AGRI 102 - Biotechnology

 The field of wonders if used judiciously

Biotechnology is biology-based science at its simplest: biotechnology harnesses cellular and biomolecular processes to create technologies and products that help enhance our lives and our planet's health. For more than 6,000 years, we have used microorganisms' biological processes to produce useful food products such as bread and cheese, and to maintain dairy products.

Healing a world facing lethal diseases

By harnessing nature's own toolbox and using our own genetic makeup to cure and direct study lines, biotech helps to heal the world by:

1. Diminishing rates of infectious disease

2. Saving millions of children's lives

3. Changing the odds of serious, life-threatening conditions affecting millions around the world

4. Tailoring treatments to individuals to minimize health risks and side effects

4. Creating more precise tools for disease detection and mitigation

5. Combating serious illnesses and everyday threats confronting the developing world.

Fueling a world suffering from a high energy demand

Biotech utilizes biological processes to become microscopic processing plants, such as fermentation, and harnesses biocatalysts such as enzymes, yeast, and other microbes. Biotech helps power the planet by means of:

1. Streamlining the steps in chemical manufacturing processes by 80% or more

2. Lowering the temperature for cleaning clothes and potentially saving $4.1 billion annually

3. Improving manufacturing process efficiency to save 50% or more on operational costs

4. Reducing use of and reliance on petrochemicals

5. Use of biofuels to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 52% or more

6. Decreasing water usage and waste generation

7. Tapping into the full potential of traditional biomass waste products.

Feeding a growing population > 7 Billion

Biotech increases resistance to crop insects, boosts tolerance to crop herbicides and promotes the use of more environmentally friendly agricultural practices. Biotech helps feed the earth by means of:

1. Generating higher crop yields with fewer inputs

2. Lowering volumes of agricultural chemicals required by crops-limiting the run-off of these products into the environment, hence causing less pollution, e.g Ammonia

3. Using biotech crops that need fewer applications of pesticides and that allow farmers to reduce tilling farmland

4. Developing crops with enhanced nutrition profiles that solve vitamin and nutrient deficiencies for a over growing population

5. Producing foods free of allergens and toxins such as mycotoxin

6. Improving food and crop oil content to help improve cardiovascular health.

Organizations within the field:

1. Biotechnology Innovation Organization - link

2. European Biotechnology - link

3. List of organizations - link