Agricultural biotechnology or green biotechnology
Agricultural biotechnology is the utilization of natural resources, biodiversity and biological techniques to produce new plant varieties and other useful products such as drugs, enzymes, vaccines, biofuels, bioenergy, animal feed, etc. Agricultural biotechnology mainly focuses on improving crop productivity. It uses various techniques such as genetic engineering, plant tissue culture, hybridization and molecular diagnostic tools.
Agriculture is the only main field that provides food to all living creatures. Therefore, scientists are researching agricultural biotechnology and bringing innovative products and techniques day by day. Agricultural biotechnology promotes agricultural practices and helps farmers in precision farming. It not only provides better quality crops, biofertilizers and biopesticides but also leads to reduced environmental pollution by phytoremediation processes and absorbing extra carbon dioxide.
The objective of Agricultural Biotechnology:
The main objective of agricultural biotechnology is;
- to produce crops with more quantity and better quality
- to improve the nutritional contents of crops
- to develop plants with the ability to resist insects, pests, weeds and harsh environmental conditions such as salinity, drought, high temperature, cold, etc.
- to develop livestock having desirable traits for farming practices
- to preserve natural resources by increasing crop production
- to deal with food security challenges all over the world
- to maximize agricultural practices and biological techniques to meet the growing demands of food and provide food availability assurance for the future.
Applications of Agricultural Biotechnology
Genetically Modified Crops: As the population of the world is increasing day by day, the demand for food is also rising which causes competition and difficulty among humans and other living creatures. Agricultural biotechnology has resolved this issue. Scientists have developed genetically modified crops by inserting genes from microorganisms, plants and animals into crops to obtain desirable characteristics. For example, Bacillus thuringiensis living in soil can produce a toxin that kills insects. The scientists took the toxin-producing gene and inserted that gene into crops which can now show resistance to insects.
Genetically modified crops have more yield as compared to conventional crop yield and resistance against insects, pests, disease and severe weather conditions. These crops have reduced the dependence on using chemicals and inorganic fertilizers which is beneficial for the environment and health.
With the help of genetic engineering, scientists also have generated weed-resistant crops. This practice has increased crop yield.
The scientists have also dealt with the problem of micronutrient deficiencies in certain regions which have improved crop quality and nutrition.
Genetically Modified Livestock: Agricultural biotechnology also contributes to developing genetically modified livestock. These genetically modified animals can produce more milk, wool and meat. They have good meat quality and quantity and more nutritional content. They also have a better immune system so that they can fight against diseases and have a longer shelf life. Some examples of genetically modified livestock are fewer fart cows, hornless cows, silk-spinning goats and salmon, etc.
Plant Tissue Culture: It is a technique used to get better and nutrient-rich crops by cultivating plant cells, tissues or organs under artificial conditions in laboratories. This technique has several benefits such as;
- a large number of clones with improved quality can be obtained
- rare and endangered species of plants can be conserved and preserved
- it also helps in the genetic engineering of plants
- the plants obtained through this technique are microbes free
Plant Hybridization: In plant hybridization, two different species of plants are crossed to get desirable traits of both species. These cultivated through this technique are of better quality and nutrition and are resistant to diseases and extreme weather conditions.
Biofertilizers and Biopesticides: The use of biofertilizers and biopesticides is one of the great approaches to agricultural biotechnology. Biofertilizers provide organic matter and growth-promoting substances to plants, improve the physical and chemical growth of plants, increase soil fertility, provide nitrogen and phosphorus to plants and minimize reliance of plants on synthetic fertilizers. On the other hand, biopesticides are eco-friendly and sustainable, promoting plant growth without killing beneficial insects.
Production of Biofuels and Bioenergy by Agricultural Waste: Agricultural waste such as biomass obtained from sugarcane, maize, rice, bamboo and other such crops is rich in cellulose and can be used as raw material for the production of bioethanol. Bioethanol has many practical applications in transport systems i.e. used as fuel for running vehicles and industries for various purposes. While waste material of trees and plants like bark, woodchips and saw-dust is utilized to generate renewable energy such as electricity.
Reduction in Climate Changes: Climate changes are defined as the rise in sea levels, ice melting on earth’s poles and mountain glaciers and severe changes in weather such as hurricanes, heat waves, wildfires, droughts and floods. These climate changes bring about a reduction in crop yields by enhancing soil salinity and more droughts and floods which is overall a loss in food production and other valuable crops. Agricultural biotechnology has resolved this issue by developing genetically modified crops that emit less carbon in the atmosphere which is beneficial for the environment as fewer changes occur in the climate.
Phytoremediation: Phytoremediation is the use of plants and soil microorganisms such as algae, fungi and bacteria to clean up heavy metals and contaminants such pesticides, explosives and industrial and agricultural wastes in soil, air, groundwater, sludges and sediments. Phytoremediation is an environment-friendly method and it increases soil fertility as well. It is a low-cost procedure and minimum equipment is required.
Precision Farming: Precision farming is a modern farming technique that uses a global positioning system (GPS), stationary sensors and variable-rate technology to reduce the use of natural resources and environmental effects. This technique reduces environmental pollution, helps in waste management and provides guidance about accurate use of natural resources.
The global position system helps in the identification of the problems at a certain region of farming systems and resolving these problems. Stationery sensors are used for measuring soil nutrient availability, water availability and observation of surrounding air. By studying and observing all these factors, farmers can take precautionary measures which can save money and other resources. Variable-rate technology provides instructions about how much quantity of fertilizers and other chemicals should be applied to certain regions of the fields. This technique guides the farmers about the efficient use of fertilizers due to which soil contamination-related issues can be minimized.
Agricultural Protection Policy: The basic goal of this policy is to protect natural resources, prevent soil erosion and contamination, diminish the use of synthetic fertilizers and other chemicals, increase biodiversity, reduce the use of pesticides and insecticides and minimize environmental impacts for long-term agricultural productivity.
Resource Usage Regulation and Improvement Strategies: This is a combination of different practices in a single farming system which includes crop cultivation, livestock parenting, agroforestry and resource management.
These practices include;
- the use of crop residues as animal feed and animals’ waste material as biofertilizers to maintain nutrient cycling and effective disposal of waste material.
- use of nitrogen-fixing crops to reduce the utilization of inorganic fertilizers.
- Planting of shrubs, trees and smaller plants to obtain wood, fruits, vegetables and other benefits.
- Use of composting system to obtain biogas and other nutrient-rich components for use in farming systems and minimize the use of fossil fuels.
FAQs
1. What is agricultural biotechnology?
Ans. Agricultural biotechnology is the use of modern breeding techniques to modify crops for improvement and develop beneficial products for specific purposes.
2. What are the advantages of agricultural biotechnology?
Ans. Agricultural biotechnology provides better crops, insects, pests and disease-resistant crops, reduces environmental pollution, gives bioenergy and biofuels, and minimizes the use of chemicals and synthetic fertilizers.
3. Is agricultural biotechnology safe to use?
Ans. Yes, agricultural biotechnology is safe to use if used in a precise manner.
4. How are modern breeding techniques better than conventional breeding techniques?
Ans. Modern breeding techniques such as genetic engineering, molecular diagnostics, tissue culture technique, hybridization and precision farming policies have brought innovations in agriculture by assuring food availability, better crops, a safe environment and less pollution.
5. How has agricultural biotechnology played a role in controlling environmental pollution?
Ans. The use of GM crops, phytoremediation techniques, waste management strategies and other agricultural practices are playing a role in reducing environmental pollution.
Questions may come up
- What are the types of biotechnology?
- What are the branches of agricultural biotechnology?
- What are interesting facts about biotechnology?
- What are risks of biotechnology?
- What are the four main areas of biotechnology?
- Who named biotechnology?
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