A high-level roundtable of over 80 experts convened in New Delhi on 26 July has called on India to overhaul its regulatory framework for Genetically Modified (GM) and Genome-Edited (GE) crops, pressing for science-based, time-bound, and risk-proportionate approval processes that serve both public and private innovators. The call came through a statement issued by the Agriculture Ministry and marks one of the most concentrated pushes yet for biotechnology regulatory reform in Indian agriculture.

What the Roundtable Recommended

The event — titled 'Reforms in Regulations and Approval of GM and GE Crop Plants' — was organised by the Trust for Advancement of Agricultural Sciences (TAAS) in collaboration with the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) and the Federation of Seed Industry of India (FSII). Participants called for a regulatory system that is transparent, efficient, and streamlined, with clear timelines for approvals accessible to innovators across sectors.

The roundtable emphasised that timely adoption of safe GM and GE crops is vital for climate resilience, productivity, nutritional security, farmer incomes, and the global competitiveness of Indian agriculture. Recommendations are to be consolidated into a comprehensive policy document for submission to the concerned ministries and regulatory authorities.

Key Voices at the Event

Dr M.L. Jat, Secretary of the Department of Agricultural Research and Education (DARE) and Director General of ICAR, called for a balanced regulatory system that facilitates the safe deployment of modern biotechnologies to achieve food and nutritional security, climate resilience, and sustainable agricultural growth.

TAAS Chairman R.S. Paroda stressed that roundtable recommendations should form the basis for modernising India's regulatory framework and creating an enabling policy environment that promotes responsible innovation while safeguarding human health, biodiversity, and the environment. He also underlined the need to review existing multiple guidelines to simplify testing procedures.

Dr M. Ramasami, Founder Chairman of Rasi Seeds (P) Ltd, argued that an efficient, transparent, and predictable regulatory system is essential to translate scientific breakthroughs into technologies that benefit farmers and strengthen India's seed sector.

The Case for Genome Editing Reform

The roundtable observed that rapid advances in genome-editing technologies — including CRISPR-Cas-based systems — alongside evolving global regulatory practices and the growing demand for climate-resilient agriculture, necessitate a review of India's existing framework. While India has introduced a differentiated regulatory approach for certain categories of gene-edited products, experts noted that further reforms are required to improve clarity, harmonisation, and predictability across the system.

Participants acknowledged that India has developed robust scientific capabilities and over three decades of experience in biosafety regulation, but argued the framework must now evolve to keep pace with advances in biotechnology while maintaining the highest standards of biosafety and environmental protection.

Global Context and Economic Evidence

The inaugural session featured keynote addresses from Dr C.D. Mayee, President of the South Asia Biotechnology Centre (SABC), on the imperative for regulatory reform; Dr Rhodora Romero-Aldemita, Executive Director of ISAAA Inc., on global developments and harmonisation of regulatory frameworks; and Graham Brookes, Agricultural Economist at PG Economics Ltd, UK, who presented evidence on the economic benefits of GM and genome-edited crops worldwide.

With the policy document set for submission to relevant ministries, the roundtable's outcome could shape the next phase of India's agricultural biotechnology governance — at a moment when climate stress and food security pressures are mounting.