GS Paper 3
Syllabus: Biotechnology
Source: TH
Context: India’s bioeconomy growth is not in sync with desired funding and policy support.
Bioeconomy: It is the economic activity involving the use of biotechnology and biomass in the production of goods, services, or energy.
India’s bioeconomy:
- According to the DBT’s ‘Bioeconomy Report 2022’ report, India’s bioeconomy contributes 2.6% to the GDP and by 2030 it will be ~5% of the GDP.
- This ambitious leap of $220 billion in eight years will require aggressive investment and policy support.
Concerns:
- Neither funding for the DBT nor its recent policies reflect any serious intention to uplift this sector.
- For example,
- The current Budgetary allocation to the DBT is only 0.0001% of India’s GDP.
- Also, policies that enable risk-taking appetite within Indian scientists to create an ecosystem of innovation and industrial action, are missing.
- Also, the alignment between biotechnology policies and economic goals is missing.
Case study – Problems in the Guidelines for Genetically Engineered (GE) Insects:
- Uncertainty of purpose
- The guidelines emphasise that GE insects offer applications in various fields (such as human and livestock health; crop management; etc) uplifting the standard of living by
- Reducing disease burden,
- Enabling food security and
- Conserving the environment.
- However, the guidelines don’t specify the purposes for which GE insects may be approved in India.
- The guidelines only provide regulatory procedures for R&D on insects with some beneficial applications.
- The guidelines emphasise that GE insects offer applications in various fields (such as human and livestock health; crop management; etc) uplifting the standard of living by
- Uncertainty for researchers:
- The guidelines are applicable only to research and not to confined trials or deployment.
- Once the insects are ‘made’ and tested in the laboratory, researchers can conduct trials with them on the approval of the Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC) of the MoEFCC.
- Once deployed, GE insects can’t be recalled and unlike GM foods they are not amenable to individual consumer choice.
- Uncertainty of ambit:
- The guidelines offer standard operating procedures for GE mosquitoes, crop pests, and beneficial insects – but what ‘beneficial’ means, in the context of GE insects, is not clear.
- The lack of clarity will impede funders and scientists from investing in this research.
Way ahead:
- Further efforts are needed to attract private funding for biotechnology R&D.
- Policies need to be significantly revised if biotechnology is to be of any serious consequence to the economy.
- Both of the above are essential considering the importance of biotechnology to any pandemic preparedness efforts.
Insta Links:
Mains Links:
How can biotechnology help to improve the living standards of farmers? (UPSC 2019)
