President Joe Biden is steering agriculture in a different direction.
The keyword here is biotechnology. And President Biden stands by it. In fact, he is used to make agriculture more productive and sustainable, produce safer and healthier food, protect plants and food animals from pests and disease, and even save the world from environmental destruction. They even say they should.
All of this comes from the recently released Biden presidential decree On “Advancing Biotechnology and Biomanufacturing Innovation for a Sustainable, Safe, and Secure American Bioeconomy.”
In the report, the President sets out a vision for a “whole of government” approach to advancing biotechnology and biomanufacturing. This is done by creating a research agenda outlining needs that lead to innovative solutions in agriculture, health, climate change, energy, food security, supply chain resilience, and national and economic security. .
Beyond R&D, the report says, we have the domestic capability to manufacture all the bio-based products we invent here in the U.S. This will create new jobs and a stronger supply chain. is built to contribute to climate goals.
When it comes to improving agricultural efforts, biotechnology has not been around for long. It just wasn’t called that. For example, choosing the best cows for breeding to get better cows. Alternatively, save seeds from the most productive plants and sow at planting time. Cross-breed plants to obtain hybrids. Or even use microorganisms to make wine or cheese. These are great examples of how farmers are using biotechnology to improve productivity and quality.
But now a new wind is blowing. Modern biotechnology has actually moved away from this basic biological approach, instead generating new tissues by manipulating genes and living tissues in a controlled environment.
No, it doesn’t mean “back on the farm”, it means “out of the lab”. And it’s already happening.
When it comes to food safety, farmers and companies that use biotechnology to grow crops or produce meat, poultry, fish and even milk need to be food safe as long as everything is safe. I have said many times that sex is not an issue. It is done just before, during and after production. This is because in the case of livestock, for example, manure and slaughterhouses are not involved.
For vegans and environmentalists, this is a definite plus. But the real upside for President Biden is increased agricultural productivity and climate change mitigation.
When it comes to crops, corn is a good example of the benefits of biotechnology.
The National Corn Growers Association says it welcomes additional support for the use of biotechnology in agriculture.
“Since corn growers began using biotech seeds in the mid-1990s, average yields have increased by nearly 50 bushels per acre, improving food and fuel security in both domestic and export markets. “Biotechnology is also contributing to the sustainability profile of maize production, allowing it to withstand difficult weather events such as drought and excessive rainfall, as well as pest pressures.” We are using engineered seeds to help farmers grow more crops on less land.”
This is an example of how biotechnology can enable high yields of food while using fewer resources and reducing the carbon footprint of food production to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. It’s just
It’s not that agricultural biotechnology has caused intense controversy. On the food safety front, some biotechnology critics have warned that genetically modified foods should not be used in food. They warn that consumers are being used as guinea pigs in what they consider to be unproven science. says there is no difference.
infrastructure, yes
The president’s new report calls for boosting biotech agriculture.
This includes building more food-grade biomanufacturing facilities, including those for precision fermentation. Support the infrastructure needed for genetic sequencing and breeding of more animals and plants. Gain a better understanding of consumer acceptance of foods made with the help of biotechnology.
For precision fermentation, for example, innovative techniques such as culturing tissue from animal biopsies as nutrients in bioreactors can produce food without the use of organisms, soil, or conventional farming methods. No animals are killed with this approach. For “animal rights” advocates, this is definitely a plus.
The report describes the goals of developing new food and feed sources, improving food nutrient density and reducing foodborne illness. Food and feed innovations can boost both dairy and cultured protein companies. For example, we can sustainably expand the range of available protein choices.
The report concludes by stating that leveraging innovations in biotechnology and biomanufacturing can “enhance the toolbox for farmers, ranchers and other producers to meet many challenges in food and agriculture.” increase.
Again, food safety is an issue.
“Improving nutrition quality and reducing foodborne illness are essential to increasing food security,” said the report.
(To sign up for a free subscription to Food Safety News, click here)
