Genetically Modified Cereal Crops Regulation Policies

The history of crop genetic manipulation through conventional breeding (artificial selection and selective breeding) dates back to more than 10,000 years. To feed the intense growing population, conventional breeding is unsuitable due to time, money consumption, and lack of desirable traits in plant genetic pool. The introduction of biotechnology in the late twentieth century and the start of the twenty-first century revolutionized modern agriculture by introducing the unavailable desired traits from other sources. The adaptation of genetically modified (GM) crops may create many socio-economic, food, and sustainability opportunities for both farmer ecosystem and farmers. In the last two decades GM crop adaptation increased due to its ability to multiply the quality agricultural productivity. Worldwide during 2017, 30% of canola, 80% of cotton, 32% of maize, and 77% of GM soybean were cultivated. Globally, 26 countries (21 developing and 5 industrialized countries) planted 191.7 million hectares of biotech crops. Furthermore, 43 other countries have formally cultivated GM crops to measure the utilization of GM crops. Despite the above facts a huge gap exists in both rapid acceptance of GM crops by farmers in many countries and for food, feeds, and limited acceptance by consumers in global market. These facts also characterized the various opinions of consumers. The significant factors influencing consumer's attitudes are the awareness of benefit and risk, knowledge and trust, and personal values. GM crops have sparked tremendous public outrage, particularly on the rising concerns over GM food labelling, prompting the government to withdraw Bt brinjal from India. The increasing GM crop cultivation has augmented a wide range of distresses with respect to environmental, socio-economic, and food safety issues. In this chapter, we explained the present status of GM crops research, regulatory framework, and challenges involved in GM research globally.