• What are GMOs? 

  • A genetically modified organism (GMO) or living modified organism (LMO), is any organism whose genetic material has been altered, either by deleting, modifying, or inserting a new genome fragment from another organism, using laboratory-based technology.

    • Major global GM crops: Soybean, maize (corn), canola and cotton 

    • Major global GM traits: Insect resistance and herbicide tolerance

  • In India, bollworm-resistant cotton is the only GM crop approved for cultivation in farmers’ fields, while several other crops are under experimentation.

 

• GMO screening is a universal analytical approach for detecting the presence of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in food and feed products. This involves detecting the presence of specific DNA sequences that are unique to GM crops (1). It is a functional tool for ensuring the integrity of the seed supply chain and addressing the requirements of farmers and consumers.

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• Due to the increasing prevalence of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in the market, it is mandated to enforce labeling requirements and test for the potential presence of unauthorized GMOs ensuring traceability, compliance with regulations, and assessing the safety of GMOs for humans, animals, and the environment (4). Consequently, it is a vital measure for ensuring the safety, transparency, and authenticity of the food supply, supporting research and development, promoting food security, and protecting biodiversity.

 

Why Detect GMOs? 

1. Assure compliance with legislation: Research, cultivation, import, and export of GMOs are regulated under:  

   1. The Environment Protection Act (1986)  

   2. The Destructive Insects and Pests Act (1914)  

   3. The Foreign Trade (Regulation and Development) Act (1992) 

2. Ensure that a product meets market requirements 

3. Solve GM-related ownership and other legal issues

4. Assure purity and segregation of seeds and production thereof 

5. Trace genetic modification in breeding experiments(5)

 

GMO screening can be applicable in several segments such

as Seed production & supply chain, Food processing and labeling, Research and development, and Environmental monitoring. This could also serve as a model for official control areas where high-throughput DNA-based detection systems are needed, reducing the number of subsequent identification analysis and making the process more efficient and cost-effective.