Explainer: Why row over US animal feed

India’s recent trade concession to allow the import of Distiller’s Dried Grains with Solubles (DDGS), a protein-rich byproduct of US corn ethanol, has stirred a debate far beyond animal feed. On paper, it looks like a small, technical move to ease feed costs for poultry and dairy farmers. But because most US corn is genetically modified (GM), the deal effectively opens a backdoor for GM material into India’s food chain. This raises questions about farmer livelihoods, the future of traditional feed crops like maize and soybean, and whether India’s cautious stance on GM crops is quietly shifting under trade pressure.Dried grains and the Indo-US dealDDGS is a protein-rich byproduct of ethanol manufacturing, produced when starch from corn (and sometimes rice) is fermented into ethanol and the leftover solids are dried for use as animal feed. It is widely used across the world as a cost-effective source of protein, fibre, and energy for cattle, poultry, and fisheries.In the United States, DDGS is primarily made from genetically-modified corn and has become a mainstream feed component. In India, it is produced using non-GM maize or rice, reflecting the country’s cautious stance on GM crops. India has agreed to allow up to 5,00,000 metric tonnes of duty-free DDGS imports under the interim trade pact with the US. This is only about 1 per cent of India’s total feed demand.Biosafety, price distortion fearsWhat makes DDGS particularly contentious is that it is derived from GM crops, a long-standing red line for Indian policymakers, farmers’ groups, and environmental activists. While the government has maintained that imports will be limited and pose no threat to farmers, experts and farm unions have flagged concerns over biosafety, price distortion, and the precedent such a move could set for future GM-linked imports.Critics argue that allowing this byproduct even for animal feed violates the country’s strict, precautionary biosafety framework against Genetically Engineered (GE) organisms.The Vice-Chancellor of Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, Dr Satbir Singh Gosal, says that India currently allows only the commercial cultivation of GM cotton. Even GM maize is not approved. “Now, importing US-produced DDGS is a matter of concern.”Harinder Singh Lakhowal, state president of BKU (Lakhowal), says the “backdoor entry of GM products threatens our longstanding GM-free agriculture policy”. It is a mechanism to introduce GM technology into the Indian food chain, potentially leading to contamination of local non-GM crops, he adds.“Cheaper imported DDGS from the US could depress local prices for Indian maize and soybean farmers, leading to income loss. It can lead to a potential rejection of Indian exports by countries that demand non-GM products. It will make farmers captive slaves,” the farm union leader says.Promise and challengesDDGS is increasingly being explored as a cost-effective ingredient in poultry diets. Rich in protein, energy, water-soluble vitamins, xanthophylls, and linoleic acid, DDGS presents a valuable option for feed manufacturers. Yet its inherent variability in nutrient composition and relatively high-fibre content can make consistent inclusion a challenge.Strategic use of feed enzymes has emerged as a key solution, helping overcome these limitations and enhancing the nutritional value of DDGS while maintaining bird performance. “DDGS can help reduce feed costs, but we must be careful with inclusion levels. Enzyme supplementation makes a big difference in balancing nutrition and keeping the flock healthy,” says Lakhwinder Singh, a Ludhiana-based poultry farmer.DDGS in dairy nutritionA low-cost and eco-friendly feed option for dairy cows, DDGS provides extra protein that does not break down in the rumen and supplies energy, which can match or even improve milk production compared to regular feeds. DDGS is usually cheaper than soybean meal (SBM) for the same amount of protein, but its nutrient content changes depending on how each ethanol plant processes it. It contains useful carbohydrates, fat, and Rumen Undegradable Protein through its amino acid profile.The main benefits are better nutrition, improved feed efficiency, and sustainability since it uses ethanol by-products.The challenges include variation in quality, possible high sulphur levels, reduced digestibility if dried at high temperatures, and storage issues like rancidity. To get the best results, one must carefully balance protein, phosphorus, sulphur, and fat levels.A key question is whether Indian cattle feed manufacturers will substitute domestically produced DDGS with imports from the US. Some analysts have raised concerns that such imports could undermine Indian soybean farmers.

Explainer: Why row over US animal feed

Import of DDGS under the Indo-US trade deal raises concerns over entry of GM crops into the Indian food chain

Manav Mander

Explainer: Why row over US animal feed

Import of DDGS under the Indo-US trade deal raises concerns over entry of GM crops into the Indian food chain

Manav Mander

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