Abid Saeed
THE approval of the National Agricultural Biotechnology Policy by the Prime Minister and the Federal Cabinet was an important and timely step for Pakistan’s agriculture.
It created a clear national direction for science-based innovation, improved seed systems, food security, farmer productivity and responsible investment. The policy was not developed overnight. It followed an extended consultative process involving public institutions, scientists, regulators, provincial representatives, academia, industry and other stakeholders.
Now the real challenge before Pakistan is no longer the absence of policy; it is the roadblocks being created in its implementation. A policy that remains only on paper cannot deliver productivity, exports, import substitution or food security. Its value will be measured only when approved technologies move through a predictable, transparent and science-based implementation pathway.
One major roadblock is the continued circulation of misinformation around genetically modified maize. GM maize is often presented as something sudden or untested. Biosafety trials began in 2009, required studies and data generation were completed and commercialization approvals were granted after review by the competent biosafety authorities. The trials were conducted under the supervision of the National Biosafety Committee.
Another roadblock is the tendency to ignore local performance data. GM maize hybrids completed National Uniformity Yield Trials across multiple locations under regulatory supervi-sion. Pakistan’s farmers are facing rising input costs, pest pressure, climate stress and increasing demand from the feed sector. When a technology has demonstrated local agronomic value, delaying access to it means delaying potential gains for farmers and the national economy.
Pakistan’s maize grain market is already largely linked with feed use, where poultry is the largest consumer, followed by animal feed and wet milling. The country also already uses approved GM soybean and canola-based feed ingredients. Locally produced GM maize would, therefore, enter an existing feed market rather than creating an unfamiliar system.
Some opposition also appears to arise from narrow commercial concerns rather than national agricultural priorities. Segments of the local seed industry may fear competition, while parts of the processing sector may prefer the status quo. However, national policy cannot be held hostage to selective commercial interests. Competition in the seed sector should be based on farmer value and performance.
Pakistan cannot view agricultural biotechnology in isolation from global practice. GM maize has been approved and used in major agricultural economies for many years, including the United States, Argentina, Brazil, Canada and South Africa. In Asia, countries such as the Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia and China have also moved ahead with approvals, while India has restarted its approval process. Delaying implementation of policy will leave Pakistan behind regional competitors in technology adoption, farmer productivity and export competitiveness.
The implementation roadblocks must, therefore, be addressed through clear administrative action. Relevant ministries and regulatory authorities should proceed in line with the approved policy framework, avoid duplication of completed assessments and communicate transparently with stakeholders. A practical roadmap is needed for biosafety renewals, variety approval processes, stewardship requirements, coexistence guidance, monitoring, labeling where applicable and farmer awareness.
The Prime Minister’s approval of the National Agricultural Biotechnology Policy has given Pakistan a historic opportunity to modernize agriculture. The remaining question is whether implementation will match the vision or not. Misinformation, procedural hesitation or vested interests should not be allowed to dilute a national policy.
—The writer is an Islamabad based researcher and analysts with key focus on climate, agriculture, food security and humanitarian crisis.
