The Supreme Court has urged the Government of India to take a decision soon on the policy for the commercial release and cultivation of genetically modified crops like the GM mustard. In this connection I wish to recall what I wrote in a report submitted to the Ministry of Agriculture in 2004

Farmer representatives from six states came together for a day-long discussion on how the scientist-farmer interface could be strengthened. The discussion hosted at M S Swaminathan Research Foundation on behalf of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) was an opportunity for scientists to listen to the farmers’ perspective on scientific and research agenda in agriculture.

In the India – Myanmar collaborative programme initiated 5 years ago a Committee which I chaired recommended the establishment of an Advanced Centre for Agriculture Research and Education (ACARE) and a Rice BioPark.

MSSRF under the guidance of Prof Swaminathan and with support from the Government of India established a Rice BioPark in Yezin, Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar in 2013, for the preparation and marketing of value added products from the rice biomass consisting of straw, bran, husk and grain. In this regard, nine senior scientists from Myanmar visited MSSRF and met with Prof Swaminathan, Founder MSSRF and Dr V Selvam, the Executive Director MSSRF today.

Our Prime Minister’s visit to Israel is a historic one since this is the first time that a Prime Minister of India is visiting this remarkable country.

The 2017 World Food Prize has been awarded to Dr Akinyumi A Adesina, President, African Development Bank Group. Dr. Adesina will receive the $250,000 prize for his work in African agriculture and towards improving food security for millions in the continent. The announcement was made onMonday at the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Indian agriculture is seeing record crop production on one hand but increased farmers protests. In several states, farmers fear that a bumper crop combined with erratic monsoon will bring down prices and affect livelihood. Pricing and Policy are central to these protests.

An important step is promoting the health security of the human population has been taken by bringing widespread knowledge of yoga through the declaration of the International Yoga day.

Over 10 years ago, the 'National Commission on Farmers' submitted a series of five reports on the agrarian distress in India along with several recommendations. The Commission was chaired by Prof M S Swaminathan, Founder MSSRF.

Due to the unfortunate erratic monsoon behaviour, farmers are facing problems of severe drought for the past few years.

Each year, June 5th is celebrated as the World Environment Day in order to remind us that environment security is basic to all other forms of security.

There are several media articles both underlying the usefulness of the GM technology, as for instance, the GM mustard, as well as the risks and environmental harm that these may lead to. In this context, the following principles will enable the reconciliation of divergent views.