What is
noteworthy
is that this
method does not
rely on genetic
modifications
to create super-
yields or combat
climate change
and therefore
offers a viable
alternative to GM
technology.
most Indian states have
yield levels below that
of Bangladesh. India’s
average yield in 2013 of
3075 kg/ha is lower than
the world average of 3257
kg/ha, leaving significant
room for improvement.
What is more worrying for
India is the threat posed
by rising temperatures
that is expected to
adversely affect the
production of wheat, a
crop that is extremely
sensitive to weather
change. According to
some estimates, global
wheat production is
estimated to fall by 6
percent for each °C of
temperature increase. The
effect on warmer regions
such as India is projected
to be even greater of
around 8 percent.
What prompted you
to work in this area of
plant genetics despite
a background in
chemistry?
Chemists generally have
a multi-disciplinary area.
They work in multiple
areas of molecules which
can be used anywhere,
either in agriculture
or medicines. So, we
thought that this molecule
if it enhances starch
production and that too
in what would lead to the
food security in India.
So, we were interested in
this. We thought we will
produce more starch.
What has been the
response to the
findings by the
critics? How has the
scientific community
reacted?
Because the research
is quite new and novel
not only in India and
globally, people were not
very convinced in the
beginning. Our paper in
Nature got peer revived
by eight referees. It took
almost one year as the
paper was sent back for
revision and finally they
got convince that we had
done something novel.
Few said it was workable
in only Arabidopsis
Thaliana but might not be
workable in wheat. I am
thankful to those referees
who gave us constructive
suggestions that helped
us improve our research
and outcomes.
So, what is the next
step forward for this
technology?
Myself in India and my
collaborators in UK have
been talking to many
agro-chemical companies
for wider applications
such as mass production
of the wheat. We are
in touch with few agro
chemical companies
in India. Also, most
important thing is that
we have already filed the
patent.
Are you targeting the
use of technology in
India or abroad?
Being Indian, my first
preference of course
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