&w=3840&q=100)
Gene-edited rice may pose IPR risks, scientists say in letter to PM
A group of scientists calling themselves the 'Agricultural Scientists Manch' have written to the Prime Minister denouncing the recent release of India's first genetically edited rice varieties, stating that the technology used—CRISPR-Cas9—could face intellectual property rights (IPR) issues, potentially negating the real advantage Indian farmers could derive from genome-edited rice.
The Centre has repeatedly clarified that all IPR issues related to gene editing are being thoroughly addressed, and a panel has been formed for this purpose. It has also assured that the government will acquire the necessary licences for gene-editing technologies and that no additional burden will fall on Indian farmers.
The letter, signed by nearly 20 former and current scientists including Sharad Nimbalkar, former vice-chancellor of Panjabrao Deshmukh Agriculture University, Akola, stated that although CRISPR-Cas9 is a highly precise technology, it can still go off-track, potentially causing severe undesirable consequences.
It also warned that large-scale use of gene-edited rice could contaminate India's native rice germplasm.
The scientists further expressed concern that unresolved IPR issues could lead to Indian farmers becoming dependent on foreign seed technologies. They added that the newly released rice varieties were cleared without adequate evaluation.
The letter was also marked to Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav, Health Minister Jagat Prakash Nadda and Science and Technology Minister Jitendra Singh.
Last month, in a significant development, the government released two genome-edited rice varieties for the first time in the country. These varieties are expected to increase per-hectare yields by up to 30 per cent and mature 15–20 days earlier than existing varieties.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Mint
21 minutes ago
- Mint
Indias biotech sector grew nearly fivefold in past decade: DBT Secretary
New Delhi, Jun 23 (PTI) India's biotechnology sector has expanded rapidly in the past decade, with its bioeconomy growing from USD 35.5 billion in 2014 to USD 165.7 billion in 2024, according to Rajesh S Gokhale, Secretary, Department of Biotechnology (DBT). He said the sector is now aiming for a USD 300 billion target by 2030, as scientific advances begin to translate into industrial and public health gains. "Biotechnology is no longer a fringe discipline, it's now a strategic driver for India's economic and health priorities," Gokhale said at a press conference highlighting 11 years of DBT's achievements. Among the standout initiatives is GenomeIndia, a nationwide effort to sequence the genomes of 10,000 individuals from 99 population groups, he said. The data, released earlier this year, is expected to inform personalised medicine and help researchers develop diagnostics tailored to Indian populations. Gokhale also highlighted India's first in-human gene therapy trial using a lentiviral vector for Severe Hemophilia A. India's vaccine response, Gokhale said, demonstrated the capacity of the DBT-backed innovation ecosystem. Under "Mission COVID Suraksha", five COVID-19 vaccines developed with DBT support received emergency approvals, including GEMCOVAC-19, the world's first thermostable mRNA vaccine. Other products include the intranasal COVID-19 vaccine and CERVAVAC, India's first indigenous quadrivalent HPV vaccine, now part of the National Immunization Programme, according to document shared at the briefing. Indian scientists contributed to decoding the complex genome of bread wheat, a global staple crop, and published a reference genome with 94 per cent coverage. Other research showed how Mycobacterium tuberculosis can infect liver cells and undermine TB treatment efficacy, while a study on taurine levels suggested amino acid may influence aging. Gokhale said India's biotech startup landscape has changed dramatically, with over 10,000 startups now in the sector, up from a few hundred a decade ago. Over 800 biotech products have emerged in this period. Through BIRAC, DBT has helped set up 95 bio-incubators across 21 states. Infrastructure investments include India's first dedicated biomanufacturing institute in Mohali and vaccine testing labs notified as Central Drug Laboratories. Speed breeding facilities have also been established to accelerate the development of climate-resilient crops. The BioE3 policy, approved by the Cabinet in 2024, is aimed at fostering high-performance biomanufacturing aligned with Net Zero targets.
&w=3840&q=100)
First Post
an hour ago
- First Post
Sadanira: A cinematic masterpiece where rivers become India's eternal storytellers
At the heart of this visual odyssey is Devrishi, formerly known in the film industry as music composer Rishikesh Pandey, now reborn as a spiritual storyteller and creative visionar read more What if rivers could speak? What if the ancient waters that bore witness to empires, epics, and evolution could narrate their own tale? That poetic question finds its answer in Sadanira — a pathbreaking new documentary series that blends cinematic brilliance with cultural philosophy, science, and soul. Officially launched on June 20th at Bhopal's prestigious Bharat Bhavan during the Jal-Ganga Samvardhan Abhiyan, the series was unveiled by Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav in the presence of artists, thinkers, and conservationists. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD At the heart of this visual odyssey is Devrishi, formerly known in the film industry as music composer Rishikesh Pandey, now reborn as a spiritual storyteller and creative visionary. It was Devrishi who handed over the series' first poster to the Chief Minister in a symbolic gesture — marking the beginning of a cinematic and cultural movement. Produced under the banner of Veer Bharat Nyas and Sanatan Wisdom Foundation, Sadanira is far more than a documentary. It's a weekly cinematic pilgrimage — one that reimagines India's rivers not as backdrops, but as the central characters in the country's epic. The opening episode is already generating buzz for its ambitious fusion of Vedic cosmology and astrophysics — tracing the origins of the universe from the primordial sound of Om to the scientific mechanics of cosmic dust, hydrogen fusion, and comet-borne water. In doing so, Sadanira creates what Devrishi calls 'mytho-science' — a seamless blend of myth and modernity. Each river — be it the sacred Ganga, the mysterious Saraswati, or the ancient Drishadvati — is treated not just as geography but as a sentient storyteller. Shot in ultra-high definition, the series captures the soul of Indian rivers with unmatched emotional and spiritual depth. According to the creators, this is only Phase 1. Over 100 rivers, including endangered ones like Tamraparni and Drishadvati, are set to be featured in future seasons. 'This is not just a series,' says Devrishi. 'It's a cultural renaissance. A call to remember who we are, through the rivers that shaped us.' STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Startups cheer HAL's takeover of SSLV rocket; hope it boosts market for small satellites
With the defense PSU Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd ( HAL ) becoming the first Indian firm to own, build, and commercialise the Indian Space Research Organisation's ( ISRO ) SSLV rocket, sections of Indian startups are hopeful the deal will help them rely less on launch service providers overseas, get better schedule visibility, and save on costs. So far, most Indian startups, such as Pixxel, Digantara, and GalaxEye's upcoming mission Drishti, have used SpaceX for their launches. Some startups have also conducted payload testing on ISRO's shared missions. Startups told ET that if HAL can offer transparent pricing and firm launch windows, they would strongly prefer to work with Indian launch providers. Industry experts said the government should consider incentivising private payloads launched on Indian rockets to build a stronger homegrown ecosystem. SatLeo Labs CEO Shravan S Bhati, building thermal imaging satellites for low earth orbit (LEO), said the move will open new avenues for the competitive small satellite market and free up ISRO's think tank for deeper research and development (R&D) and planetary missions. The small satellite market, as per Stratview Research, will be valued at $7.7 billion by 2030. The small satellite market, as per Stratview Research (2024), was valued at $6.7 billion and is projected to grow to $7.7 billion by 2030. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Beyond Text Generation: An AI Tool That Helps You Write Better Grammarly Install Now Undo Earlier, in an interview with ET, Pawan Goenka, chairman of the Indian National Space Promotion & Authorisation Centre (IN-SPACe), said the regulator-cum-promoter will be setting up a dedicated launch centre for small satellite launches. 'Our target is to conduct 25 small satellite launches per year across three vehicles (SSLV, Agnikul's, and Skyroot's rockets), securing a major share of the global market.' Ahmedabad-based PierSight Space's cofounder, Vinit Bansal, working on maritime technology, said that transferring SSLV technology to an agency focussed on production, such as HAL, can enable more SSLV launches per year. 'SSLV can now serve as an 'Uber to space,' providing flexible access to specific orbits that are not feasible through shared missions,' he added. Live Events Challenges persist, but startups hopeful Discover the stories of your interest Blockchain 5 Stories Cyber-safety 7 Stories Fintech 9 Stories E-comm 9 Stories ML 8 Stories Edtech 6 Stories Awais Ahmed, founder of Google-backed Pixxel, said that for startups such as his, this can reduce dependency on foreign launch providers and improve scheduling predictability. The startup launched its Firefly constellation of hyperspectral satellites earlier this year from SpaceX. 'If SSLV is reliably available and HAL builds institutional maturity in launch operations, it would certainly make access easier and potentially more cost-competitive,' Ahmed told ET. Another space tech startup, SpaceFields' founder, Apurwa Masook, building solid rocket propulsion technology for aerospace and defence and collaborating with HAL, said the global launch market is highly competitive and demands aggressive customer acquisition and agile supply chain management. He pointed out that traditional Indian DPSUs like HAL have historically faced challenges, which is also evident in their growing backlogs in military deliveries. 'For SSLV to succeed in the commercial market, HAL would need to rethink its go-to-market strategy and possibly lean more on nimble private sector collaborators,' the Bengaluru-based Masook said.
