India is likely to need genetically - modified ( GM ) crops to avoid a food crisis , with the UN estimating its population to hit 1.8 billion by 2050 . Only one GM cotton crop is currently grown in India , however , some say the country could benefit from future developments in other crops , including a new pest - resistant pigeon pea developed by non - profit International Rice Research Institute for the Semi - arid Tropics , which can yield 30 % more than other varieties . On the flip side , health concerns and concerns over costs associated with GM crops have prevented authorised planting .
India is likely to need genetically-modified (GM) crops to avoid a food crisis, with the UN estimating its population could hit 1.8 billion by 2050. Only one GM cotton crop is currently produced in India, however, some say the country could benefit from GM developments in other crops, including a new pest-resistant pigeon pea developed by non-profit International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics, which should yield 30% more than other varieties. On the flip side, health fears and concerns over costs associated with GM crops have prevented authorised planting.