[The] Indian agriculture sector, MSMEs, and trade are in a state of bewilderment regarding the outcome of the India-US trade negotiations. On the one hand, the United States is striving to open its genetically modified (GM) crop agricultural market to India. … India is looking for better opportunities to expand its textile, leather, and footwear to the US market. 

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Proponents of genetically modified (GM) crops … argue that embracing biotechnology is not a luxury but a necessity.

India is one of 17 listed international hotspots of diversity, which includes mustard, brinjal and rice. India is the centre of the world’s biological diversity in brinjal, with over 2,500 varieties grown in the country and as many as 29 wild species. India must weigh the promise of biotechnology against its socio-economic and ecological costs.

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However, it would be shortsighted to dismiss genetic modification entirely. With proper safeguards, public sector-led research, and farmer-centric deployment, GM technology can be harnessed as a tool for inclusive agricultural transformation. India must craft its own GMO pathway—one that enhances productivity without compromising biodiversity and empowers farmers without enriching monopolies. 

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