TRAINING WORKSHOP REPORT The Ministry of Environment & Forests (Govt. of India) New Delhi has chosen this Department of Molecular Biology & Genetic Engineering of Pantnagar University as a venue to organize a 8 days training workshop on Bio-safety issues in the management of genetically modified crops for education scientific personals of agricultural & traditional Universities and institutions located in northern, west and central parts of India. The training was organized from July 3 to July 10, 2006. The information leaflets about the training workshop were sent to about 200 scientific institutions of different northern, western and central states (J&K, HP, Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, Gujarat, Rajasthan, MP, Bihar, Chhatishgarh, Jharkhand, Orissa, UP and UA). In response to this, 43 applications were received from eight different states (i.e. UP, Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan and Uttaranchal) and 26 from six different states were selected and shown the willingness to participate in the training. The workshop was inaugurated by chief guest of the function Dr. P.L. Gautam, Vice-chancellor, of this university by enlightening the lamp alongwith Guest of Honour Ch. Samar Pal Singh, Progressive farmer of Tarai. In his inaugural address, our VC Sir stressed on the need for science based evaluation for GMO s and LMO s. He said that transgenic crop varieties should first be evaluated for their adverse
effects on soil, environment other flora an fauna prior to their release in the environment for this purpose, Bio-safety aspects of such transgenic crops should be critically studied. He also emphasized that there is urgent need to educate the people about such GM crops. In absence of the knowledge, people and scientists keep GM crops, hybrid varieties and advanced technologies such as terminator technology, in one category which lowers scientific thinking. He requested scientific community to educate the people by writing popular articles and by publishing the books on the topic of Biosafety so as to remove confusion about such crops.
Recognizing this need to assess and manage the potential environmental risks associated with GM crops, ministry of Environment and forests, Govt. of India has established a national level facility Biosafety Center at Pantnagar for evaluation and monitoring of GM crops so that the seeds of novel transgenic crops should reach the farmers. The aims of the training workshop were: 1. To create awareness about the Bio-safety issues related to use of transgenic crop plants. 2. To acquaint the scientific personnel with the current scientific knowledge about development, detection and production technologies for transgenic crops.
3. To provide on handing laboratory training about molecular testing methods of transgenic plants. 4. To address the issues pertaining to Environmental concerns biosafety of transgenic foods and public attitude. After the establishment of Bio-safety Centre at Pantnagar, last one year following efforts were made. 1. A Animal Cell Culture facility for production of monoclonal antibodies has been developed in the form of Hybridoma laboratory where containment and partitioning has been developed. 2. A full-fiedged laboratory for testing of GM seeds has been established in Newly constructed building where partitioning and false ceiling has yet to be done. 3. Organization of two national training workshops 1.) Biosafety for monitoring and evaluation of transgenic plants (From 27 th jan-1 st Feb, 2005) 2.) Biosafety issues in the management of genetically modified crops. From 3 rd July 10 th July, 2006 3.) Management and molecular testing of genetically modified seeds for biosafety regulations to be organized in Oct-Nov. 2006. 4. Capacity building for development of Molecular Testing Methods for detection of intentional and un-intended release of GM seeds.
5. Publication of a booklet on LMOs!! GMOs!! Biosafety Issues (Frequently Asked Questions-FAQs). 6. Preparation of training manuals 1.) Critical control points on GM seed production 2.) Molecular Testing Methods of genetically modified crops. 7. Research publication on Molecular methods for testing of genetically modified seeds: validation and determination of threshold level of transgene detection. One of the objectives of the center is to provide on hands training about molecular testing methods of transgenic plants and too create awareness about such crops. The objective of the workshop is to provide training on management of transgenic crops along with molecular testing methods for detection of GMO/LMO and thus creating the awareness about these crops among scientific community. The participants were exposed to a capsule of 14 lectures from the faculty members of the department of MBGE and guest faculty members from different Universities and Institutes NRCPB, Lucknow University and NBPGR etc. Lectures covered various aspects of bio-safety issues, risks/concerns, legal and regulatory issues. Participants conducted various laboratory experiments consisting of 15 modules themselves to learn the bio-safety laboratory techniques during the period of training workshop.
In the beginning of the training baseline information of the participants regarding their scientific knowledge related to training was assessed and all participants were found to be well versed with the subject for understanding bio-safety related issues. The literature developed by ISAAA, CD on BT Kapas development by ISAAA, CD on introduction Plant Biotechnology developed by G.B. Pant University and Technology mission were also given to all the participant under gone this training workshop. Dr. Hota told in his valedictory Address that Biotechnological methods on the other hand. Can be utilized to transfer any gene across the kingdoms to transfer any gene across the kingdoms to our traditional crop varieties for their improvement. Such type of modified crop varieties are also known as GMO or LMO or transgenic crops. Many of such transgenic crops such as maize. soybean have been developed and claimed to be such superior. However, such transgenic crop varieties should first be evaluated for their adverse effects on soil, environment other flora and fauna prior to their release in the environment for this purpose. Biosafety aspects of such transgenic crops should be critically studied.