India’s poultry sector, one of the fastest-growing in the world, is facing unprecedented pressure. Soaring feed costs, a fragile supply chain, and climate disruptions have forced the industry to push for a controversial move—importing genetically modified (GM) feed ingredients, especially soymeal and corn.
For years, India's stance on GM crops has been conservative, driven by bio-safety, environmental, and consumer concerns. However, the current crisis has brought economic realities to the forefront.
India’s poultry producers are now at a critical point: adapt feed policies to include GM imports or risk mass closures, skyrocketing meat and egg prices, and weakened food security.
📈 India’s Poultry Sector by the Numbers
To understand the urgency, let’s examine the scale and economic role of India’s poultry industry:
- Annual worth: Over ₹1.75 lakh crore (US$21 billion)
- Employment: Supports over 25 million people, many in rural areas
- Consumption: India is the third-largest egg producer and fifth-largest broiler producer globally
- Growth rate: ~8–10% annually before COVID-19, now rebounding at 5–6%
Yet, 70–75% of a poultry farm's operational cost is spent on feed, particularly soymeal and maize. With input prices rising 30–40% since 2021, profit margins are shrinking, and small farmers are struggling to stay afloat.
🌾 Feed Crisis: The Root of the Problem
At the heart of the crisis is soymeal, the key protein source for poultry. India’s domestic soybean production has remained largely stagnant, while demand has soared.
🔍 What's Causing the Feed Shortage?
- Climate volatility: Erratic monsoons and unseasonal rains have reduced soy yields.
- Export pressure: Despite local demand, Indian soymeal is exported, pushing prices up.
- Government bans and restrictions: To prevent GM crop cultivation, India has restricted the import of GM soymeal—even if processed and approved globally.
- No viable alternatives: Locally produced non-GM soy is limited and costly.
In 2021–2022, soymeal prices reached ₹95–105/kg, up from ₹35–40/kg in 2019, making poultry rearing economically unviable for many small farms.
🔬 What Is GM Feed?
Genetically Modified (GM) feed refers to feed ingredients—such as soybeans or corn—that have been altered at the genetic level to enhance traits like pest resistance, drought tolerance, or nutritional value.
Globally, over 90% of soy and corn grown in major exporting nations like the US, Brazil, and Argentina are GM varieties.
GM soymeal has been deemed safe for animal consumption by global regulatory agencies, including:
- US FDA
- EFSA (European Food Safety Authority)
- Codex Alimentarius (WHO/FAO)
Despite this, India restricts GM imports, unless specially approved by the Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC) under the Environment Ministry.
📢 Why India’s Poultry Sector Wants GM Feed Imports Now
Facing steep production costs, India's poultry stakeholders are making an urgent case for temporary and controlled imports of GM feed.
🗣️ Key Industry Arguments:
1. Cost Relief
Importing cheaper GM soymeal can stabilize feed prices and restore farmer profitability. GM soymeal is ~30–40% cheaper than local non-GM versions.
2. Global Precedent
Countries like Bangladesh, Indonesia, and Vietnam routinely import GM feed for poultry, with no negative health or environmental effects reported.
3. Temporary Measure, Not GM Cultivation
The push is not to grow GM crops, but to import GM soymeal already processed—mitigating environmental risk.
4. Protecting Small Farmers
Without intervention, thousands of small and marginal poultry farmers may shut shop, especially in Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, and Maharashtra.
5. Export Competitiveness
With global meat and egg demand rising, India risks losing market share if costs remain uncompetitive.
🧪 The Science & Safety of GM Feed
One of the government’s main concerns has been biosafety and consumer resistance. But global studies have consistently shown no adverse effects on poultry health or meat/egg quality when fed GM feed.
🔍 Scientific Consensus:
- GM feed is nutritionally equivalent to conventional feed.
- No GM DNA or protein is transferred to meat or eggs.
- Multiple peer-reviewed studies across decades show no toxicity or allergenicity.
- Waste and manure from GM-fed poultry do not increase environmental toxicity.
Even the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) has stated that GM feed imports for livestock are biologically safe under current global norms.
⚖️ Government Response: Reluctance and Trials
While the poultry industry has been pushing for import relaxations, the Indian government has treaded cautiously.
🏛️ Current Government Position:
- In 2021, under emergency conditions, the Centre allowed limited import of GM soymeal for poultry—a first in India.
- However, no permanent policy has been established for recurring imports.
- The Environment Ministry remains firm on non-GMO agricultural development.
- GEAC has allowed trials but has not cleared commercial cultivation of GM crops, including Bt brinjal and GM mustard.
This policy uncertainty adds to market instability and makes long-term planning difficult for poultry entrepreneurs.
🧠 The Bigger Picture: Food Security vs. Biosafety
At its core, the GM feed debate highlights a larger dilemma—How do we balance food security with environmental and ethical concerns?
India’s growing population demands affordable protein, and poultry is the cheapest source. Yet, an outdated regulatory stance could compromise both production viability and price stability.
If the government continues restricting GM feed, analysts predict:
- Further consolidation in poultry sector
- Drop in egg and meat production
- Higher retail prices
- Unemployment in rural areas
- Increased reliance on imports
In contrast, a monitored GM feed import program could offer:
- Cost reduction
- Quality improvement
- Industry stabilization
- Export growth
🌍 What Other Countries Are Doing
🇧🇩 Bangladesh
Imports GM soy and corn regularly for feed; significant growth in broiler exports.
🇧🇷 Brazil
World’s largest exporter of GM soymeal; uses biotech to boost yield and reduce input cost.
🇺🇸 USA
Over 95% of corn and soy grown are GM; extensive regulation ensures traceability and labeling.
🇪🇬 Egypt & African Nations
Some allow GM feed imports but not domestic cultivation—India could adopt a similar model.
🚜 What Farmers Say on the Ground
Small poultry farm owners in Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and Tamil Nadu are expressing desperation:
“At current feed prices, I lose ₹3–4 per bird. I can’t survive another quarter like this,” says V. Kumar, a poultry farmer from Warangal.
“Either the government lets us import cheaper feed or gives a subsidy. Otherwise, we have no future,” shares Seema Reddy, a hatchery operator in Guntur.
“We’re not asking to grow GM crops—just to survive by using what the world already accepts,” notes Rakesh Jain, a feed mill owner from Pune.
🛠️ Policy Recommendations for India
If India wants to protect its poultry industry without compromising biosafety, the following middle-ground solutions could work:
Controlled GM Feed Imports
Allow imports of only processed GM soymeal with traceability, limited to poultry feed use.
Strict Labeling & Monitoring
Ensure all GM feed consignments are labeled and tracked, with health audits at farms.
No Domestic Cultivation (Yet)
Maintain restrictions on GM crop farming until further national trials and consensus.
Public Awareness Campaigns
Educate consumers on the difference between GM feed and GM food, based on science.
Time-Bound Approvals
Allow GM feed imports for a fixed period (e.g., 2 years), then reassess.
🧠 Final Thoughts
India’s poultry sector is not just a business—it’s a backbone of rural employment, affordable nutrition, and food security. With feed costs rising dangerously, the call for GM feed imports is more than a convenience—it's a survival need.
By adopting a balanced, scientifically guided policy, India can ensure that poultry farmers remain viable, consumers continue to access affordable protein, and public concerns are addressed.
It’s time for India to evolve its feed policies—not by rushing into GMO adoption blindly, but by recognizing that global realities demand practical solutions.