Biotechnology in Agriculture

Introduction

Biotechnology is a growing field used in various other sectors nowadays. If you don’t know about biotechnology, then it is a combination of biology and technology that is being used to create unique hybrid and better genetic organisms when we talk of its role in agriculture. 

Biotechnology in agriculture could be related to manipulating different plant species, using various tools created with the help of biotechnology, special insecticides, and pesticides that don’t harm the plants as the normal chemical ones do. Even the crop’s overall product is sometimes modified to get a better-developed crop that is easy to harvest and has different required nutritional benefits. Most modern biotechnology includes genetic engineering, which is something the field is all about.

The sudden growth of a population has resulted in an explosion, leading to a rise in demand for resources and other essential items for survival. These might include food, home, and clothing. The exploitation of land and its overuse for crop production is one of the other effects of population growth at a high rate. As a result, the art of growing crops is limited to a restricted region. We’ll have to put in considerable efforts to fulfil the needs with such low resources. 

Biotechnology uses technology to change or manipulate different biological or living systems to gain and generate products for several objectives. It is readily used in several sectors, with the prime agriculture inclusion. There are several options for increasing the food supply, and scientists have proposed these. Agrochemical-based inventions and numerous organic agriculture are some other options.

The green revolution was a pure attempt to gain food production and increase the yield, but it could not keep up with the rising population. The concept of a crop change concerning its genetic constituent, few improvement programmes were proposed. On the other hand, agrochemicals appear to be out of reach for farmers. Furthermore, the environmental difficulties associated with them restricted their use.

Role of Biotechnology in Agriculture

If we talk about the role of biotechnology in agriculture, then the first thing to be considered out there would be the certain herbicides and insecticides used these days. Herbicides and insecticides are special chemicals that are sprayed or applied to stop unwanted herbs’ growth and prevent the crop from different insects and pathogens. But as we know, these chemicals could be very harsh on crops and could be harmful for human use. But with the help of biotechnology and especially genetically engineered insecticides, one can get herbicides and insecticides which are not harmful to the human body after being ingested. 

During this time, more than thousands of different plant species are under research to develop better plants. Agriculture biotechnology concerning plants aims and provides specific features to the plants. Some of the are-

• Climate tolerance- Many plants, such as the coffee plant, are restricted to a particular type of temperature for its optimal growth. This climatic temperature and condition, such as moisture, can affect the entire plant and destroy the crop. Due to the changing atmosphere these days and the sudden variations in temperature at numerous spots, one cannot rely on the traditional methods to harvest plants. Hence, the best out there would be to use specially made crops with the help of biotechnology that can withstand and tolerate harsh climatic conditions
• Enrichment in nutritional value– You must notice that numerous plant leaves are not nutritious. These plants can have low nutritional value due to genetic constitution or special climatic conditions and other factors such as soil used during the harvest of the crop. Biotechnology has an answer for this problem. Numerous plants have added nutritional supplements with the help of biotechnology

These days, developers are also researching to create special vegetable oils with a low quantity of cholesterol and other harmful elements. Hence we cannot say that biotechnology only deals with enriching nutritional value in food items. Still, it is also being used to manipulate and remove the excess nutrition or supplements harmful to the human body. 

Phytoremediation

When one talks about the application of biotechnology in agriculture, one can be sure that this science is being used extensively in agriculture. It has resulted in producing some of the most remarkable processes, such as phytoremediation. This involves the detoxification by the plants. The plants often absorb different harmful toxins from the soil. This happens in most cases when the crop is exposed to acid rains or even exposed to toxic chemicals. In some instances, the crop itself produces such toxins, but with the help of specially bioengineered plants, the plants are well modified to detoxify themselves without any issue. 

Bt Cotton

Biotech has given a lot to the field of agriculture. With the rapid advancement in the area, this science has helped farmers improve their crops. Moreover, it has boosted humanity and has increased quality. 

One Of the latest and appreciable developments was cotton resistance to the pathogen and insects. There was a time when insects by night ingested the entire cotton plant and left the crop field all destroyed, but with the unique technology, special resistant variants of cotton will kill the insets as soon as it gets in contact with the plant. The best part out there is that it will not hurt humans and will be effective for the particular insect that feeds on cotton.Bt Cotton is one of the most well-known examples. Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) is a bacteria that, when introduced into plants, confers resistance to pests such as bollworms and corn borers.

Genetically Modified Crops

Genetically engineered and modified crops (GMOs) are the most important agricultural development. These crops are the outcome of changes in the genetic makeup of the plants. This change has several pros for the crops:

After harvest, there is minimal loss.

• Crops can be genetically modified to provide more nutrients for human health

• These crops have been developed to be very efficient, producing a high yield while using fewer minerals

• The usage of insecticides and pesticides is being reduced, resulting in less contamination in the environment

• Natural pressures such as natural calamities, harsh temperature and weather conditions, and a shortage of water and minerals are more tolerable

• Bt Cotton is one of the best types of genetically made cotton

. As a result, genetically modified crops aid in optimising the entire agricultural process. Pest-resistant plants, disease-resistant plants, and other GMOs have resulted from biotechnology in agriculture.

Conclusion

Biotechnology has made considerable contributions in the field of agriculture. The application of biotechnology in agriculture involves Bt-cotton; crops are now more resistant to harsh weather. Even the product quality has improved, which has made lifestyle very easy. All these advancements and inventions have been a boost for humankind.