10.2 Food Biotechnology Related To Advanced Agriculture in Pakistan

Introduction

Pakistan is the 5th most populated country in the world, with a population of over 240 million. Feeding this huge population is a major challenge for agriculture and the national economy. Food biotechnology plays a crucial role in meeting the challenges of food security, malnutrition, and environmental hazards related to agriculture. This topic explains how food biotechnology has advanced agriculture in Pakistan.

Definition

Food biotechnology involves the use of scientific techniques and a wide range of applications that improve food production, quality, nutritional value, processing, preservation, and agricultural sustainability.

Main Idea

Pakistan is the 5th most populated country in the world having population of over 240 million with an annual growth rate of 2.55%. Rural population is directly dependent on agriculture whereas, increasing trend of urbanization has multiplied the pressure for production of extra food from continuously shrinking agricultural land. To feed this huge population, supply of more, continuous and nutrient enriched food is a huge challenge for the agriculture and the national economy of Pakistan.

The importance and crucial role of food biotechnology is obvious to meet the challenges of food security, malnutrition and environmental hazards related to agriculture.

In food Biotechnology, scientists modify the genes of our food sources including domestic animals, plants and microorganisms for production new species.

Core Concept

Role of Food Biotechnology in Agriculture

Detailed Explanation

1. The Challenge for Pakistan

Pakistan is the 5th most populated country in the world having population of over 240 million with an annual growth rate of 2.55%.

Challenges:

• Rural population is directly dependent on agriculture.
• Increasing trend of urbanization has multiplied the pressure for production of extra food from continuously shrinking agricultural land.
• To feed this huge population, supply of more, continuous and nutrient enriched food is a huge challenge for the agriculture and the national economy of Pakistan.

Simple explanation: Pakistan has a large and growing population. It needs more food, but agricultural land is shrinking. Food biotechnology helps meet this challenge.

2. What is Food Biotechnology?

In food Biotechnology, scientists modify the genes of our food sources including domestic animals, plants and microorganisms for production of new species.

Food biotechnology involves the use of scientific techniques and a wide range of applications that improve the food production, quality, nutritional value, processing, preservation and agriculture sustainability.

Simple explanation: Food biotechnology uses scientific techniques to improve food production and quality.

3. Research Organizations in Pakistan

Academic institutions and research organizations in Pakistan like NIBGE, NIAB, NCEMB, KIBGE and ASAB are engaged in food biotechnology applied research, to address local agricultural and food challenges.

Simple explanation: Several research organizations in Pakistan are working on food biotechnology.

4. Genetically Modified (GM) Crops

In last three decades, food biotechnology has obviously advanced the agriculture in Pakistan by introducing various techniques and technologies that improve crop yield, nutritional value, resistance to pests and tolerance to drought and salt.

Examples of GM crops in Pakistan:

(a) Bt cotton:

• Bt cotton (BT derived from Bacillus thuringiensis) is a prominent example in which 'cry' gene responsible for the pest resistance is obtained from a bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis and transferred to cotton plant.
• Bt cotton produces its own toxic chemicals to kill the pests including viruses, cotton flies and bolworms, hence there is less need for chemical pesticides and increased productivity of cotton, seed oil and cotton seed cakes (cattle & fish fodder).

(b) GM sugarcane:

• GM variety of sugarcane, is resistant against sugarcane top borer (pest insect).
• Sugar yield of this GM variety of sugarcane is significantly higher than natural types.

(c) GM wheat, sugarcane and potatoes:

• GM wheat, sugarcane and potatoes are well grown in phosphate deficient soil thus need of fertilizer is reduced significantly with higher production.
• GM varieties of wheat, sugarcane and potatoes developed in Pakistan are also drought, heat and frost resistant.

(d) GM wheat variety:

- Another GM wheat variety is herbicide resistant and grown on large areas of Pakistan.

(e) GM tomatoes and chilies:

- Genetically modified tomatoes and chilies are also been developed and grown in Pakistan.

Simple explanation: GM crops are crops that have been genetically modified to have useful traits like pest resistance, drought tolerance, and higher yields.

5. Science Titbits: GM Varieties and Their Characteristics

Simple explanation: Different GM crops have different useful traits.

Summary Table

Intermediate Level

Food biotechnology has advanced agriculture in Pakistan by introducing techniques that improve crop yield, nutritional value, pest resistance, and tolerance to drought and salt.

Examples of GM crops:

Key points:

• Pakistan is the 5th most populated country.
• Food biotechnology helps meet food security challenges.
• Research organizations: NIBGE, NIAB, NCEMB, KIBGE, ASAB.
• GM crops improve yield, nutrition, and stress tolerance.

Important Points

• - Pakistan is the 5th most populated country in the world having population of over 240 million with an annual growth rate of 2.55%.
• - Rural population is directly dependant on agriculture whereas, increasing trend of urbanization has multiplied the pressure for production of extra food from continuously shrinking agricultural land.
• - To feed this huge population, supply of more, continuous and nutrient enriched food is a huge challenge for the agriculture and the national economy of Pakistan.
• - The importance and crucial role of food biotechnology is obvious to meet the challenges of food security, malnutrition and environmental hazards related to agriculture.
• - In food Biotechnology, scientists modify the genes of our food sources including domestic animals, plants and microorganisms for production new species.
• - Food biotechnology involves the use of scientific techniques and a wide range of applications that improve the food production, quality, nutritional value, processing, preservation and agriculture sustainability.
• - Academic institutions and research organizations in Pakistan like NIBGE, NIAB, NCEMB, KIBGE and ASAB are engaged in food biotechnology applied research, to address local agricultural and food challenges.
• - In last three decades, food biotechnology has obviously advanced the agriculture in Pakistan by introducing various techniques and technologies that improve crop yield, nutritional value, resistance to pests and tolerance to drought and salt.
• - Examples of role of food biotechnology in advancement of agriculture includes:
• - GM crops including, wheat, rice, maize, sugarcane have been developed to tolerate harsh environmental conditions and pest resistance, thus increasing yields.
• - In Pakistan, Bt cotton (BT derived from Bacillus thuringiensis) is a prominent example in which 'cry' gene responsible for the pest resistance is obtained from a bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis and transferred to cotton plant. Bt cotton produces its own toxic chemicals to kill the pests including viruses, cotton flies and bolworms, hence there is less need for chemical pesticides and increased productivity of cotton, seed oil and cotton seed cakes (cattle & fish fodder).
• - GM variety of sugarcane, is resistant against sugarcane top borer (pest insect). Sugar yield of this GM variety of sugarcane is significantly higher than natural types.
• - Similarly, GM wheat, sugarcane and potatoes are well grown in phosphate deficient soil thus need of fertilizer is reduced significantly with higher production.
• - GM varieties of wheat, sugarcane and potatoes developed in Pakistan are also drought, heat and frost resistant.
• - Another GM wheat variety is herbicide resistant and grown on large areas of Pakistan.
• - Genetically modified tomatoes and chilies are also been developed and grown in Pakistan.
• - GM varieties and characteristics:
• - Bt cotton (Bt MON531-Cry1Ac): Resistant against Pests e.g. viruses, cotton flies and bolworms
• - Sugarcane, with Cry1Ac + cry2Ab genes of bacteria: Resistant against Pest e.g. sugarcane top borer (insect)
• - Wheat, sugarcane and potatoes with AVP1 gene of bacteria: Grow well in phosphate deficient soil and resistant to drought, heat and frost
• - Wheat with CP4-epsps gene of bacteria: Resistant to herbicide

Remember

• - Pakistan = 5th most populated country (over 240 million)
• - Food biotechnology = improves food production, quality, nutrition
• - GM crops = Bt cotton, GM sugarcane, GM wheat, GM potatoes, GM tomatoes, GM chilies
• - Bt cotton = cry gene from Bacillus thuringiensis, pest resistance
• - GM sugarcane = resistant to sugarcane top borer
• - GM wheat, sugarcane, potatoes = AVP1 gene, phosphate-deficient soil, drought/heat/frost resistant
• - GM wheat = CP4-epsps gene, herbicide resistant
• - Research organizations = NIBGE, NIAB, NCEMB, KIBGE, ASAB
• - Challenges = education, public acceptance, regulation, infrastructure

Common Mistakes

• 1. Thinking food biotechnology is only about GM crops.
• - Food biotechnology also includes food processing, preservation, livestock improvement, and bio-fortification.
• 2. Confusing Bt cotton with other GM crops.
• - Bt cotton has the cry gene from Bacillus thuringiensis for pest resistance.
• 3. Forgetting the role of research organizations.
• - NIBGE, NIAB, NCEMB, KIBGE, and ASAB are engaged in food biotechnology research in Pakistan.
• 4. Thinking GM crops are only for pest resistance.
• - GM crops are also developed for drought tolerance, herbicide resistance, and improved nutrition.
• 5. Believing food biotechnology has no challenges.
• - Lack of education, public acceptance, weak regulation, and infrastructure restrictions are challenges.
• 6. Mixing up the genes used in different GM crops.
• - Bt cotton = cry gene.
• - GM wheat, sugarcane, potatoes = AVP1 gene.
• - GM wheat = CP4-epsps gene.
• 7. Thinking food biotechnology only benefits farmers.
• - Food biotechnology benefits consumers, farmers, and the economy.

Quick Revision

60-Second Revision

• Pakistan = 5th most populated country (over 240 million)
• Food biotechnology = improves food production, quality, nutrition
• GM crops = Bt cotton, GM sugarcane, GM wheat, GM potatoes, GM tomatoes, GM chilies
• Bt cotton = cry gene from Bacillus thuringiensis, pest resistance
• GM sugarcane = resistant to sugarcane top borer
• GM wheat, sugarcane, potatoes = AVP1 gene, phosphate-deficient soil, drought/heat/frost resistant
• GM wheat = CP4-epsps gene, herbicide resistant
• Research organizations = NIBGE, NIAB, NCEMB, KIBGE, ASAB
• Challenges = education, public acceptance, regulation, infrastructure
• Warning: Do not confuse the genes used in different GM crops. Bt cotton uses cry gene; GM wheat, sugarcane, and potatoes use AVP1 gene; GM wheat uses CP4-epsps gene.