Indian scientists have made a breakthrough by creating two new rice varieties using genome editing technology. These varieties are designed to increase yield by 25% and use less water, making them ideal for changing climates.

The new rice varieties were launched by Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan.They were developed by experts from the Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI) in New Delhi and the Indian Rice Research Institute in Hyderabad. These rice types are considered climate-smart because they can thrive in tougher conditions with fewer resources.

India has become the first country in the world to develop Genome-Edited (GE) rice varieties. These new rice types could bring revolutionary changes in terms of higher production, climate adaptability, and water conservation.

The two rice varieties do not contain any foreign DNA, meaning they are not genetically modified (GM). This addresses concerns some people have about GM foods, as these varieties do not fall under that category.

The benefit of these varieties 

Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan stated that the new rice varieties will boost production while also having positive environmental impacts. He emphasized that these crops will help save water and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, ultimately easing environmental pressure.

Mr Chouhan called this development a perfect example of achieving both higher production and environmental conservation.Looking ahead, he stressed the importance of ensuring food security, increasing production, and making India the food basket of the world.

Mr Chouhan also took pride in India’s success, stating, "We are proud that our efforts have led to the export of Rs 48,000 crore worth of Basmati rice each year." He noted, however, that the newly developed varieties are non-Basmati rice.

Dr ML Jat, Secretary of the Department of Agricultural Research and Director General of ICAR, referred to this milestone as a "golden day for India's agricultural research." He stressed the importance of demand-driven research, where feedback from farmers is crucial.

According to Dr Jat, this approach will help ensure that research is more aligned with farmers' actual needs and provide them with practical solutions that make a real difference in their agricultural practices.

ICAR's announcement

The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) has revealed that its scientists have successfully developed two new genome-edited, climate-resistant rice varieties: 'DRR Dhan 100 (Kamala)' and 'Pusa DST Rice 1'. These varieties were approved after receiving the necessary bio-safety clearance under India’s updated regulations for genome-edited crops.

ICAR estimates that cultivating these varieties over 5 million hectares will result in an additional 4.5 million tons of paddy. The use of these varieties will also help reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 20%, cutting down 32,000 tons of emissions.

Another significant advantage is water conservation; these rice varieties require just three irrigations, saving 7,500 million cubic meters of water, which could be used for other crops.

ICAR emphasized that the success of these genome-edited rice varieties opens up possibilities for using this technology in other crops as well, boosting yields, improving climate resilience, and contributing to the vision of Viksit Bharat (developed India).