An extensive account of genetically modified food and its relevance in the current setting of Indian agriculture.

1. Genetically Modified Crops – The True Picture
AGRO-BUZZ June 2015

2. GENETICALLY MODIFIED CROPS – The True Picture
Countries where GM crops are cultivated
I. What are
GMOs?
A genetically modified organism that is altered to incorporate genes
with a desirable trait. GM crops are plants whose DNA has been
genetically modified and used in agriculture
For the purpose of creating plants better resistant to weeds, pests &
other diseases, with a larger objective of meeting self sufficiency in
food & food products
III. Area covered
under GM crops 1.5 billion Hectares
Arable land word-wide
175 million Ha
GM crops world-
wide
18 mn Ha
Rest of World
157 million Ha
In top 5 countries
IV. Most cultivated
GM crops [2013]
(i) SOYBEAN
•Total Area – 107
•GM Area - 79
•GM proportion – 79%
•USA, Brazil, Argentina,
Canada, Paraguay, SA.
(ii) MAIZE
•Total Area - 179
•GM Area - 57.4
•GM proportion - 32%
•USA, Brazil, Argentina
(iii) COTTON
•Total Area - 34
•GM Area - 23.9
•GM proportion –70%
•India, USA, Brazil, Argentina
(iv) CANOLA
•Total Area - 34
•GM Area - 8.2
•GM proportion – 24%
•USA, Australia, Chile
II. Why GMOs?
GM crops: Current Framework
Area in Million Hectares

3. GENETICALLY MODIFIED CROPS – The True Picture
V. Top 5 Countries
by Hectarage
70.1
40.3
24.4
11 10.8
0
20
40
60
80
USA Brazil Argentina India Canada
Area under GM crop cultivation (In Mn Ha.)
Introduction of GM crops: The aftermath
Currently GM crops & companies that sell them, are heavily criticized for the following claims:
1) They have no significant impact on yield and instead promote greater use of pesticides.
2) They are hazardous to human health
3) They tend to reduce bio-diversity to a great extent
4) They are hazardous to native animals
5) The genes/ DNA of GM crops is transferrable to other organisms.
More often than not, such claims by “Anti-GMO Activists” are based on a conclusion without
enough evidence to support it.
Let’s further analyze the impact of GM seed introduction on various important parameters in
agriculture:
(A) GM crops & Crop Yield
Following are the yield comparisons of top GM crops over the years:
Corn in USA
50
100
150
200
1984 1986 1988 1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012 2014
USA Corn Yield ( Bushels/Acre)
GMO crop introduced
Avg Yield: 115 Avg Yield: 134 Avg Yield: 152
Corn is one of the most widely used GM crop in the world. Over 90% of the corn sold in the
USA is genetically modified.
Contrary to popular view promoted by Anti-GMO activists that GMOs do not cause any
increase in yield, we see the opposite to be true in the above graph.
It can be seen that post GMO introduction, the yield of corn has significantly jumped –
Something unachievable without the acceptance of evolving technology.

4. GENETICALLY MODIFIED CROPS – The True Picture
Soybean (USA) Canola (USA) Cotton(India)
0
20
40
60
Soybean (Bushels/Acre)
Soybean Yield
Pre GMO Post GMO
0
500
1000
1500
2000
Canola (Lb/ Acre)
Canola Yield
Pre GMO Post GMO
1.3x
0
200
400
600
Cotton (Kg/ Ha)
Cotton Yield
Pre GMO Post GMO
2.6x
1.8x
The yield of all the above crops has improved in the post – GM era. It can also be considered
a natural possibility over time, however, this definitely rules out any decrease in yield since
introduction of genetically modified crops – as claimed by Anti-GMO activists all over the
world.
(B) GM crops & Pesticide Application
GM crops are widely opposed by activists as they claim that GMO crops do not reduce the
amount of pesticide sprayed, in fact with time they have increased the use of pesticides.
However, the very purpose of introduction of GM crops was to reduce the usage of pesticides
altogether.
Pesticide consumption across the globe has increased 289% between 2000 & 2010.
But, this differs basis countries. We take a look at 3 different countries at different stages of
development and acceptance of GM crops, to further assess the impact of GMO crop
introduction on pesticide use.
0.58
11
4.5
0 2 4 6 8 10 12
India
Japan
USA
Pesticide Consumption (Kg/Ha)
JAPAN
•Japan is the second largest market in pesticides, after China. One of the advanced
economies of the world, Japan does not grow any GM crops currently but is one of the
largest importers of GMO foods.
•It is easy to see that Japan has a high pesticide application rate since it is an advanced
economy with access to all necessary resources and information for farmers & consumers.
•However, lack of acceptance of GMO technology has the Japanese economy still relying
heavily on the use of pesticides.
GMO ACCEPTANCE
USA -
INDIA -
JAPAN –

5. GENETICALLY MODIFIED CROPS – The True Picture
INDIA
•India’s agrochemical consumption is among the lowest in the world.
•Still pushing for development, with almost 50% of the total population dependent upon
agriculture for their livelihood – India’s agriculture sector is begging to be modernized.
•Despite some acceptance of growing GM crops, with Bt Cotton being the pilot case, this is
not the reason for low consumption of agrochemicals.
•The key reasons for low consumption of pesticides in India are low purchasing power of
farmers, lack of awareness about crop protection benefits, and poor accessibility of crop
protection chemicals.
•Assocham in a study measured annual crop loss in India due to pest attacks to be close to
Rs. 50,000 crores.
USA
•The United States is undoubtedly the country that most cultivates GM crops. Over 90% of
corn sold in the US is genetically modified apart from the large volumes of GM corn that are
exported to parts of the world. Not just corn, but USA cultivates large amounts of GM
soybean & canola as well.
•Has this translated into lower pesticide consumption in the USA? Yes.
•A study by USDA made the following conclusion: “Pesticide use peaked in 1981, then
trended downwards, driven by technological innovations and other factors.”
•Pesticide use has declined from its peak of 620 million in 1981, to 590 million pounds in
2008.
Below we see, in case of corn, how this translates into consumption per hectare:
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
0
0.05
0.1
0.15
0.2
0.25
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013Bt corn Hectarage and insecticide use in USA corn fields
Insecticide use (Kg.Ha) Bt corn Hectarage(%)
The above graph indicates how pesticide use, particularly insecticide use in American corn
fields has declined over the years, with the increased acceptance of GM crops.
USA farmers are now using pesticides sparingly with overall average pesticide consumption
at 4.5 Kg/ha which is much lower than Japan’s 11 Kg/Ha.
Clearly, the same would not have been possible without the high acceptance rate of GM
crop cultivation in this country.

6. GENETICALLY MODIFIED CROPS – The True Picture
(C) GM crops & Food Safety
A plethora of research has been undertaken in order to understand if genetically modified
food is safe for human consumption. Most scientifically backed studies have concluded that
GM foods are safe to eat. However, those not in favor of GM, disagree to this.
Primary concerns about GM foods pertain to its nutritional value & effects on human health.
We address the same below:
The case of GM PAPAYA:
15 years ago, the Hawaii’s Papaya industry was on the brink of disappearing. A ring spot virus
had evaded papayas in Oahu, Hawaii. Many farmers & their farms were devastated. In 1992,
this district was producing 53 Mn pounds of papaya [equivalent to 95% of the island’s crops].
Within 6 years, it was producing less than half the amount.
 A breakthrough by scientist Dennis Gonsalves led to the invention of the “Rainbow papaya”
that is completely resistant to the ring spot virus.
This GM papaya literally saved Hawaii’s papaya industry.
More so, It was created as part of a public-sector effort to save a crop that may have
otherwise disappeared from these islands, so it was not the result of biotech companies
trying to cash in.
That GMO papaya has also passed the regulatory scrutiny of the U.S. Department of
Agriculture, the Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
Below, we compare the nutritional value of natural versus genetically modified papaya:
58
56
50
52
54
56
58
60
Vitamin C
Mg/100g
Nutritional value of GM vs. Non-GM papaya
GM Papaya non-GM Papaya
0.34
0.32
0.3
0.31
0.32
0.33
0.34
0.35
Beta-carotene (Vitamin A)
Mg/100g
Nutritional value of GM vs. Non-GM papaya
GM Papaya non-GM Papaya
Source: Journal of Food Composition & Analysis, 2010; USDA
GOLDEN RICE: “This rice could save a million children per year”
Around 250 million children in the world are deficient in Vitamin A – including 1/3rd of the
world’s pre-school children. This plain deficiency either kills or causes blindness in children
each year.
Statistically, increased consumption of Vitamin-A without any other intervention or
nutritional improvements could prevent 1.3 to 2.5 million deaths every year among children
& preschoolers.

7. GENETICALLY MODIFIED CROPS – The True Picture
India’s experiment with GM crops: The Bt Cotton Revolution
India is the second largest producer of cotton in the world, after China, but has the largest
acreage under cotton at the global level.
However, this was not always the case. Before Bt cotton, India was a net importer of cotton.
Beginning 2002, India has made significant strides in the production and yield of cotton post
the acceptance of commercially grown Bt Cotton.
Here’s how cotton production in India has changed for the better:
Some interesting facts:
 More than 6 million small & marginal farmers
have planted 10 million hectares of Bt cotton crop.
In a short span of 8 years, from 2002 to 2010,
Bt cotton generated economic benefits to farmers
valued at US $5.1 billion.
At the same time, pesticide consumption went
down by 24% from 2002 to 2009.
For this purpose, scientists developed a more nutritious version of rice, namely golden rice.
Its golden color is indicative of the high beta-carotene content in the rice. Since rice is the
staple food for about 2/3rds of the world’s population it is easier to boost Vitamin A levels in
children through rice.
As little as 60gms of golden rice a day will provide for a person’s daily vitamin A needs.
This rice has not yet been made available for commercial growing, since, for more than a
decade now, it is still clearing regulatory hurdles.
VERDICT: Both these cases prove how genetic modification is not only safe for human
consumption but also can be more nutritious for us than the natural version of the crop. The
case of golden rice indicates how genetic modification can help to eradicate starvation, and a
number of deficiency-related diseases.
0
200
400
600
0
5
10
15
Yield(Kg/Ha)
Area(MnHa)
Area under Bt cotton(Mn Ha) Area under cotton(Mn Ha) Cotton Yield (Kg/Ha)
COTTON
EXPORTS
2002-
03
2013-
14
GROWTH
RATE
Volume
[Lakh Bales of
170 kg]
0.84 79.4 94X
Value
[Rs. Crores]
66.31 29,140 440X

8. GENETICALLY MODIFIED CROPS – The True Picture
Adopting GM crops: India’s compelling case
Primarily an agrarian economy, it is even more essential for India to consider growing GM food
crops commercially. More than half of India’s total land area is under agriculture, yet the
sector’s contribution to GDP stagnates at 13%.
Adopting GM crops will improve livelihood from farming, thereby empowering half of the
population [47% of total population is employed in agriculture], to have greater standards of
living. This will in turn improve India’s total GDP.
It is clear that area under agriculture is not rising in the near future, rather has been on a
declining trend for the last decade.
Therefore, to advance in agriculture, more must be produced on less/ stagnant land area – that
is, yields must be improved.
This is only possible with not just acceptance but also penetration of technology to the ground
level.
60.9
60.3
60
60.2
60.4
60.6
60.8
61
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
India’s Arable land (as a % total land)
2.42
0.98
2.5
5.4
2.3
7.8
India
World
1) Maize
3) Rice
2) Soybean
Yields - India vs. the world [MT/Ha]
Scenario: If India adopts GM crops to reach global yield levels
106.5
11.9 21.3
235.7
28.2
73.3
0
200
400
Rice Soybean Maize
Estimated Rise in production if we achieve global avg.
yield (Mn MT)
Before GM crops After GM crops
Growing genetically modified crops commercially will increase production of Rice 2.2 times,
of Soybean 2.3 times & of Maize 3.4 times, using the same amount of agricultural land.
This indicates that acceptance of GM crops is a solution to gaining food security in our
country. In fact, self sufficiency in the future may not be possible if India does not accept,
develop & make available evolving technology for the farmer’s use.
We can reap similar economic benefits for all farmers as were achieved for cotton farmers.

9. GENETICALLY MODIFIED CROPS – The True Picture
GMOs in India: Government’s Next Steps
(i) Give Bt Brinjal a chance:
First developed in India, this crop is genetically modified to include a gene from the soil
bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) that kills fruit and shoot boring pests when it ingests the
plant. It does not need any pesticide spraying and its presence is harmless to humans and
animals.
However, 5 years ago, the then environment minister placed a moratorium on the commercial
release of Bt Brinjal, putting the Indian agriculture sector back by decades. The reasons being
political, the decision was not backed by any conclusive scientific evidence – In fact, tests
conducted by ICAR that were in favour of commercializing Bt Brinjal, were completely ignored.
Some statistics below further strengthen the case for commercializing Bt Brinjal:
PARTICULARS AT ALL-INDIA LEVEL
1) Yield Improved yield by 37%
2)Insecticide use
Reduced by 77% (Against fruit & shoot
borer)
3) Net income increase for
farmers
At an average of Rs. 18,022/acre
4) Likely Reduction in Price 7% at medium adoption (30%) Level
SCENARIOS
TOTAL ECONOMIC
SURPLUS (Rs. Crores)
Distribution of Economic
Surplus by agents (Rs. Crores)
CONSUMERS PRODUCERS
15% adoption level 577 381 196
30% adoption level 1167 770 397
60% adoption level 2387 1576 811
(ii) GM mustard: Our way forward to self sufficiency in edible oil
India imports about 60% of its total edible oil requirement at an annual cost of $10 billion –
the third biggest item after crude oil & gold.
GM mustard yields – the highest among all oilseeds, is 20-30% higher than the best natural
varieties of mustard available in the country.
This will substantially bring down India’s dependence on imports of edible oil and also
economically benefits lakhs of farmers across the country.
Simulated gains in annual economic surplus from Bt brinjal under
different scenarios at all-India level

10. GENETICALLY MODIFIED CROPS – The True Picture
Conclusion: Getting past invalid biases
Since the beginning of civilization & agriculture, we have been experimenting with the DNA
of our food, by selectively breeding plants & animals to get the desirable characteristics.
For instance, ancient farmers in what is now
Mexico took the first steps in domesticating maize
when they simply chose which kernels (seeds) to
plant. These farmers noticed that some plants were
larger than others, or maybe some kernels tasted
better. The farmers saved kernels from plants with
desirable characteristics and planted them for the
next season's harvest. This process is known as
selective breeding or artificial selection. Maize cobs became larger over time, with more rows
of kernels, eventually taking the form of modern maize.
For the past 2 decades, developed countries like USA have been commercially growing
plants that are modified to create a more sustainable version of the crop. Over 95% of the
corn is genetically modified in the U.S.
Despite such extensive consumption, there is no concrete evidence that distinctly points to
harm due to consumption of GM foods.
Yet, misplaced fears of some elements of the society, based on less than distinct, rather
flimsy evidence have cost the developing world a lot in terms of progress in agriculture.
Drought-resistant seeds, soil-damaging tillage reducing crop, reduced insecticide use Bt
cotton, self-fertilizing crops are only a few examples of how GMO is the next step in
agriculture.
GMOs do have limitations, and some of their benefits are threatened by the rise of pesticide
resistance. Even so, on balance, GMOs are safe and produce real benefits.
The FAO estimates we need to grow 70% more food by 2050. With the growing
urbanization, it is only possible to increase production by improving yield – that is where
GMO crops play an essential role.
We need to accept them today, to be able to feed the world tomorrow. It is by acceptance
of technology that is well-tested on the safety front, can we make true progress in the face of
growing population & increased food insecurity.
It is therefore important to get past invalid biases to understand GM foods better; to
understand that not every piece of information that labels GMO as poison may be backed by
concrete evidence; and to trust that FDA or FSSAI understand and perform their duty
correctly.
Photo © Robert S. Peabody Museum of Archaeology, Phillips
Academy, Andover, Massachusetts. All Rights Reserved.

11. GENETICALLY MODIFIED CROPS – The True Picture
Created & compiled by
Business Development & Strategy Team, Godrej Agrovet
For any further queries or comments, please feel free to contact at:
aparna.tiwari@godrejagrovet.com
Aparna Tiwari
Economist – Business development & strategy
LIST OF SOURCES
1. Isaa.org – http://www.isaaa.org/resources/publications/pocketk/16/
2. Isaa.org - 2013 global biotech crop report
3. gmo-compass.org – global GM planting 2013
4. Gmo-compass.org – countries growing GMO
5. USDA – Data & Statistics department
6. Agricultural Statistics at a Glance 2014 – Ministry of Agriculture – area, production & yield of commercial crops
7. National Agricultural Statistics Service - U.S. Department of Agriculture
8. Washingtonpost.com - article on pesticide consumption
9. Journal of Food Composition & Analysis [2010]
10. Irri.org – Golden Rice
11. National Centre for Agricultural Economics & Policy Research, ICAR, Ministry of Agriculture, India– Policy Brief on
Bt Brinjal.
12. Reuters.com – India: Article on GM mustard report, India
13. University of Utah, USA
14. FAO – faostat.org
15. Data.worldbank.org