1Faculty of Law, GLS University, Ahmedabad, India. Email: raj.g-law@msubaroda.ac.in
2Faculty of Law, GLS University, Ahmedabad, India. Email: jiya.mathrani@glsuniversity.ac.in
The escalating instability of global agricultural systems driven by greenhouse gas emissions necessitates the adoption of high-yield, climate-resilient crop varieties to safeguard international food security. This research investigates the function of Genetically Modified (GM) crops as a dual mechanism for climate change mitigation and adaptation, exploring the intrinsic connection between their implementation and the dynamic evolution of International Climate Change Adaptation Law. Employing a doctrinal legal methodology, the study assesses important international instruments such as the UNFCCC and the Paris Agreement together with the latest empirical data on biotechnology efficacy. The results indicate that GM technology significantly contributes to mitigation; as of 2020, GM adoption prevented the emission of 23.6 billion kilograms of CO2, equivalent to removing 15.6 million cars from the road annually. Furthermore, by 2025, advancements in molecular breeding and New Genomic Techniques (NGTs) have demonstrated the ability to boost yields by up to 30% under severe abiotic stressors such as drought and salinity. However, the study identifies critical socio-legal impedimenta, particularly the conflict between Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) under the TRIPS Agreement and the Seed Sovereignty of smallholder farmers. The article finds that international law serves as the "regulatory scaffolding" for technological transfer; but, a more equitable legal framework is necessary to harmonise individual patent rights with the collective global necessity for a sustainable and equitable agricultural future.
Keywords: Genetically Modified Crops, Climate change Mitigation and Adaptation, International Law Legal Framework, Biosafety.
How to cite this article: Gupta RK, Matharani J. Biotechnological pathway to resilience: Genetically modified crops as a tool for climate change mitigation and adaptation. Int J Drug Deliv Technol. 2026;16(15s): 597-604. DOI: 10.25258/ijddt.16.15s.70
Source of support: Nil.
Conflict of interest: None