ANALOG IAS INSTITUTE 2nd Floor, 1-2-288/32, Indira Park 'X' Road, !o"al#$da, %&dra(ad ) *+++2P. No+0+-0*+00+, 1200113.analo#d$4a5ion.in CURRENT AFFAIRS UPDATE : Part - 5 Index: 1). GM crop-!oon or !ane "). T#e $%otec#no&o'( Re'&ator( At#or%t( o* Ind%a $%&&+ ",1). T#e A'r%c&tra& $%o-ecr%t( $%&& ",1). T#e Nat%ona& /and Re*or0 Po&%c( Dra*t ",15). Ac%d2%tr%o&a'e Cr%0%na& /a3 4A0end0ent) Act+ ",1). D%rpt%on%n Par&%a0ent 1). GM crop-!oon or !ane Recently, a Technical Expert Committee (TEC) appointed by the Supreme Court of India recommended an indefinite suspension on open field trials of genetically-modified (!) crops till the deficiencies in the regulatory and safety systems are effecti"ely addressed# In the $a%e of this, let us discuss the pros and cons of using ! crops# The term ! foods or !&s (genetically-modified organisms) is the most commonly used to refer to crop plants created for human or animal consumption using the latest molecular biology techni'ues# These plants ha"e been modified in the laboratory to enhance desired traits such as increased resistance to herbicides or impro"ed nutritional content# Ar'0ent%n *a6or o* GM crop*est resistance Crop losses from insect pests ca n be st aggering, resulting in de"astating financial los s for farmers and star"ation in de"eloping countries# +armers typically use many tons of chemical pesticides annually# ro$ing ! foods can help eliminate the application of chemical pesticides and reduce the cost of bringing a crop to mar%et# erbicide tolerance +or some crops, it is not cost-effecti"e to remo"e $eeds by physical means such as tilling, so farmers $ill often spray large 'uantities of different herbicides ($eed-%iller) to destroy $eeds, a time-consuming and expensi"e process, that re'uires care so that the herbicide doesnt harm the crop plant or the en"ironment# Crop plants genetically-engineered to be resistant to one "ery po$erful herbicide could help pre"ent en"ironmental damage by reducing the amount of herbicides needed# .isease resistanc e There are many "iruses, f ungi and bacteria t hat cause plant d iseases# *lant biolog ists are $or%ing to create plants $ith genetically-engineered resistance to these diseases# .rought tolera nce/salinity toleranc e 0s the $orld population gro$s and more land is utili1ed for housing instead of food production, farmers $ill need to gro$ crops in locations pre"iously unsuited for plant culti"ation# Creating plants that can $ithsta nd long periods of drought or high salt content in soil and ground$ater $ill help people to gro$ crops in formerly inhospitable places# ANA/7G IAS INSTITUTE2 The Right Choice of Achievers .Page | 1 www.a nalog educ ation.in ias. anal og@gm ail. com A 5
