We focus on grains and food industry.
We focus on grains and food industry.
We focus on grains and food industry.
We focus on grains and food industry.
We focus on grains and food industry.
We focus on grains and food industry.
We focus on grains and food industry.
We focus on grains and food industry. current time
Gene-Edited Rice Set for Indian Fields: What Changes and Why It Matters
India is preparing to take a significant step in crop biotechnology with the commercial introduction of Pusa Rice DST1 during the coming rabi season. Transplanting is expected to begin around November. The variety, along with DRR Dhan 100 (Kamala), was developed in 2025 using targeted genome-editing techniques rather than introducing genes from another species.
Pusa Rice DST1 was developed by ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute by modifying the Drought and Salt Tolerance (DST) gene in MTU1010, a rice variety widely suited to southern India. Field trials indicate that it can perform better under drought, saline and alkaline conditions, with reported yield gains of 9.66%-30.4% over MTU1010. It is expected to be cultivated across several rice-growing States.
The other variety, Kamala, originated from Samba Mahsuri. Its genetic modification targets cytokinin metabolism, helping increase grain numbers while shortening the crop cycle and strengthening the stem. It reportedly matures about 20 days earlier than its parent variety.
The key distinction from conventional GM crops is that genome editing can make precise changes to existing genes without necessarily adding foreign DNA. India has already created a regulatory exemption for certain SDN-1 and SDN-2 edits when the resulting plants contain no transgenes.
The technology, however, is not without questions. Researchers have called for greater access to scientific data supporting the claimed yield improvements, particularly regarding whether the benefits remain consistent across different soil and climatic conditions. There are also broader concerns about unintended genetic changes and their possible effects on plant chemistry, nutrition or allergens.
According to the government, the varieties underwent biosafety evaluation, checks for foreign DNA and stability assessments, besides multi-location trials conducted over two years.
India’s move follows international developments, with countries such as the US, Canada, Japan and the UK creating pathways for certain gene-edited crops. The European Union has also recently adopted a separate framework for some new genomic technologies.
