better served by cultivating GM crops or going organic and remaining GM free?

And, most importantly, as a centre of origin and diversity for rice, what should India’s policy be on GM rice?  China does not allow GM soybean and Mexico does not allow GM corn.

Position papers are being prepared on:

GE crops in Centers of Origin (Rice in India; Corn in Mexico)

Socio-economic impact of GE technology on Indian agriculture and small farmers.

Cost and Risk - Benefit Analysis of GE versus Non-GE crops

Appropriate Crops and Traits for GE approach to Indian Agriculture.

GE edible vaccines like cholera vaccine in melons

GE or GE Free- What is India’s USP

GM Technology and Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) -  access and equity questions

Structures for regulating, monitoring and stewarding GE technology

Developing a liability regime for GM crops.

It is also proposed to conduct a survey to access attitudes, and perceptions among key stakeholders about ag-biotech