Biotechnology for Sustainable Agriculture

Emerging Approaches and Strategies

Ram Lakhan Singh, Sukanta Mondal

• Publisher: Woodhead Publishing
• Year: 2017
• Print ISBN: 9780128121603
• eBook ISBN: 9780128122389
• Topic: Technology & Engineering
• Subtopic: Agriculture
• Index: Technology & Engineering

Biotechnology for Sustainable Agriculture: Emerging Approaches and Strategies is an outstanding collection of current research that integrates basic and advanced concepts of agricultural biotechnology with future development prospects. Using biotechnology with sustainable agriculture effectively contributes to gains in agricultural productivity, enhanced food security, reduced poverty and malnutrition, and more ecologically sustainable means of food production. Written by a panel of experts, this book is unique in its coverage of the broad area of biotechnology for sustainable agriculture. It includes intriguing topics and discussions of areas such as recombinant DNA technology and genetic engineering.- Identifies and explores biotechnological tools to enhance sustainability- Encompasses plant and microbial biotechnology, nanotechnology and genetic engineering- Focuses on plant biotechnology and crop improvement to increase yield and resilience- Summarizes the impact of climate change on agriculture, fisheries and livestock

Chapter 1

Introduction

Ram Lakhan Singh¹ and Sukanta Mondal², ¹Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia Avadh University, Faizabad, Uttar Pradesh, India, ²ICAR-National Institute of Animal Nutrition and Physiology, Bangalore, Karnataka, India

Abstract

Developing a proficient sustainable agriculture under current context of major global threats (climate change, water scarcity, biodiversity diminution) combined with increasing population growth represents an imperative for conceiving a logical and consistent strategy planned to ensure the food and livelihood security. In spite of the advancements in agricultural production strategies, the present production rates failed to meet population needs, and the world is confronting food issues. The challenge is not only to feed more people, but to do so with less accessible arable land, fewer nonrenewable resources, and less water. The conceivable uses of biotechnology contribute to more environmentally and economically viable agricultural systems. Biotechnology has major potential for facilitating and advancing sustainable agriculture for enhancing the quality and quantity of food production as well as rural development. It is capable of contributing to agri-food sustainability by way of genetic improvement of most of our food crops and livestock.

Keywords

Biotechnology; sustainable agriculture; genetic engineering; climate change; nanotechnology

Chapter Outline

Biotechnology 2

Sustainable Agriculture 3

Application of Biotechnology for Sustainable Agriculture 4

Genetically Modified Foods 5

Biotechnology for Sustainable Livestock Production 6

Biotechnologies for Gut Microorganism 10

Use of Microbes for Sustainable Agriculture 10

Impact of Climate Change on Agriculture and Livestock Production 11

Nanotechnology for Sustainable Agriculture 14

Biosafety Aspects 15

Genetic Engineering and Public Perception 15

References 16

Critical issues faced by agriculture globally include delivery of human health care, reduction in hunger, and increasing energy supply. The United Nations (UN) predicted that the world population will exceed 9 billion by 2030, thus enhancing the quality and quantity of food production as an inescapable necessity. Global food systems are increasingly threatened by population growth, land degradation, climate change, and other stressors. Due to these factors, agriculture faces numerous challenges, making it harder to accomplish its essential target of feeding the world every year. The challenge is not only to feed more people, but to do so with less available arable land, fewer nonrenewable resources, and less water. The majority of the world’s poor people live in rural areas, and agriculture growth might be compelling in lifting rural families out of poverty and hunger. Sustainable agriculture using biotechnology is the need of hour because it contributes more effectively to gains in agricultural productivity, enhancing food security, reduction of poverty and malnutrition, and become more environmentally sustainable. The UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) stated that 70% of this additional food must come from the utilization of new and existing agricultural technologies. The FAO has also estimated that livestock production would produce almost 20% of worldwide greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Despite the environmental challenge, by the end of the next decade, the livestock sector is required to provide 50% of worldwide agricultural output on a value basis. Role of livestock sector is crucial to fulfill growing food demand which is relied upon the increment by 40% by 2030 and shall almost be doubled by 2050.

The completion of the Human Genome Project has provided an array of information about the structure of the genome, which can be utilized to study how the interaction between our genes and factors from the environment like nutrition relates to a state of health or disease. The recent advances in nutrigenomics has widened up the opportunities to contrive our understanding of how nutrients regulate gene expression, protein biosynthesis, and metabolism. Recent innovative biotechnologies such as genetic engineering (GE) and recombinant DNA technology have enormous potential for affecting global food security, human and animal health, environmental health, and overall sustenance of mankind. GE has the potential to provide convincing advantages to transform public health such as improved nourishments, advances for human health, enhanced animal welfare, and reduced environmental impact.

Biotechnology

The Convention on Biological Diversity defined biotechnology as “any technology application that uses biological systems, living organisms, or derivatives thereof, to make or modify products or processes for specific use.” Biotechnology deals with the construction of microorganisms, cells, plants, or animals with useful traits by GE, recombinant DNA techniques, tissue culture, embryo transfer, and other methods besides traditional genetic breeding techniques. According to Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety, Modern biotechnology is defined as the manipulation of genetic material and fusion of cells beyond normal breeding barriers with the help of GE in which genes are inserted or deleted through transgenic technologies to create genetically modified organisms (GMOs). It includes modification and enhancement of living organisms at the molecular level using different interdependent components such as genomics, bioinformatics, transformation, molecular breeding, diagnostics, and vaccine technology.

The major steps in recombinant DNA technology are as follows:

• Specific nucleotide sequences (genes) are cut from the DNA of humans, plants, or animals.

• These nucleotide sequences are recombined into circular DNA (plasmid) of certain bacteria. Such DNA is called recombinant DNA.

• The recombinant DNA is reintroduced into bacteria.

• Bacteria divide and a substantial population is produced, each bacterium having the copied plasmid conveying the desired gene.

Modern biotechnology has provided chances to develop more nutritious and better-tasting foods, higher crop yields and plants that are naturally protected from diseases and insects. It allows for the transfer of only one or a few desirable genes, thereby allowing researchers to produce crops with particular beneficial characteristics and diminish undesirable characteristics. Traditional biotechnology such as crosspollination produces numerous, nonselective changes. Modern biotechnology offers effective techniques to tackle food security issues. Biotechnological methods might be utilized to drastically reduce the time necessary to detect foodborne pathogens, toxins, and chemical contaminants, as well as to increase detection sensitivity. Enzymes, antibodies, and microorganisms produced using r-DNA techniques may be used to monitor food production and processing systems for quality control.

Sustainable Agriculture

As enunciated in the 1990 “Farm Bill,” sustainable agriculture means “an integrated system of plant and animal production practices having a site-specific application that will, over the long term: (1) satisfy human food and fiber needs, (2) enhance environmental quality and the natural resource base upon which the agricultural economy depends, (3) make the most efficient use of nonrenewable resources and on-farm resources and integrate, where appropriate, natural biological cycles and controls, (4) sustain the economic viability of farm operations, and (5) enhance the quality of life for farmers and society as a whole” (Cohen, Hug, Taddese, & Cook, 1990). Agricultural sustainability is the fruitful administration of assets for agriculture to fulfill changing human needs, while keeping up or enhancing the quality of the environment and conserving natural resources (Gregory, 1989). It includes novel agricultural methods to protect the environment, conserve natural resources, diminish the use of chemical compounds, and promote financial independence. Sustainable agriculture is in fact an economical and environmental necessity in poorer nations where production technologies and frameworks, in which waste constitutes a huge extent of production expenses, cannot be afforded. Thus, advancement should be assessed by a combination of qualitative and quantitative criteria and the effects of agricultural development on social, environmental, and health aspects. Sustainable agricultural framework that is indivisible part of rural development in various nations is actually environmentally flawless, financially and economically reasonable, and socially adequate (Fig. 1.1). Although various factors are included in the sustainability of agricultural framework, supportive institutional and infrastructural technologies have an important role in this regard. As such, sustainability and productivity are certain when looking to protect the environment and diminish rural poverty. Sustainable agricultural technologies were broadly acknowledged because of concerns about the environmental impacts of modern agriculture, dependence of agriculture on nonrenewable resources, and long-term productivity of agricultural systems relying on huge external inputs (Leal Filho, 2000). Although many factors are involved in the sustainability of agricultural systems, supportive institutional and infrastructural technologies have a significant role in this respect.

Figure 1.1 Components of sustainable agriculture.

Application of Biotechnology for Sustainable Agriculture

Biotechnology has the potential to facilitate and promote sustainable agriculture and rural development. These technologies have environmental benefits, especially considering the fact that renewable genetic inputs are efficient alternatives to dependence on external agrochemical inputs. The potential of genes or genotypes (e.g., varieties or species) to replace renewable resources is highly important in further promotion of sustainable agriculture and rural development. It must be underlined that biotechnology should not be comprehended as a substitute for conventional tools of crop improvement, but incorporating recombinant techniques into traditional breeding programs could substantially enhance the efficiency of agricultural research and development. The innovations of biotechnology have generally led to the following achievements:

• Better interpretation of plants’ functions and reactions to the environment.

• Purposeful objective selection in programs to enhance the efficiency and productivity of crops, trees, farm animals, fish, and quality of food storage.

• Increased crop productivity through increasing resistance to diseases and draught.

• Improved nutritional value: With raised interest in greater nutritional value, taste, and nutritional composition of food products, high-protein GM products with more desirable nutrients, amino acids, and starch levels have been developed for people with inappropriate diets.

• Fresher products: Genetic modification can augment the durability of products. By easier transfer of fresher products, consumers will have more access to complete foods with higher nutritional value. In addition, preventing spoilage, damage, and reduced nutritional value will be facilitated.

• Application of molecular markers (DNA) in making insight and the ability to select main characteristics and limit the variety of possibilities in a farm.

• Molecular tools for elucidation, protection, and application of genetic resources.

• Powerful molecular diagnoses to help detect and manage parasites, pests, and pathogens.

• Making domestic animals and fish resistant to life-threatening diseases.

• Natural benefits: As GE decreases the dependence on insecticides, lower levels of insecticide will remain in food. The leaching of insecticides into groundwater will hence be reduced and farm workers’ contact with hazardous and deadly compounds will be minimized.

Genetically Modified Foods

Recent advances in molecular biology and functional genomics demonstrated that related biotechnology products are going to be quite realistic in the near future. Thus, improved crop varieties could be tailored for marginal agroecological regions using GM technology, which have been largely neglected by the gr...

Table of contents

• Cover image
• Title page
• Table of Contents
• Copyright
• Dedication
• List of Contributors
• Preface
• Acknowledgments
• Chapter 1. Introduction
• Chapter 2. Biotechnological Tools to Enhance Sustainable Production
• Chapter 3. Sustainable Agriculture and Food Security
• Chapter 4. Plant Biotechnology and Crop Improvement
• Chapter 5. Transgenic Animal Production
• Chapter 6. Microbial Biotechnology and Sustainable Agriculture
• Chapter 7. Impacts of Climate Change on Agriculture and Food Security
• Chapter 8. Impact of Climate Change on Livestock Production
• Chapter 9. Impact of Climate Change on Fisheries
• Chapter 10. Nanotechnology for Sustainable Agriculture
• Chapter 11. Biosafety for Sustainable Agriculture
• Chapter 12. Genetic Engineering and Public Perception
• Chapter 13. The Way Ahead
• Index