India faces agricultural challenges from ageing farmers and gene-edited crops

India faces dual challenges regarding its agricultural future: the potential introduction of gene-edited crops and a demographic shift in its farming workforce.

There are concerns that the introduction of gene-edited rice could undermine India’s food sovereignty. Critics argue that moving toward gene-edited technology may allow global agribusinesses to bypass previous regulatory hurdles established against genetically modified (GM) crops. Reports suggest India may soon enter a memorandum of understanding with US-based Corteva Agriscience regarding these technologies.

Simultaneously, India’s food security is threatened by an ageing agricultural workforce. While the nation has a median age of approximately 29, the average farmer is between 50 and 55 years old. Low profitability, fragmented landholdings, and market instability are driving rural youth toward urban areas and formal employment, weakening the intergenerational transfer of farming traditions.