Introduction

The world economy has seen significant growth in the last decade through increases in productivity, product quality, and export base diversification. These advances were mainly driven by the growth of traditional agricultural and industrial sectors. The application of agriculture biotechnology offers the opportunity to alleviate marginal and subsistence farmers to get out of their dependency on government assistance and to increase production.

The introduction of new crop varieties with insect and herbicide resistant genes is quickly changing the landscape of agriculture in the US and many countries. Major pests can be eliminated with little or no spray of pesticides, as well as nasty weeds killed with the spray of herbicide in genetically engineered crop varieties. Genetically engineered crop varieties are environmental friendly with reduced chemical use as an added benefit.

Given the need to feed more people on the same land area while using less water and nutrients, the application of biotechnology to improve crop plants is fast becoming the only viable option for the teeming millions. Let me give a direct quote from Dr. Norman Borlaug, Noble Peace laureate, "the world need to double food production by 2050 if hunger were to be banished from the world and the ongoing 'gene revolution' can definitely play a part in this.

You cannot build peace on empty stomachs. Only 8 per cent of countries with lower levels of hunger are mired in conflict". I might add, insurgency, the dominant menace of the region is eating up the resources and turning many vibrant and intelligent youths into dangerous thugs because there is not enough opportunities to go around. Many insurgency groups have sprang up as a result of hunger and a lack of opportunity rather than a genuine desire to leave the society in better shape than the one they currently inherit.

What is GMO?

The acronym GMO stands for "genetically modified organism," and refers to any plant or animal species that has had a gene or genes from a different species transferred into its genetic material via accepted genetic engineering techniques. The process of introducing genes into a new species and getting them to function is known as transformation. Genetically modified organisms have a foreign gene inserted into them that creates one or more new traits for that organism.

The genetic engineering employs an array of methodology such as gene discovery, transformation, molecular characterization of the insert, and gene expression study. In a real sense, "genetically modified" is not a new phenomenon, but has been practiced by plant breeders for years through breeding and selection with the objective of producing more productive, more resistant offspring, or in producing better or different quality of product than the existing variety. The process to produce new varieties following conventional breeding methodology takes approximately 6-7 years compared to 2-4 years via genetic engineering.

A single gene with a known function can be moved from one organism to another without transferring additional unrelated genes, as happens in the process in conventional breeding method. Above all, what marks GMO out from the products of conventional breeding was that the new techniques help us to cross taxonomic lines (across unrelated species), which means I can put a B.t. gene from a soil bacteria over to cotton.

How safe are GMO crops?

The majority of scientists have consensus that there is nothing inherently risky about genetically engineered crops. Splicing genes from one organism into another has been used for years. One example is the production of an enzyme required in processing cheese. No one calls that dangerous. Recently introduced genetically engineered rice (golden rice) that could potentially eliminate vitamin A deficiencies has been met with widespread acceptance.

Before a variety with a new trait is approved for cultivation, it has to go through rigorous government agency approval process. For example, in the US, three agencies: the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) must approve the new gene(s) before the traits are released. The process is very involved and takes up to 2 years for final approval. The agencies ask the following questions: is it safe to consume (FDA); is it safe to grow (USDA); and is it safe for the environment (EPA).

The benefits of GMO

The best way to demonstrate the benefits of GMO is through examples.
1) The virus that causes severe ring spot in papaya. The disease reduces papaya production and kills the trees in Asia, in parts of Latin America, and in Africa.
2) Leaf curls disease on white potatoes. 3) The leaf yellowing in sweet potatoes throughout east and central Africa.
4) The stunting and yellowing in rice throughout central Asia. Each of these examples is caused by different strains of virus. Each of these important diseases can be controlled through biotechnologies that increase the resistance of the plants to the viruses. The production of cotton in India, Pakistan, Egypt and other countries where the boll worm, boll weevil and other insect pests have in the past reduced yields, have with the application of biotechnology turned around and increased.

The common insect resistant trait gene used in the market place today is called B.t. gene. When smallholder farmers in China and South Africa grew native cotton varieties that contained the B.t. gene for insect resistance as a result of biotechnology, the farmers realized between $150 and $200 per hectare in increased profits. It is estimated that more than a million farmers (combined) in these two countries have benefited from insect resistant varieties of cotton. The increased profit came because of the reduced application of insecticides to control the pests and increased lint production.

Perhaps the most striking examples of how biotechnology can improve human nutrition are found in the many varieties of rice and canola that have been improved by biotechnology. Biotechnology has been used in rice and canola to increase the amounts of beta-carotene, the precursor of Vitamin A, which is in short supply in diets in many parts of the world.

The hope is that consumption of foods rich in beta-carotene will alleviate the chronic Vitamin A deficiencies in the diets of many of the poor in Asia and Africa. Other research is underway to increase the levels of other vitamins, to improve the amount of proteins in crops like potatoes and cassava. Researchers are also developing foods that can deliver certain types of therapeutic substances, such as vaccines, which stimulate the body's immune system against certain endemic diseases.

Biotechnology center in NE India

The NE region is rich in diversity-both culturally and agriculturally. With agriculture being the predominant industry of the region, any positive changes focused on here is welcome news for 70% of the population. Since land holding is limited, any increase in agriculture product must come from either changing the cultural practices or integration of agricultural biotechnology.

The later is attractive and promising for the future since there is a limit to what cultural practices will add to the overall production. For example, the Green Revolution in the early 1960s with the introduction of dwarf varieties of wheat and rice depended on cultural practices to make the changes, but production leveled off after agricultural inputs where enacted.

Establishing a biotechnology center is imperative if the region is to improve the agriculture to meet the future food demands of the region. Crop improvement through genetic engineering must be a priority if the region wants to stay competitive and to best utilize natural resources. A number of states have already established their own biotechnology center as is in the state of Andhra Pradesh.

The region already has a number of universities that can provide the technical know-how and skills needed in the hundreds of competent faculty and scientists they employ. Additionally, there are several Indian Council of Agricultural Research centers in the region, which may have already thought through the process of establishing a biotechnology center.

For a biotechnology center to stay competitive, the center must reflect the following criteria:
1) as a government (central and regional) sponsor with a non-political entity,
2) governed by a board of directors (scientist should make up a majority of the board),
3) registered as a non-profit organization,
4) development process driven by product delivery rather than consumption driven,
5) seek its own funding through government and foundation, both national and international,
6) competitive funding scheme should ensure the integration of biotechnology with classical breeding and other associated technical disciplines,
7) located close in proximity to a major airport,
8) close to a major university or college,
9) have the goal of becoming a self-supporting entity,
10) have the objective of addressing regional issues,
11) employee selection criteria strictly merit, and
12) the seven sister states each contribute and play a role.

What are the economic impacts and the market outlook for the region with GMO?

The economic impact on the region is enormous-from food import dependency to a player in India and the world food market. The total area under GM crops globally has risen by 20 per cent in the last year alone. In India, where GM use was allowed only three years ago, about 1.34 million hectares have come under B.t. cotton. A cotton farmer in India can increase his bottom line even though he pays higher seed premium in order to grow genetically engineered cotton. The market outlook for GM products in India is excellent since food shortage and poverty are still alive in India.

In conclusion, I believe biotechnology can bring unprecedented economic impact in the region, which in turn will change the attitude of the people. I believe if a product and market driven economy takes a hold in the region, the young people will trade their guns for the newfound economic power they so desperately seek to achieve. Rather than stealing at gunpoint, they will work hard exploiting the new economic reality within their reach.

One final note, but economic freedom is only one of three freedoms I mention in an earlier article, "True Freedom." One cannot be truly free if he is not free spiritually. Spiritual freedom includes freedom from corruption, murder, envy, and all kinds of evil. Poverty and hunger in India can be eliminated, but the greater challenge is to eradicate the spiritual poverty that is beneath the surface of each person's apparent happiness.