Interview with Dr Marc Van Montagu, Founder & Chairman, Institute for Plant Biotechnology

Q. Nourishing nearly 9 billon people globally is a big challenge. What are ways to tackle this challenge effectively?

A. By 2050, nourishing two billion more people by 2050 in a changing climate would a big challenge. It will prove one of the greatest challenges in human history. To meet it, we should embrace an agricultural approach that combines the best features of traditional farming with the latest technology. We can make the world wonderful by the use of science and especially biotechnology in agriculture. The new innovations can transform agriculture to meet the requirements of food and feed of the world. Enormous future awaits agriculture and with best of science including molecular biology, target of feeding two more billion would not be an unachievable task. But acceptance of science by convincing society is a daunting task.

Q. What India needs to do for food Security?

A. India has excelled in IT, and there is no reason why it can’t do well in Biotech. Several decades back when I came to Bangalore it was small city, but now with 9 million people it has ever booming IT industry of world class. India should embrace a realistic approach that seeks to answer what science can do and what society wants. We need a realistic approach towards GMOs (GM crops and GM food) as well. We need to tell society about benefits and safeguards. It would be wrong to believe that scientists are not concerned about agro-ecology and biodiversity. Moreover, the government should have a long term vision for agriculture sector and role of science in it. Therefore, I firmly believe that sustainable intensification is the way out for future.

Q. Do we need stringent regulations?

A. No, I do not think so. 21st century plants will all GM plants. Nature is a big laboratory. India should accept the role of biotechnology and GM crops need no regulations as conventional farming. The government needs to have a long term vision for agriculture and science. The new innovations can transform agriculture to meet the requirements of food and feed of the world. Enormous future awaits agriculture and with best of science including molecular biology, target of feeding 1.2 billion in India would not be an unachievable task.

Q. What do you mean by sustainable intensification?

A. During Green revolution production and productivity increased many fold. We adopted the best inputs and agronomy practices. Likewise, with the help of new technology, we need to intensify the best inputs and practices. India and other developing countries can produce their own GM varieties of seeds. The six big MNCs would not touch anything except major crops. There would plenty of orphan crops which can be taken up by local companies both in public and private sectors. Therefore I feel that sustainable intensification is the best way out for increasing productivity.

Q. Generally, it is believed that Europe is opposed to GM. Is it true that Europe is GM free?

A. No, it is wrong to believe that Europe is GM free or all countries. United Kingdom is not opposed to GM but France is. Politics play critical role there also as in India. France needs nuclear power so they have a tacit understanding with NGOs opposed to GM. They (NGOs) do not oppose nuclear and in turn France is opposed to GM. Some countries are neutral on the issue. Going forward politics at European Union will determine the future of GM in several countries. The EU spent over 300 million Euros to prove through scientific research that GMOs are not safe. But results were negative. But they never publicized the results and neither they said, on the basis of the results, GMOs are safe. But by doing this European countries are not doing good to society. See what happens to ‘golden rice.’ Non-adoption of this product so far manifests Europe’s delusion. After a decade of research scientists developed this wonderful variety which is showing great results in other parts of the world but it is still not commercialized. However, It is wrong to believe that Europe is GM Free as they have adopted one crop, but import as many as 46 crops.

Q. Why scientists are not able to convince society about the benefits of science?

A. Scientists are confined to laboratories even if the world is crumbling. Scientists need to understand the need of society and politics as well. They will have to step out from their laboratories to convince people about the wonders science and especially biotechnology can bring in agriculture. We need a realistic approach towards GMOs (GM crops and GM food) as well. We need to tell society about benefits and safeguards. It would be wrong to believe that scientists are not concerned about agro-ecology and biodiversity.

The interview was shared by leading agriculture news portal www.IndiAgri.in

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Agri production in Eastern India has increased dramatically

Agriculture is a fascinating subject. I certainly did not realise as a modest student at Hindu College in Delhi University where I did an Economics Honours programmes. However, in hindsight it appears I always had an inclination towards the subject - I scored the maximum in my Indian Economy paper! As a journalist I never got an opportunity to explore if I had a proclivity to dive deeper into it. However, as an entrepreneur, I was lucky I am getting ample opportunity to focus on agriculture.

I realised agriculture sector has some fascinating administrators too. One gentleman whom I have closely followed is Mr Mukesh Khullar who passionately drove National Food Security Mission programme as its Mission Director. I have had the privilege of interviewing him for our portal www.IndiAgri.in, which I reproduce below:

Mukesh Khullar, IAS, Principal Secretary, Govt of Maharashtra

Former Mission Director, NFSM, Min of Agriculture

Q. Critical achievements of NFSM?

A. National Food Security Mission has met and even exceeded the domestic consumption requirement of total food grains in the country. Secondly it has been able to widen the food basket from traditional 5 to 6 surplus States to 16 food surplus States in last five years, and thirdly by targeting low productivity districts, strategic crops (pulses) and areas (eastern and rainfed) NFSM has been able to promote inclusive and sustainable production.

Q. What are the 3 critical challenges that NFSM should address in 12th Plan, based on the learning of the 11th Plan?

A. National Food Security Mission will need to target lowest producing areas (blocks) within low productivity districts. Secondly it should address key site specific constraints in conjunction with other interventions, and thirdly it should focus on primary processing in post-harvest management to save grains and improve their marketability.

Q. You have also recommended a revisit in strategy vis a vis the laggard districts and advised a holistic and participatory model. Increasing synergy between different schemes is a novel idea but will it work?

A. There are a number of laggard districts where promoting crop husbandry alone might not work considering area constraints in the form of extreme climatic conditions, poor land development or more attractive alternate land use. With MGNREGS, IWMP, RKVY, NHM, NMMI, NMSA and host of other schemes, NFSM should promote its intervention in conjunction and not in isolation of these schemes. Since CDAPs are already developed, NFSM could assign these tasks to a partner institution which can implement the plan holistically by taking contributions from different schemes. Such partner could include a credible NGO.

Q. The operationalisation of Food Security Bill will mean additional foodgrains. How do you think NFSM can play an important role on this?

A. Total estimated demand for food grains for 12th Plan period has been computed by Planning Commission. NFSM has accordingly been given target to produce additional 25 million tons of food grains by the end of 12th Plan. It is essential now to create adequate buffer to tide over likely fall in production due to wide spread extreme climatic events. Current strategy of broad based production would also ensure sustainability.

Q. We have adopted a structural shift in approach through programmes like NFSM and BGREI. Is it helping?

Mr Mukesh Khullar, IAS

A. Sure, production in Eastern India has dramatically increased with significant productivity and production gains in rice based cropping system in all the seven States of Eastern Region. In fact it is heartening to note that the winners of Krishi Karman Awards for 2011-12 were mostly from hitherto under-performing areas.

Q. Integration of technology in agriculture is low - farm mechanization being one example. What policy prescriptions would you like to provide to address this gap, which surely has direct bearing on productivity and farmers prosperity.

A. Improving access to technology is the way to go for ensuring desired level of adoption of farm mechanization especially for resource poor small and marginal farmers. Services model is getting popular among paddy farmers with a number of service providers offering end to end mechanization services.

Q. Ministry of Agriculture has rightly endorsed use of biotechnology in agriculture - and the runaway success of Bt cotton gives us ample reasons to do so. However, today biotech is mired in an intense politicking and policy haze. NGOs are creating panic while silence of agencies including Ministry of Environment and Indian Council of Agriculture Research (ICAR) are doing no good to the cause of this technology. What is your view on this?

A. Biotechnology is not just about transgenics. There are other ways in which genetic engineering is being used. For example stress tolerant rice varieties have introgressed specific stress tolerant gene from wild varieties into the desired varieties. Such method does not need any environmental clearance or biosafety safeguards.

Mr Khullar was the Mission Director of National Food Security Mission between July 2011 to July 2013 and did exemplary work. Currently he is the Principal Secretary to the Government of Maharashtra in Tribal Development Department.

The interview can also be read at: http://www.indiagri.in/interview-view.aspx?srno=5