Subject: Business Research Method You will be required to individually identify
ID: 360556 • Letter: S
Question
Subject: Business Research Method
You will be required to individually identify a researchable topic of your interest in the areas of business such as Finance, operations and supply chain, marketing, HR, strategy and general business issues. You have to define your research topic with a clear title and research objectives. You will be required to provide a justification of why you have chosen this topic. You will be required to cite relevant literature for the topic with secondary data. The assignment should be around 2-3 pages.
Explanation / Answer
Title: Genetically Modified Food Crop – Is it an Ideal Solution to Regain Fortunes of Indian Agriculture?
Research Objectives: What is genetically modified crop and what is its implications on the biodiversity and agriculture as a whole?
Reason: Agriculture plays a vital role in the survival of society. Recent development in the genetically modified crop and its experiments and its protest across world attracts my attention towards its research.
Process to form Genetically Modified crop is as follows:
1. Finding out a gene with special desired traits. Example: Drought tolerance or insect resistance
2. This gene(s) of interest is then inserted into the plasmid using recombinant DNA (rDNA) techniques
3. These modified cells are mixed with plant cells. It inserts the desired genes into one of the plant’s chromosomes to form GM (or transgenic) cells. The transformed cells are then regenerated to form whole plants
4. Now it is required to place the explants on to media containing nutrients that induce development of the cells into various plant parts to form whole plantlets
5. At this level it is determined whether the modified plant has the desired new trait and does not have any new unwanted characteristics. If successful than field trials are done on different locations
6. Food and environmental safety assessment are carried out in conjunction with testing of plant performance.
Impacts of GM Crops
Advantages of GM Crop
1. Increased Crop Yield
Since GM crop is of insect, pest, herbicide and draught resistance this will increase overall yield.
1. Reduced cost of production
Fewer pesticides are needed as selected trait will be insect resistance and pest resistance. This will reduce cost of production.
1. Enhanced nutrient composition and food quality
GM crop is used to improve the overall nutrients in the crop. This will insure enhancement in the nutrients.
1. Environment Friendly
As pesticides do not go into air, soil, water (especially fresh water supply) their hazard to the environment also decreases.
1. Food Security
Decrease in the food price as input cost reduces; this will insure greater food security.
Disadvantages of GM Crop
1. Unknown Consequences
Since gene is inserted into another organism, some of consequences cannot be detected in short period of time.
1. Unintended Economic Consequences
Over the period it has been found that some companies create monopoly of GM seed and farmers may resort to bankruptcy and suicide.
1. Effects on Human Health
1. Food Allergy
2. Affects 5% of children and 2% adults in the US
3. When the source is allergic or has never been consumed as human food
4. Increased Toxicity
5. By inserting exotic gene, plants may produce toxins at higher levels which can harm humans due to damaged original genes
6. Decreased Nutritional Value
• GM plant theoretically have lower nutritional value than its traditional plant by making nutrients unavailable or indigestible for humans
1. Antibiotic Resistance
2. There is concern that bacteria living in the guts of humans and animals could pick up an antibiotic resistance gene from a GM plant
3. Never the less it is a concern and the FDA is encouraging biotechnologists to phase out the practice of using antibiotic resistance genes
1. Effects on Environment
1. Horizontal Gene Transfer
o Transfer of genes in a manner other than traditional production i.e. vertical transfer
o arms the antibiotic resistant genes' recipient against antibiotics, which is becoming a medical challenge to deal with
2. Effect on non-target organisms
o The GM food impacts adversely on the reproductive potential of insects, other plants, etc. which causes adverse effects on the environment
o The farmers in contact with GM crops have been reported to develop skin diseases
3. Development of resistance by pests
o GM crops are engineered to produce their own pesticide or to be resistant to herbicides
o Scientists say insects/pests become resistant to these crops in 3-5 years and farmers are forced to depend on these crops only
GM crops Statistics
In the nearly two decades since they were 1st commercialized, genetically modified crops have gained ground on their conventional counterparts. In 2012, the global area of biotech crops continued to increase at a growth rate of 6% or 25m acres (10 million hectares), reaching 420m acres or 170.3m hectares and just five countries- United State of America, Brazil, Argentina Canada and India contributed 152m hectares almost 90%.
Global Stand on Genetically Modified Crops
Against Countries – Australia, Japan, France, Ireland, New Zealand, Hungary, Austria, Greece
For Countries – USA, Canada, European, China, India
Labelling of GM Foods in India
• The ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution notified mandatory labelling of genetically modified (GM) packaged foods sold in June 2012 it came into force in January 2013.
• Justifications: to warn consumers about the potential health impacts and a response to consumer’s right to know and would result in greater consumer choice
• It does not mention the tolerance level and the scope of the regulation.
• The regulation could be limited to primary products which have detectable levels of GM content or it can be expanded to include foods that are produced form GM organisms such as edible oils, mean and flavors.
• It implies the verification mechanism, i.e. protein or DNA test, that need to accompany labelling
• For processed products transgenic DNA cannot be accurately detected so compliance of these products will require evidence of identity preservation which results to high cost
• It will include production, processing, marketing and distribution systems where the identity is preserved which contributes to segregation cost
• A major problem in the implementation of this policy is unorganized distribution of vegetables in India which constitutes over 99% of market
Economic effectiveness of labelling:
1. Different Scenarios
• the market for non-GM brinjal is sufficiently large
• the market size for the non-GM variant remains small and unviable
• the market size for the non-GM variant is small but after the introduction of labelling policy demand shifts
• Effect of Labelling
• In first 2 scenarios, the labelling policy would not affect the market outcome and economic welfare
• In the 3rd scenario, the market outcome will change with the labelling policy
• The only incentive is the awareness in consumers about the products and its impact
Why we need it??
1. There is not enough support of gov. towards organic farming.
2. Malnutrition is very high in India. Majority poor people rely on rice, maize for regular staple. GMO technology can increase nutrients and address this issue.
3. We are also subject frequent draught. Some of GM crop are drought resistant.
4. Medicines are costly to produce and distribute. Some of GM food can have desired all content of medicine which can be stored and consumed with little cost.
5. Water pollution is big issue India is facing in current date. Some of GM trees can utilize heavy metals from polluted water and help in reduction of water pollution.
6. Looking at scarcity in fuels, some of GM crop like Jatrofa can be used to produce bio-fuel.
Why we Don’t need it??
1. There is no proper mechanism in place for risk assessment of GM crop in India
2. Patent regime should provide clear guideline on what constitutes infringements of patent rights.
3. At present GM crop do not come under Protection of Plant Variety and Farmers Rights Act 2001 which provides protection to farmers rights
4. Biotechnology and regulations are formed under single committee. This is major conflict of interest and there is needed to form separate committee.
5. There is lack of proper co-ordination between center and state on this issue.
6. There is lack of trained manpower on GM crop at state and central authorities.
7. GM crop do not fall under essential commodity act which guaranty compensation if crop fails. Though farmers pay premium on GM seeds they are not covered under this act.
8. No gadgets are available to detect GM crops present on field.
Recommendations
1. Improve the quality and number Storage and Distribution channel to decrease the wastage of food and grains
2. New policies should be accompanying safeguards, regulation and monitoring on pricing, monopoly, seed sovereignty and biodiversity
3. Consumers should be given a right to choose their food through food labelling
4. Technology should cover all the recommended and necessary testing for safety of the food prior to the implementation.
5. With the reduction of land for farming, it is advisable to adopt GM technology with more research in this technology from health safety point of view.
6. Science community should give free access to research material which is restricted by IPRs
7. GM crops should also come under the Protection of Plant Variety and Farmers Rights Act 2001 which gives protections to farmers’ right.
References:
Biotechnology: Policing or Regulating?
Is GM Technology Desirable by Reji Joseph
The inter-academic report on Genetically Engineered Crops: Is it making a farce of science?
Bt. Brinjal: The Scope and adequacy of the GEAC environmental risk assessment