The First Country to Field Genome-Edited Crops
On May 3, 2025, India achieved a global first: Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan formally launched the world’s first genome-edited rice varieties for commercial cultivation. DRR Dhan 100 (also known as Kamala) and Pusa DST Rice 1 represent not just agricultural innovations but a fundamental shift in how humanity confronts climate change impacts on food security.
These varieties—engineered using CRISPR-based Site-Directed Nuclease 1 (SDN-1) technology—withstand drought and salinity stresses that decimate conventional rice, conserve water, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and boost yields. More significantly, they position India at the forefront of agricultural biotechnology’s next revolution: precision genome editing to create climate-adapted crops without introducing foreign DNA.
The Climate Challenge Facing Rice
Rice feeds half of humanity—3.5 billion people depend on it as their staple food. India is the world’s second-largest rice producer and largest exporter, with rice cultivation spanning 44 million hectares and supporting 120+ million farming families.
But rice faces escalating climate threats:
Water Crisis: Rice cultivation consumes 40-50% of India’s irrigation water. Traditional flooded paddy fields require 3,000-5,000 liters of water per kilogram of rice. As groundwater depletes and rainfall becomes erratic, water-intensive rice cultivation is increasingly unsustainable.
Drought Vulnerability: Extended dry spells during critical growth stages—particularly flowering—cause catastrophic yield losses. The 2023-2024 drought reduced rice yields by 15-20% across Maharashtra, Karnataka, and parts of Uttar Pradesh.
Salinity Intrusion: Coastal rice-growing regions face salinization from sea-level rise and storm surges. In West Bengal, Odisha, and coastal Andhra Pradesh, 2+ million hectares of rice lands experience salinity stress, rendering them unproductive or forcing farmers into less remunerative crops.
Heat Stress: Rising temperatures reduce rice yield by 10% for every 1°C increase above optimal temperatures during flowering. Nighttime temperatures above 25°C dramatically reduce grain filling.
Methane Emissions: Flooded rice paddies produce methane—a potent greenhouse gas. Rice cultivation contributes 10-12% of global methane emissions, creating a feedback loop where rice contributes to the climate change that threatens its cultivation.
What Makes These Varieties Revolutionary
DRR Dhan 100 (Kamala) – The Drought Fighter
Developed by ICAR-Indian Institute of Rice Research (IIRR), Hyderabad, DRR Dhan 100 employs genome editing to enhance drought tolerance through multiple mechanisms:
Target: Argonaute18 (AGO18) Gene: Researchers used CRISPR-Cas9 to introduce precise mutations in the AGO18 gene, which regulates stress response pathways. The edited gene enhances plants’ ability to maintain photosynthesis, water uptake, and cellular integrity during drought.
Performance Advantages:
- 30-40% Reduced Water Requirement: The variety thrives under aerobic (non-flooded) conditions, needing only 1,800-2,000 liters water per kilogram rice—a 40% reduction compared to conventional varieties
- 20-25% Higher Drought Tolerance: Maintains 80-85% yield even under 20-25 day drought stress during vegetative/reproductive stages, whereas conventional varieties lose 50-60% yield
- Faster Maturation: 115-120 day duration (versus 135-145 days for traditional varieties), enabling double cropping and reducing exposure to end-season moisture stress
Field Performance: Multi-location trials across Telangana, Karnataka, Maharashtra, and Madhya Pradesh during 2022-2024 demonstrated consistent performance. In 2024 trials during drought conditions, DRR Dhan 100 yielded 4.8-5.2 tonnes per hectare while conventional checks yielded 2.8-3.4 tonnes per hectare.
Pusa DST Rice 1 – The Salinity Warrior
Developed by ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), New Delhi, Pusa DST Rice 1 targets salinity tolerance—critical for coastal agriculture:
Target: OsSOS1 Gene Enhancement: The OsSOS1 gene encodes a sodium transporter that exports excess sodium from cells. CRISPR editing enhances its expression and activity, allowing plants to manage salt stress more effectively.
Performance Advantages:
- 8-12 dS/m Salinity Tolerance: Survives and yields in soils with electrical conductivity up to 10-12 dS/m (moderately saline), whereas conventional rice fails above 4-5 dS/m
- Coastal Land Reclamation: Opens 2+ million hectares of currently unproductive saline-affected lands for rice cultivation
- Reduced Input Costs: No need for expensive soil amendments (gypsum) or repeated leaching to manage salinity
Environmental Benefits: Both varieties reduce methane emissions by 30-40% compared to traditional flooded cultivation since they thrive under aerobic or intermittent irrigation rather than continuous flooding[32].
The SDN-1 Technology
A critical distinction separates these varieties from genetically modified organisms (GMOs):
GMOs (Transgenic): Insert genes from other species (e.g., Bt cotton contains bacterial genes). Regulated stringently due to concerns about ecological impacts and gene flow.
SDN-1 Genome Editing: Makes precise changes to existing genes—single nucleotide substitutions or small deletions—without introducing foreign DNA. The final plant contains only its own genetic material, slightly altered.
This distinction matters legally and perceptually:
- India’s 2022 guidelines classify SDN-1 edited crops as non-GMO, subjecting them to streamlined approval processes
- Many scientists argue SDN-1 changes are indistinguishable from natural mutations, reducing ecological concerns
- Consumer acceptance may be higher since no “foreign genes” are involved
Global First: Policy and Scientific Implications
India’s approval of commercial genome-edited crops before the United States, European Union, China, or Brazil carries enormous significance:
Technological Leadership: Positions India as a biotechnology innovator, not just adopter of Western technologies.
Policy Template: India’s regulatory framework for genome-edited crops could influence other developing nations navigating this technology.
Food Security Model: Demonstrates genome editing’s potential to address climate-agriculture challenges in developing country contexts.
Export Implications: Since many countries haven’t clarified genome-edited crop import regulations, Indian rice exports might face scrutiny—though the non-GMO classification may ease concerns.
Field Rollout and Farmer Response
Initial Deployment (2025-2026):
- 500 tonnes certified seed production in 2025
- Distribution to 50,000+ farmers across drought/salinity-prone districts in Telangana, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, and West Bengal
- ICAR provides subsidized seed (₹25-30 per kg versus ₹15-20 for conventional) and technical support
Farmer Trials (2024): Pre-release on-farm trials in 200+ villages received enthusiastic response. Farmers reported:
- 20-30% yield increases in drought years
- 40% reduction in irrigation requirements
- Ability to cultivate previously abandoned saline lands
Challenges:
- Seed multiplication speed limitations (takes 3-4 years to produce adequate seed for nationwide distribution)
- Need for farmer training on aerobic rice management practices
- Market infrastructure for water-saving rice cultivation
- Public awareness campaigns addressing genome editing misconceptions
Nutrition and Quality
Beyond stress tolerance, these varieties maintain:
- Grain Quality: Similar appearance, cooking characteristics, and eating quality to popular varieties like Swarna and BPT-5204
- Nutritional Value: Comparable protein (7-8%), carbohydrate, and micronutrient profiles to conventional rice
- Milling Recovery: 68-70% milling recovery (industry standard)
Future genome-edited rice varieties under development target enhanced nutrition:
- High-zinc and high-iron varieties (addressing micronutrient malnutrition)
- Low glycemic index varieties (diabetes management)
- Enhanced protein content (protein security)
Scientific Reactions: Applause and Alarm
The May 2025 Nature article “India Approves First Genome-Edited Rice Varieties” captured the scientific community’s divided response:
Supporters Argue:
- Climate change demands rapid innovation; conventional breeding takes 10-15 years, genome editing takes 3-5 years
- SDN-1 technology makes changes indistinguishable from natural mutations
- Field trials demonstrate safety and efficacy
- Food security needs outweigh hypothetical risks
Critics Worry:
- Insufficient long-term environmental impact assessment
- Potential gene flow to wild rice relatives
- Corporate control over seed systems (though current varieties are publicly bred)
- Socioeconomic impacts on small farmers
- Rush to deployment without adequate regulatory caution
A July 2025 Mongabay article “India Releases Genome-Edited Rice, Draws Both Applause and Alarm” documented farmer and environmental group concerns about transparency, corporate involvement, and whether adequate consultation occurred.
The Bigger Picture: India’s Genome Editing Pipeline
DRR Dhan 100 and Pusa DST Rice 1 are merely the beginning. India’s genome editing pipeline includes:
Crops: Rice, wheat, mustard, cotton, tomato, potato, banana—targeting traits like disease resistance, nutritional enhancement, shelf-life, and climate resilience
Institutions: Over 20 ICAR institutes, agricultural universities, and CSIR laboratories actively conduct genome editing research
Investment: Government allocated ₹2,000+ crores (2023-2028) for genome editing research and infrastructure under various schemes
Regulatory Evolution: The 2022 guidelines are being refined based on initial experiences, with proposals for tiered approval processes based on edit type and crop
Global Context and Future
While India achieves this milestone, global genome editing agriculture advances:
- United States: Multiple genome-edited crops (soybeans, corn, mushrooms) are cultivated, with streamlined USDA regulation
- China: Major investment in genome-edited rice, wheat, and corn, with some varieties approved
- European Union: Proposed 2023 regulation revisions would ease genome-edited crop approvals, moving away from strict GMO classification
- Brazil, Argentina: Approved genome-edited soybeans and wheat
- Japan: Genome-edited tomatoes with enhanced GABA (health benefits) marketed
India’s early leadership could capture significant intellectual property, export markets, and geopolitical influence in this emerging technology.
Revolution with Responsibility
Genome-edited climate-resilient rice represents a watershed moment for Indian agriculture and global food security. These varieties offer tangible solutions to escalating climate impacts—making agriculture more sustainable, productive, and resilient.
Yet technology alone cannot solve food security. Equitable access, farmer empowerment, environmental stewardship, transparent governance, and ongoing research must accompany deployment. The revolution must be both technologically advanced and socially responsible.
Dr. Trilochan Mohapatra, Former ICAR Director General and architect of India’s genome editing strategy, reflects: “Climate change threatens to reverse decades of food security progress. Genome editing isn’t the only solution, but it’s a powerful tool we cannot afford to ignore. India’s decision to lead rather than follow shows our commitment to feeding our people and the world in an era of climatic uncertainty.”
The fields of Telangana, Karnataka, and Maharashtra where these varieties first grow are laboratories for agricultural futures—testing whether humanity’s ingenuity can keep pace with a changing climate and nourish a world of 10 billion by 2050.
Rashmi Kumari
