The Use of Biotechnology and Gene Editing Technologies in Agriculture

The Use of Biotechnology and Gene Editing Technologies in Agriculture to Help Solve the Growing Food Security and Sustainability Problem
Abstract
The primary reason for conducting this research is to investigate the use of biotechnology and gene editing technologies in agriculture to solve the growing food security and sustainability problem. In this context, the study followed an in-depth research process of selecting recent peer-reviewed journals related to the problem. It also incorporated a thorough literature review to isolate the significant benefits arising from these articles supporting the incorporation of the technology. Findings defended the thesis that yields boosting, disease management, and nutrition enhancement make biotechnology and gene editing technologies in agriculture a critical aspect for assisting the world in resolving the threatening food security and sustainability problem. Thus, stakeholders should embrace it as a long-term solution.
Introduction
Experts have argued that adversaries push people to become open-minded and embrace change. Food insecurity continues to become a menace as the global population balloon while climate change induces one blow after another on food productivity and supply. According to Qaim (2020), statistics indicate that over 800 million people are already grappling with chronic hunger incidences, while another 2 billion remain micronutrient deficient. The author suggests that this threshold of food insecurity has emerged as a significant concern for all nations due to the health ramifications associated with malnutrition. As a result, stakeholders have committed their efforts to finding advanced and progressive approaches to increasing productivity, leading to the rise of genetic modifications and gene editing technologies. Although their use has prompted conflicting viewpoints, with one faction supporting their applicability and potential while the other objecting to them by raising health concerns, these technologies offer significant hopes. They promote yield improvement, management of plant and animal illnesses, and offer the potential to boost nutrition. Thus, due to yield increase, disease management, and nutrition enhancement, biotechnology and gene editing technologies in agriculture will assist people in resolving the threatening food security and sustainability problem.
Discussion
Boosting Yields
One of the leading aspects that promote support for biotechnology and gene editing technologies is that they bring an unprecedented increase in yields. According to Karavolias et al. (2021), evidence demonstrates that incorporating these approaches could drastically close the food supply and demand gap being experienced on a global scale. Georges and Ray (2017) agree that genome editing has gained popularity as an emerging opportunity for stakeholders to regenerate dwindling food security. The author defines it as the introduction of targeted mutations into the genome of a plant with a specialized approach and precision to induce desirable gene expression and silencing using instruments such as CRISPR/Cas9 system (Georges and Ray, 2017). It represents an advanced technique in a genetic modification that targets changing the characteristics of an animal, plant, or microorganism. Although other strategies such as rotation production and green housing exist to increase agricultural production, their likelihood of inducing similar effects to those recorded in these technologies falls far behind. As a result, Karavolias et al. (2021) use different examples to demonstrate the necessity of gene-editing technologies in ending the persistent food shortages and insecurity because of the guaranteed crop yields that this technology triggers. Thus, its applications promise the gradual elimination of food insecurity.
No doubt exists that gene modification and gene-editing have transformed the crop yielding capacity. While studying rice fields, researchers report that these technologies have led to a rise in varieties with yield increases of up to 11% to 68% (Karavolias et al., 2021). The author cites Gn1a and DEP1 as the two primary genes recently associated with yields. As a result, their editing or modification to improve their expression can further increase rice productivity. Karavolias et al. (2021) also highlight the contributions of these technologies to wheat, tomato, and maize improvements. Qaim (2020) indicates that scientists edit the genes to induce diverse trait expressions that lead to speed breeding, breed diversification, and crop resilience, among other agronomic features. These changes have led to a rise of diversified beans, wheat, rice, and maize varieties in the market today. Their availability has expanded the market and increased the sufficiency of specific products on-demand, reducing the food security problem. Qaim (2020) acknowledges that these crops bring minimal technological risks compared to the conventionally bred ones, requiring no limitations or regulations. Interestingly, this technology also boosts livestock yields using MSTN knockouts that increase muscle growth, sex ratios, and reproductivity (Karavolias et al., 2021). This approach ensures the world has a reliable supply of plant and animal-based food products at a cheaper cost.
Disease Management
The ability of biotechnology and gene editing technologies to interfere with disease effects on plants and animals is an impressive feature that has led to its popularization amid the increasing concern about an anticipated rise in plant and animal-based diseases due to climate change. Karavolias et al. (2021) argue that food insecurity has worsened due to conventionally bred crops’ inability to withstand emerging conditions. As a result, this aspect has significantly diminished the annual yields, leading to minimal supply volumes in the market vis increasing demands. Ahmad et al. (2021) acknowledge that plants remain highly susceptible to pathogens, including fungi, bacteria, and viruses. The author also highlights their vulnerability to insects that double as physical plant abusers and disease vectors. As a result, the increasing biotic stress from climate change leads to losses that range from 20% to 40% (Ahmad et al., 2021). The promising aspect is that the CRISPR-Cas system promises the unprecedente...