A coalition of farmers, scientists, environmentalists, and consumer groups has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, urging him to categorically reject any move to allow genetically modified (GM) crops and U.S. dairy imports as part of the ongoing trade negotiations with the United States.
In a letter to the Prime Minister of India, the Alliance for Sustainable and Holistic Agriculture (ASHA-Kisan Swaraj) strongly urged the government to uphold India’s food and farmer sovereignty and not allow GM Crops or U.S. Dairy Imports in the trade deal. They warned that allowing the import of genetically modified (GM) crops and U.S. dairy products into India would have serious and irreparable implications for India’s agriculture, biosafety, public health, rural livelihoods, and food sovereignty.
The letter has been jointly signed by Kavitha Kuruganti and Ananthasayanan on behalf of ASHA-Kisan Swaraj.
Threat to Biosafety, Seed Sovereignty, and Law
The letter points out that India’s regulatory framework, including the Environment Protection Act, 1986, and Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, currently prohibits the import or sale of unapproved GM crops and foods. "Any attempt to allow GM corn, soy, or other commodities through trade negotiations would directly violate Indian law and Supreme Court directives," the letter states.
Calling GM crops a "direct attack" on seed sovereignty, the groups argue that such imports could open the door to patent enforcement, seed contamination, and corporate control over agriculture, undermining farmers’ rights and India's biodiversity.
US Dairy Imports—A Blow to Rural Livelihoods and Public Health
On dairy imports, the signatories expressed grave concerns about the potential entry of milk produced using recombinant Bovine Growth Hormone (rBGH), which is banned in India due to links with cancer, hormonal disruptions, and antibiotic resistance.
"India’s dairy sector, which supports over 10 crore rural households, would be devastated by cheap, industrial-scale U.S. dairy flooding the the market," the letter says. "It’s not just an economic concern but a violation of India’s cultural, ethical, and nutritional ethos around milk."
India's Sovereignty Must Not Be Traded
The group also flagged the concerns of apple farmers from Himachal, Uttarakhand, and Jammu & Kashmir over tariff cuts on U.S. apple imports, warning that India could witness record apple imports touching 6 lakh metric tonnes this year, further hurting domestic producers.
The signatories criticized the lack of democratic consultation in trade negotiations, accusing the government of allowing foreign and corporate pressure to dictate policy decisions that affect millions of Indians.
Demands to the Government
ASHA-Kisan Swaraj lays out three clear demands to the government:
1. Categorically reject any proposal to allow GM crops or dairy imports as part of the Indo-US trade agreement or any such deals in future as well;
2. Uphold and strengthen India’s legal, scientific and policy safeguards that protect our food systems and public health from all such biosafety hazards such as unsafe GM foods and hormone-based milk products;
3. Ensure full transparency and parliamentary oversight in all trade negotiations involving agriculture, food, health, and biodiversity, and involve state governments also.
“India must not barter away its food security, ecological security, rural livelihoods and people’s health for short-term trade concessions,” the letter states, adding that India’s food and farming sovereignty should be upheld.