Protecting American genetically modified soybeans and corn from entering India serves India's economic benefits, asserts Suman Sahai.
India is currently engaged in trade negotiations with the United States, with one of the main points of contention being the US insistence on including corn and soybean as agricultural exports to India. If India were to allow the import of genetically modified (GM) soybean and corn from the US, it could face significant economic and agricultural consequences.
- Loss of Export Markets for Indian Soybean Farmers
India's non-GM soybean is valued in markets like Japan and South Korea due to cultural preferences for non-GM foods. Importing GM soy from the US risks contaminating India's soybean supply, jeopardizing access to these premium markets and resulting in substantial financial losses for Indian farmers.
- Erosion of India's GMO-Free Image and Export Competitiveness
Cross-contamination from imported GM crops could lead to trace GM presence in Indian agricultural exports across sensitive sectors such as rice, tea, honey, spices, and organic foods. This contamination risk is heightened by India's fragmented agricultural logistics and limited segregation infrastructure. The result could be shipment rejections, increased testing costs, and damage to India's reputation in key export markets, notably the European Union.
- Pressure on Domestic Farmers and Seed Sovereignty
Allowing GM imports, even if restricted to animal feed, may open the agricultural sector to multinational corporations’ patented seed technologies. This could undermine India's traditional seed-saving practices, increase farmer dependence on expensive seeds and chemicals, and threaten small farmers' livelihoods.
- Possible Limited Acceptance for Feed Use
Some policymakers suggest allowing imports of GM soybean and corn products processed for oil or feed under strict controls, excluding them from the human food chain. This approach aims to supply domestic processing industries without affecting local farming but faces opposition and regulatory challenges.
Given these factors, Indian officials, including the Finance Minister, have maintained a strong stance against weakening agricultural protections for farmers by allowing GM food imports, especially into the human food supply.
In the past, contamination cases have resulted in significant financial losses. For instance, in 2000, Starlink corn, a genetically modified corn hybrid, was found in over 300 food products in the US. In India's context, a similar incident could have severe implications, especially considering the country's growing market for plant-based foods.
As the Asia-Pacific region, including India, is expected to have the largest share of the plant-based foods market, India's non-GM soybean producers should tap and capture this growing market without delay. The emerging food sector of plant-based foods sources strictly non-genetically modified soybean because that's what its customers insist on.
In conclusion, importing US GM soybean and corn poses risks of economic losses related to export market access, potential contamination affecting India's GMO-free status and export reputation, and sociopolitical concerns tied to farmers' rights and agricultural sovereignty. Any easing of restrictions tends to focus narrowly on feed use with stringent controls to mitigate these consequences.
- Threats to India's Plant-Based Food Market Expansion
India's emerging plant-based foods market, which prioritizes non-genetically modified soybean, could be jeopardized by the introduction of GM soybean, as many consumers specifically demand non-GM products. This could diminish India's capacity to tap and grow in this significant market.
- Potential Risks to India's Growing Plant-Based Food Industry
The presence of genetically modified agricultural products in India, especially soybean, could pose challenges to the plant-based food industry, which thrives on the popularity of non-GM soybean. This inconsistency between demand for non-GM products and the potential influx of GM crops could pose risks to the growth of India's plant-based food industry.
