Soybean processors oppose import of GM soybean meal

Soybean processors oppose import of GM soybean meal

Subject : Science

Section : Biotechnology

Context: Soybean Processors Association of India (SOPA) on Wednesday urged the Centre government not to allow the import of genetically modified (GM) soyabean meal

Need for import of GM soybean meal:

• Rising Demands: The import of soymeal is to meet the current feed shortage in the country. There is a rising demand  for a major ingredient of poultry feed.
• Poor harvest: The poor harvest of soybean led to shortages in soy feed.
• High Prices: Poultry farmers have been asking for imports as the domestic price of soymeal has skyrocketed from Rs 40 per kg to Rs 110 per kg.
• Pressure from Industry: The poultry industry has been lobbying for the import of soymeal to tide over domestic shortages and tame prices.

Concerns

• Lack of Regulation: There are concerns over the grey area of regulation regarding genetically modified ingredients, given that most imported meals come from GM beans.
• Entering Food Chain: Environmental activists have raised concerns about the permission given for something derived from a genetically modified plant to enter the human food chain.
• Health at Stack: The public is being subjected to the hazards of this genetically engineered feed which may lead to adverse health impacts.

Import Policy

• The import of genetically modified organisms and living modified organisms is restricted and governed by the Environment Protection Act 1985.
• GM import proposals are examined by the Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC), a statutory body under the Environment Ministry for making a recommendation to either accept or reject the proposal.
  • The Committee is chaired by the Special Secretary/Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change, GOI. A representative of the Department of Biotechnology is a co-chair.
• However, soya de-oiled cake or meals do not fall under these categories. It falls under the non-living organism category.
• Hence, import of soya de-oiled cake of meal will not be subjected to the Schedule of 1 of GEAC import policy approval as it is a non-living organism.

About Soy meal

• Soy meal is left over after oil is extracted from the bean.
• It is the main protein ingredient in the feed, especially for broilers (any chicken that is bred and raised specifically for meat production).
• It constitutes 25% of poultry feed and maize constitutes 60%.
• Roundup Ready Soybeans (RR soybeans) are genetically engineered soybeans that have had their DNA altered to allow them to withstand the herbicide glyphosate (the active ingredient in Monsanto’s herbicide Roundup).
  • They are also known as “glyphosate tolerant” soybeans.