<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p> Biotechnology, including genetic modifications, can play a vital role in helping to meet future food and environmental security needs for our growing population. The nature and use of biotechnology crops are described and related to aspects of food security. Biotechnological applications for food and animal feed are described, together with trends on global adoption of these crops. The benefits of biotechnology crops through increased yield, reduced pesticide use and decreased environmental damage are discussed. Examples of biotechnology crops which do not involve genetic modification are also described. Applications of biotechnology to drought and salt tolerance, and biofortification in which micronutrient content is enhanced are discussed. Emergent technologies such as RNA spraying technology, use of genome editing in agriculture and future targets for improved food and environmental security are considered.</p></abstract>

Biotechnology, including genetic modifications, can play a vital role in helping to meet future food and environmental security needs for our growing population. The nature and use of biotechnology crops are described and related to aspects of food security. Biotechnological applications for food and animal feed are described, together with trends on global adoption of these crops. The benefits of biotechnology crops through increased yield, reduced pesticide use and decreased environmental damage are discussed. Examples of biotechnology crops which do not involve genetic modification are also described. Applications of biotechnology to drought and salt tolerance, and biofortification in which micronutrient content is enhanced are discussed. Emergent technologies such as RNA spraying technology, use of genome editing in agriculture and future targets for improved food and environmental security are considered.

Contributions of biotechnology to meeting future food and environmental security needs

The EuroBiotech Journal

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License.

Biotechnology, including genetic modifications, can play a vital role in helping to meet future food and environmental security needs for our growing...

Crop Plant	Biotech Crop Plantings 2016 (Mn ha)	Global Adoption
Soybean	91.4	78%
Maize	60.6	33%
Cotton	22.3	64%
Oil Seed Rape	8.6	24%

2016 Rank	Country	Biotech Crop Area (Mn ha)
1	United States	72.9
2	Brazil	49.1
3	Argentina	23.8
4	Canada	11.6
5	India	10.8
6	Paraguay	3.6
7	Pakistan	2.9
8	China	2.8
9	South Africa	2.7
10	Uruguay	1.3

Contributions of biotechnology to meeting future food and environmental security needs

Article Category: Review

Published Online: Feb 06, 2018

Page range: 2 - 9

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/ebtj-2018-0002

Keywords
food supply, environmental security, biotechnology crops, biofortification, ‘Golden’ crops, micronutrients, regulation of gene expression, human health & nutrition

© 2018 Kevan M.A. Gartland, Jill S. Gartland, published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License.

Four major global biotech crops

Top 10 Countries for Biotech Crop Growth (2016)

Contributions of biotechnology to meeting future food and environmental security needs

Article Category: Review

Published Online: Feb 06, 2018

Page range: 2 - 9

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/ebtj-2018-0002

Keywordsfood supply, environmental security, biotechnology crops, biofortification, ‘Golden’ crops, micronutrients, regulation of gene expression, human health & nutrition

© 2018 Kevan M.A. Gartland, Jill S. Gartland, published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License.

Four major global biotech crops

Top 10 Countries for Biotech Crop Growth (2016)

Keywords
food supply, environmental security, biotechnology crops, biofortification, ‘Golden’ crops, micronutrients, regulation of gene expression, human health & nutrition