Agricultural Crop Genetic Engineering

My work in industry-based economic development strategy is carrying me in many new industry directions. Here is one of interest to areas with big agriculture and agribusiness bases.

The advent of genetic engineering in the agriculture industry has heralded an era of positive growth in the crop protection sector.

As the industry becomes increasingly conscious of the benefits of genetic engineering, political considerations, and influences are expected to drive growth. With the government organizations of various countries entering into political agreements regarding genetic engineering and biotechnology, the global technical scenario is likely to emerge stronger. Further, as the production capacity in many regions, especially within the East European countries continues to expand, the potential worldwide production capacity is likely to increase.

Non-Food Sectors More Conducive for Genetic Engineering Technology Applications

Food crops are not the only area where genetic engineering is likely to prove beneficial. In fact, with most consumers tending to be a trifle wary of genetically-modified food products, investors are likely to find the non-food sectors such as industrial feedstock or biofuels much more lucrative. "Genetically engineered (GE) plants are produced by splicing foreign genetic material within the plant genomes and creating new species which can not arise naturally," notes the analyst. "There are high chances of recombination and mutation of these genes, which could cause biological pollution."

As the industry continues to contend with the lack of public awareness regarding the contribution of genetic engineering to food production, it is essential to retain the trust of the public by monitoring all the steps of the production and marketing chain. This is likely to improve the performance of the food sector as well.

Genetic Engineering Techniques Proves More Efficient than Traditional Techniques

In comparison to the conventional crop protection technologies, genetic engineering has several advantages. While traditional protection techniques are efficient, they are incapable of ensuring that the final product has all the desired characteristics. For instance, it has been observed that the introduction of certain genes produces species that are more tolerant to herbicides such as paraquat than the conventional and traditional varieties. The enzymes produced by these modified species also improve the plant’s immunity to certain other commonly employed herbicides such as acifluoren.

"Genetic engineering techniques and biotechnology has resulted in increased research and development, rapid innovation, and prolonged perseverance in the face of mounting research costs on an industry level," notes the analyst. "These factors have created conditions that are conducive for the further development of genetic engineering in the area of crop protection."