• Biotechnology deals with industrial scale production of biopharmaceuticals and biologicals using genetically modified microbes, fungi,
plants and animals.
• Applications include therapeutics, diagnostics, genetically modified crops, processed food, bioremediation, waste treatment, and energy
production.
• Three critical research areas of biotechnology are:
- Providing improved microbes or enzymes as catalysts
- Creating optimal conditions for the catalyst to act
- Downstream processing technologies to purify proteins and compounds
• Biotechnology has been used to improve the quality of human life in food production and health.
• The text discusses three options for increasing food production:
- Agro-chemical based agriculture
- Organic agriculture
- Genetically engineered crop-based agriculture
• The Green Revolution significantly increased food supply but it was not enough to feed the growing population.
• Increased yields were mainly due to better management practices and using fertilizers and pesticides.
• For developing world farmers, agrochemicals are often too expensive and conventional breeding cannot further improve yields with existing
varieties.
• Using genetically modified crops is a possible solution to maximize yields while minimizing fertilizer and chemical use.
• Plants, bacteria, fungi and animals whose genes have been altered by manipulation are called Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO).
• GM crops have helped make plants more tolerant to stresses like cold, drought, salt and heat.
• Genetic modification has reduced the need for chemical pesticides by creating pest-resistant crops.
• GM plants have helped reduce post-harvest losses of crops.
• Genetic engineering has increased the efficiency of how plants use minerals to prevent soil fertility loss.
• GM food has enhanced the nutritional value of some crops like golden rice which is enriched with Vitamin A.
• GM technology has been used to create plants that can supply alternative resources like starches, fuels and pharmaceuticals.
• Genetically modified plants have been created that are resistant to pests, which can decrease the need for pesticides.
• The Bt toxin gene from Bacillus thuringiensis bacteria has been inserted into plants like cotton, corn, rice, tomato, potato and soybean. This
gives the plants resistance to insects without the need for insecticides.
BIOTECHNOLOGY APPLICATION
Introduction
Biotechnology application in Agriculture
How GMO helps in agriculture
