Agricultural Biotechnology
Using Genetic Engineering to Produce Super Foods
Biotechnology has given a huge boost to the medical field. It has helped create new and novel medications and treatment protocols for a variety of diseases. Biotechnology has also been adapted to improve our foods.
What is Agricultural Biotechnology?
The premise of agricultural biotechnology is not a new practice. People have used different methods to improve their crop production and animal lines. From choosing seeds from crops that thrived and discarding those that failed, to choosing the best stock of farm animals to propagate, mankind has been engineering their food and livestock to better suit their needs. Modern agriculture biotechnology uses the premise but instead genetically modifies the crops to speed up the selection process.
How Agricultural Biotechnology is Used
With the advent and increase in prominence of biotechnology, it is of no surprise that it is being used in the agricultural setting. In essence biotechnology makes a shortcut out of the natural selection process. It does this by using genetic engineering to create genetically superior plants that are adaptable to the chosen environment. Genetically engineered crops can be nutritionally richer than their “normal” counterpart, can have a longer shelf-life, be disease resistant and can also be engineered to provide pharmaceutical properties.
How Safe are Biotechnologically Altered Food Products?
Biotech-derived plants are carefully monitored by the United Stated Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA). The agencies continually monitor the effects of these newly developed plants and animals on their ecosystems and human health. The agencies can either approve of disapprove the use of certain altered foods. The United States Food and Drug Agency (FDA) also monitors for human health effects of these products for possible toxic effects.
Risks Associated with Agricultural Biotechnology
The potential of genetically engineered plants is immense. The thought of producing plants with enhanced nutritional benefits or plants that are drought resistant is tantalizing. The millions of lives that could be fed during drought conditions, the farmers who would benefit from increased crop yields and also the potential of creating super foods that can offer numerous health benefits. However, opponents of agricultural biotechnology especially genetically modified plants are quick to point out associated risks. Some of the mentioned risks are associated with scientists creating new genetically modified crops include:
- The creation of a new species that could create havoc in the ecosystem by taking on traits of indigenous species and creating new species with unknown effects.
- The possibility that the engineered plants could pass on their new genetics to a population of indigenous species. This could cause unanticipated negative effects.
- The negative effect on beneficial insects. The plant’s nutritional make up changes could alter the lives of insects that are needed for all crop’s survival.
Ethics of Modifying Genetics in Agriculture
The ethical and moral debate questions the stewardship of the plants and animals in humans' care. Ethicists ask, "Are human needs so great that we disregard what is normal and natural?" Cloning animals to produce super animals could lead to animals with weaker survival rates. The perceived need to speed up nature’s course could lead to the destruction of fragile ecosystems. On the other side the benefit of engineering food is immense and could theoretically save millions of lives.
Agricultural Biotechnology Affects Corn Production
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