The Benefits of Biotechnology for Agriculture

Biotechnology is the modern field of biosciences. Nature, living beings, and the environment are the major beneficiaries of biotechnology. This discipline is also known as biotech. Agriculture, medicine, animals and plants are a prominent part of the technological advancements and experiments. In this blog, Muhammad Ali Jinnah University (MAJU) explores the performance and effectiveness of biotechnology in agriculture. Let’s start. 

Brief Introduction to Bio-technology

Biotechnology is a modern-day biosciences discipline. It constructs, alters, and enhances the processes for improvement and enhancement in the organisms, cells, and biological structures. The major applications are done in the field of agriculture, plants, medicine, environment. This is because it will help to improve the quality of life of human beings, and also of plants and animals. 

Let’s see what the combination of biotechnology and agriculture has resulted in to date. 

What is included in Agricultural Biotechnology?

Agricultural Biotechnology is the term used for the application of biotechnology in agriculture. The modern tools include genetic engineering, tissue culture, and molecular breeding, in addition to the traditional techniques of breeding. This helps to alter the products or living organisms for the betterment. The modern tools include genetic engineering.

Applications of Biotechnology in Agriculture

The use of agricultural biotechnology started back in the 1990s. It is a universal phenomenon. Take the example of Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) practised in the US. Furthermore, till now, the combination of biotech and agriculture has seen the use of biotech in agriculture in the following ways.

• Herbicide Tolerance
• Disease and Pest Resistance
• Reduction in Production Costs
• Increase in Food Production
• Production of Efficient Antibiotics
• Animal Vaccinations

In a nutshell, all these are the current and ongoing uses of agricultural biotechnology. All these products have a sharp focus to enhance production, reduction in costs, and increase resistance to diseases. Moreover, agricultural biotechnology aims to increase crop productivity, expansion in crop safety measures, and enhance the reliability and quality of the food processes.

Moreover, genetic engineering also works to enrich the food and its nutritional values. By producing the transgenic crops, the biotechnologists work to produce a nutrition-dense food supply. Take the soybeans with rich protein content, potatoes with rich nutritional value, and improved imino acid content. 

Benefits of Biotech: Agriculture Seen So Far

All the efforts that are made to attain the multi-faceted benefits in the long run. Take a look below to know the areas with potential advantages in the major areas.

Enhanced Sustainability and Environmental Protection

With biotechnology, experts are trying to spread sustainability across the environment. The sustainable practices are being adopted in the form of reducing pesticide and herbicide usage in the engineered crops. These crops have increased tolerance to minimise the chemical runoff.

Furthermore, with biotechnology, the scarce resources like water are being reserved for better and long-term utilisation. For the sake of this reason, draught-resistant and low water-consuming crops are engineered through different mechanisms. This will help the areas with less water availability to have a resourceful soil in order to grow nutritional crops.

Another element of sustainable environment practices, taken with the help of agricultural biotechnology, is to enhance soil health. With the help of plants, experts try to detoxify the soil through biotechnology practices. This whole practice is known as Phytoremediation.

Increase in Climate Resistance and Food Security

Biotechnology is also addressing climate change and trying hard to ensure food security. For this reason, with the help of biotech practices, crops are engineered in a way that makes them weather-resistant. In this, they can produce their maximum yield in rough and unfavourable weather conditions and sudden climate changes. Take floods, extreme heat, and salinity as an example. Moreover, biotechnology aims to reduce crop waste during harvesting seasons.

Improved Global Health and Nutrition

Agriculture is all about nutrition and health. Hence, with goals to improve the quality and quantity of crops, biotechnology also aims to enhance the value of the engineered crops. Value enhancement also calls for the increase and maintenance of the nutritional value. It also addresses the global needs of basic nutrient deficiency. 

Take the golden rice crop, for example, which aims to address the vitamin A deficiency to avoid the curse of blindness. With such practices, the increase of fortified minerals like zinc and iron is infused in these crops.

Economic Empowerment and Support System for Farmers

This is also a major advantage for the small farmers. Biotechnology helps develop tools for small farmers to get maximum output with the lowest possible input and expenditures. Furthermore, the sustainability and increased protection are also a helpful mode to get good money against high-yielding production. 

What is the future of Biotech-Agriculture? 

In this way, the future of biotech-agriculture is bright, secure, and very promising. Meeting the food demand with an expanding population is going to be the major challenge in the coming years. Therefore, enhancing the soil capacity and producing the produce from diverse sources to manage climate change and inconsistent situations would be the major demands in future. Furthermore, life expectancy with quality health is also an area of innovation and development. 

Become a Professional Biotechnologist

Those students who want to join this global field of innovation, research, and development through scientific usage should opt for BS Biotechnology. In Karachi, at MAJU, BS Biotechnology is available in two different streams. You can opt for the one that you are eligible for. 

Apply for BS Biotechnology at MAJU Karachi

Muhammad Ali Jinnah University (MAJU) offers BS Biotechnology in Karachi. You can apply for the BS in Biotechnology in Fall admissions 2025. The online admission form is available on the website. 

Conclusion

Biotechnology is highly beneficial for various essential fields for a better future for life. Since biotechnology works for a sustainable environment and better human life, and longevity.