New Delhi - Disregarding protests against genetically engineered foods and crops, Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar has said that besides Bt cotton, there are several transgenic crops in the "pipeline."

These include pigeon pea resistant to bollworm, Bt brinjal, tomato resistant to leaf curl virus, tomato with delayed ripening and improved shelf life and potato with enhanced levels of essential amino acids.

"Many genes of agronomic and nutritional importance have already been cloned and are being introduced into an array of crop species including cereals, pulses, oilseeds, fruits and vegetable crops," he told a conference on agriculture biotechnology here on Friday.

"Tremendous potential"

Transgenic technology was significant in addressing critical problems in improvement of crop plants particularly in the context of over-dependence on pesticides and other chemicals and lower production and productivity. Biotechnology offered a "tremendous potential" to tackle the issue of food security as well as nutritional security. "If used in a responsible manner, it can help reduce poverty and improve the livelihoods of the rural poor."

Adding a note of caution, Mr. Pawar said food safety and environmental risks assessments should be carried out on genetically modified (GM) crops on a "strict scientific basis." It was necessary to analyse benefits and cost to determine the socio-economic feasibility of implementing the technology.

The data generated "so far" had not shown genetically modified foods to be different from the conventionally bred food in terms of safety to human health and to the environment.

"However, confidence is needed to be built among the consumers that GM foods are safe and eco friendly."

Key issues

In this context, some key issues that needed immediate attention were strengthening and streamlining the transgenic research programme, capacity building and human resource development for effective utilisation of genetic transformation strategies for crop improvement and ensuring proper flow of scientific and technical information, genetic materials and other critical components related to development and testing of transgenic crops.

Mr. Pawar said the development of a strong capability in plant biotechnology was an "absolute priority" for the national research programme.

It was likely that genes and gene functions would increasingly be transferable among crops and between agricultural environments."