Biotechnology in Agriculture

If crops are modified to be more resilient against pests, the elements, and disease, it will give farmers some protection from unexpected disasters that would leave crops unusable. Combined with the possibility of crops utilizing less resources, it has the capability of reducing food costs for the population. This is especially important with the projected 2.5% increase in food costs for 2025. 

The beauty of modifying crops is that favorable traits can be added to make them last longer and give them extra vitamins and nutrients. This will make it easier for families to feed themselves and may require less supplementation because the food has nutrients. Some examples are increased beta-carotene levels in rice to reduce vitamin A deficiencies (USDA, n.d. -b). Supplementing abundant crops with favorable nutrients can help with alleviate deficiencies within a population.

With increased crop yields, dedicating more land to farming may not be needed. This will spare land space for wildlife and may lead to better conservation efforts. There are efforts to modify the amount of materials needed to grow certain crops. While drought-tolerant corn is being grown, other crops, such as wheat, rice, tomato, soybean, and cotton, are being developed (USDA, n.d. -a). Incorporating drought-tolerant qualities may lead to a decrease in water use, which can translate to better conservation.

If crops are modified to be more resilient against pests, the elements, and disease, it will give farmers some protection from unexpected disasters that would leave crops unusable. Combined with the possibility of crops utilizing less resources, it has the capability of reducing food costs for the population. This is especially important with the projected 2.5% increase in food costs for 2025. 

The beauty of modifying crops is that favorable traits can be added to make them last longer and give them extra vitamins and nutrients. This will make it easier for families to feed themselves and may require less supplementation because the food has nutrients. Some examples are increased beta-carotene levels in rice to reduce vitamin A deficiencies (USDA, n.d. -b). Supplementing abundant crops with favorable nutrients can help with alleviate deficiencies within a population.

With increased crop yields, dedicating more land to farming may not be needed. This will spare land space for wildlife and may lead to better conservation efforts. There are efforts to modify the amount of materials needed to grow certain crops. While drought-tolerant corn is being grown, other crops, such as wheat, rice, tomato, soybean, and cotton, are being developed (USDA, n.d. -a). Incorporating drought-tolerant qualities may lead to a decrease in water use, which can translate to better conservation.

To reiterate the advantages of biotechnology, they can improve crop quality by incorporating new nutritional content that can reduce incidents of nutritional deficiencies. Other ways of improving quality also include making crops more drought-tolerant or making them more easily grown in salty soil.

Crops have a multitude of barriers can make it more difficult for farmers to grow. Increasing crop resilience by making them more resistant to diseases, pests, and weeds can help farmers maintain their crops. An example of this is in Hawaii where their papaya industry was at risk against the papaya ringspot virus until those resistant were developed (USDA, n.d. -b).

Biotechnology may have a multitude of advantages however, before they are released, they must pass through numerous testing efforts. One of the tests that scientists need to perform is that they must be able to exchange their traits with their wild counterparts before release (USDA, n.d. -b). This ensures that the desired engineered traits can be transferred to the offspring. Another test scientists need to evaluate is that the crops must have no unintended consequences to other organisms, such as fish, bees, and earthworms (USDA, n.d. -b). Extensive testing needs to be performed before release before irreversible damage can be done. Another element to consider are humans. Testing needs to be done to ensure that the proteins in the crops do not cause reactions in people with sensitivity (USDA, n.d. -b). This ensures human safety and prevents any negative view against the crops. 

The latest advancements in biotechnology incorporate AI to increase the processes’ precision and making it easier for farmers. One method is through precision farming. This involves using drones to collect data on crop and soil health and inputting this data into an algorithm that can predict any environmental changes that may occur (Dr. Omics Labs, 2024). This data analysis can make it easier for farmers to see the predictions that can occur in their area. Another method is by making the process of crop diversification easier. Diversifying crops takes time and AI algorithms can help with the breeding process by identifying the desirable traits, seeing what resources need to be used, and how the climate can affect the crops (Dr. Omics Labs, 2024). AI algorithms can aid in making the process easier which means that biotechnology may be easier to develop in the future.