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A challenge of our generation is the creation of an efficient system providing sustainable food and fuel from the land whilst also preserving biodiversity and ecosystems. We must feed a human population that is expected to grow to more than nine billion by mid-century. Agricultural biotechnology is one tool that holds potential promise to alleviate hunger and poverty. However, there are complex and interrelated scientific, social, political and ethical questions regarding the widespread use of biotechnology in the food supply. This edited volume discusses diverse perspectives on sustainable food production systems in terms of challenges, opportunities, success stories, barriers and risks associated with agricultural and food biotechnology. The effects of biotechnology on the environment, ethical and moral issues, potential changes to government policies and economics, and social implications are summarised. This book will interest students, professionals and researchers from the areas of bioengineering, agriculture and ecosystem science to economics and political science.
E-Book Content
THE ROLE OF BIOTECHNOLOGY IN A SUSTAINABLE FOOD SUPPLY One of the main challenges of our generation is the creation of an efficient system that provides sustainable food, feed, fiber, and fuel from the land while also preserving biodiversity and ecosystems. The first and most immediate challenge will be to feed a human population that is expected to grow to more than nine billion by mid-century. The supply of food must grow at least as fast as the population, but the amount of land and water available for agriculture is limited; thus the need for more food must be met through higher crop yields. Agricultural biotechnology is one tool that holds promise to alleviate hunger and poverty. However, there are complex and interrelated scientific, social, political, and ethical questions regarding the widespread use of biotechnology in the food supply. This edited volume – which includes contributions from leading scholars in many fields – discusses the numerous factors in the use of agricultural and food biotechnology as we work toward more sustainable food production systems. It includes diverse perspectives on the challenges, opportunities, success stories, barriers, and risks associated with biotechnology. It summarizes additional studies on the effects of biotechnology on the environment. The book also discusses relevant ethical and moral issues, potential changes to government policies and economics, and other social implications of agricultural biotechnology. This comprehensive and interdisciplinary book will be of great interest to students, professionals, and researchers in various fields – from bioengineering, agriculture, and ecosystem science, to economics and political science. jennie s. popp is a Professor of Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness and Area Director of the Center for Agricultural and Rural Sustainability at the University of Arkansas. Her research areas include the economics of water and soil quality, risk management for agricultural producers, and assessment of best management practices for agriculture. molly m. jahn is a Professor in the Laboratory of Genetics and Department of Agronomy at the University of Madison–Wisconsin. She has had a distinguished research career in plant genetics and genomics and plant breeding of vegetable crops, focusing on the molecular genetics of disease resistance and quality traits. marty d. matlock is a Professor of Biological and Agricultural Engineering and Area Director of the Center for Agricultural and Rural Sustainability at the University of Arkansas. He is a Certified Senior Ecologist with the Ecological Society of America and a Registered Professional Engineer. His research area is in the design and management of ecosystem services, with a focus on water resources. nathan p.