Applications of Biotechnology in the Agricultural Industry

Agriculture has been a driving force for the advancement of human civilization since we shifted from being a hunter-gatherer society to mass food cultivators. Since then, our demand for agricultural product have increased exponentially forcing us to adopt new farming strategies and techniques to meet the demands of a rapidly growing population. Several applications in the field of agricultural biotechnology can be used to address some of the concerns revolving around producing and supplying agricultural products Agricultural biotechnology is a scientific discipline that includes a wide range of applications for improving plant and animal products. This field is constantly progressing, allowing agricultural produce to increase while decreasing farming expenses. In addition, food quality, safety and the overall environmental quality can improve with the application of these agribiotechnologies. Genetic engineering is a major concept in agricultural biotechnology that can be used to manage weeds, protect against disease, and improve overall harvest quality.

Herbicide-tolerant crops can be developed by means of genetic engineering, creating the opportunity for increased yields and the reduced costs. For example, transgenic herbicide tolerant crops such as soybeans, cotton, and corn allow for the use of lower-risk herbicides that break down faster in soil reducing the current negative effects herbicides have on the environment. Herbicide-tolerant crops are especially well-suited to no-till or reduced-tillage agriculture systems, which help to reduced moisture loss and to protect the soil from erosion. Furthermore, genetic engineering can be used to protect crops from diseases that affect their production. The papaya ringspot virus, for example, threatened the papaya industry until Dr. Paula Tennant at the University of the West Indies developed disease-resistant papayas through genetic engineering. Finally, genetically modified crops can improve specific quality traits. For example, golden rice is a transgenic rice with increased levels of beta-carotene that was developed to address vitamin A deficiencies in the Indian population.

These application of genetically modifying an organism only scratch the surface of how agribiotechnology can be used to modify organism genetics in order to increase agricultural yields. Other agribiotechnology applications include tissue culture, micropropagation, and molecular breeding with marker assisted selection. The overall application of biotechnology to the industry can increase crop quality and yields, making farming more profitable.

Author:

Zavare Davidson

References

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