Agricultural Biotechnology (Green Biotechnology)
Introduction of agricultural biotechnology in India
Agriculture biotechnology
Agriculture biotechnology, also known as agrobiotechnology or simply agbiotech, is the use of scientific tools and techniques, such as genetic engineering and tissue culture, to improve plants and animals used in agriculture. This field involves the application of biotechnology to agriculture, including the development of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) for crop improvement and the use of biotechnology to enhance the productivity and sustainability of agriculture.
Some of the potential benefits of agriculture biotechnology include:
Increased crop yields: Biotechnology can help produce crops that are more resistant to pests and diseases, and that can grow in adverse environmental conditions such as drought, extreme temperatures, and poor soil quality.
Enhanced food quality and safety: Biotechnology can help improve the nutritional value of crops and reduce the risk of foodborne illnesses by enhancing the resistance of crops to pathogens and toxins.
Sustainable agriculture: Biotechnology can help reduce the use of pesticides and other harmful chemicals, and promote sustainable farming practices.
Improved animal health and welfare: Biotechnology can help develop vaccines and other treatments for animal diseases, as well as enhance the nutritional value of animal feed.
However, there are also concerns about the potential risks and ethical implications of agriculture biotechnology, particularly with regards to the use of GMOs. Some critics argue that GMOs may pose risks to human health and the environment, and that they may lead to the loss of biodiversity and the development of herbicide-resistant weeds. As with any new technology, it is important to carefully evaluate the potential benefits and risks of agriculture biotechnology and to ensure that it is used in a responsible and sustainable manner.
This book analyses the biotechnology presentation in Indian horticulture looking at the Bt cotton show against non-Bt in all the important cotton regions of India, especially Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Maharashtra, and Tamil Nadu, which records history almost all year round. 70% of the national cotton production. Major advances in biotechnology have made it possible to identify qualities, determine their abilities, and move them from one living organism to the next.
Development has produced many new products and Bt cotton is one important factor. Bt cotton has become one of the most highly evolving plants and is currently inhabited by 21 nations - 11 older countries and 10 developed countries.
The Indian government is moderately late in approving biotechnology, which has only supported the development of three Bt cotton blends since April 2002. Much of the concern raised about their exhibition was strong resistance from certain areas.
In India, Gujarat and Maharastra were the major provinces to receive, followed by Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and Madhya Pradesh.
Given the example of 694 developing families, the book examines and categorizes the exhibit on yields, pesticide costs, seed costs, in general, creative costs, and benefits. It also provides an account of the natural effects, innovation, and creativity of its show.
About
Vasant P. Gandhi is a Professor at the Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad (IIMA) in India, and is currently the Chair of Professor NABARD. He did a Ph.D. from Stanford University, a Master in Management from IIMA, and a Bachelor of Agriculture degree from Pantnagar. He is the Chair of IIMA's Center for Management in Agriculture (CMA).
He has worked with the World Bank, and the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) in Washington, and has been a Visiting Professor at the University of Sydney and James Cook University, Australia.
He has been an expert/advisor to FAO, the World Bank, the Government of India, various provincial legislatures, the Indian Agricultural Insurance Company, and McKinsey and Company, government councils at various levels, and are on the boards of several organizations.
His extensive exploration spaces include international food and agricultural planning, agricultural development, water supply management and institutions, agribusiness sectors, and agribusiness.
Dinesh Jain holds his doctorate from the Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad (IMA), and is affiliated with the Entrepreneurship Development Institute of India (EDI) as an Associate Faculty.
He has done a Doctoral Fellow Program in Management (FPM) training for Agribusiness from IIMA, and before that, a Master's in Business Administration (Agribusiness Management) and a Bachelor of in Agricultural Engineering.
At EDI, he is the Program Coordinator for EDI's Post Graduate Diploma in Management-Development Studies. He has conducted extensive research into the activities of the Australian Center for International Agriculture Research (ACIAR), the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), the Global Development Network (GDN), and the Department of Agriculture-Govt. of India. His exploratory positions include institutional and program.
Development especially in water management, agribusiness agricultural adoption, food security, and development impact.
Agricultural biotechnology, also is a field of agricultural science that incorporates the use of scientific tools and techniques, including genetic engineering, molecular engineering, cell diagnostics, vaccines, and tissue culture, to prepare living organisms: plants, animals, and microorganisms.
Crop biotechnology is part of the agricultural biotechnology that has been greatly improved in recent times. The desired feature is exported from one type of Plant to a completely different variety. These mutant plants have desirable characteristics regarding taste, flower color, growth rate, size of harvested products, and resistance to diseases and pests.
History
Farmers have been deceiving plants and animals with their preferred breeding for tens of thousands of years to create desirable traits. In the 20th century, technological advances led to the expansion of agricultural biotechnology through a selection of factors such as increased yields, pest resistance, drought resistance, and weed control.
The first biotechnology food product was sold in 1990, by 2003, 7 million farmers were using biotech crops. More than 85% of farmers lived in developing countries.
Plant rotation techniques Plan
Traditional Reproduction
Traditional breeding has been used for centuries to improve crop quality and quantity. Crossbreeding combines two types of sexual intercourse to create a new and unique breed that has the desirable characteristics of parents.
For example, a Honeycrisp apple shows a certain texture and flavor due to its parent breeding. By traditional methods, pollen from one plant is placed on the female part of another, resulting in a fusion that contains genetic information from both parent plants.
Crop growers select genetically modified plants and continue to reproduce those crops. Note that crossbreeding can only be used between similar or closely related species.
Mutagenesis
Genetic mutations can occur randomly in the DNA of any living thing. To create variety in plants, scientists can bring about random changes in plants. Mutagenesis uses radioactivity to cause random changes in the hope of stumbling upon the desired feature.
Scientists can use synthetic chemicals such as ethyl methanesulfonate, or radioactivity, to produce mutations in DNA. Atomic gardens are used to transform plants. The radioactive core is located in the center of the circular garden and is lifted from the ground to release surrounding vegetation, producing a change in the local environment.
Mutagenesis through radiation was a process used to produce ruby red grapes.
Polyploidy
Polyploidy can be tempted to change the number of chromosomes in a plant to affect its fertility or size. Generally, living things have two sets of chromosomes, the other being known as diploidy. However, naturally or chemically, that number of chromosomes can change, resulting in genetic mutations or changes in plant size. Seedless watermelons are formed this way; a 4-set chromosome watermelon contrasts with a 2-set chromosome watermelon to form a sterile (seedless) watermelon with three sets of chromosomes.
Protoplast Fusion
Protoplast fusion is the interaction of cells or parts of a cell to transfer traits between species. For example, the male infertility factor is transmitted from radishes to red cabbage by protoplast fusion. This male reproduction helps growers to produce hybrid plants.
Interruption of RNA
RNA (RNAi) disruption is the process by which the RNA of a cell to a protein pathway is reduced or suppressed to suppress genetics. This mutation technique works by disrupting the messenger RNA to stop protein synthesis, effectively silencing the gene.
Transgenics
Transgenics involves the insertion of a single component of DNA into the DNA of another organism to insert new genes into the original living thing. This addition of genes to living organisms creates a new species with desirable traits.
DNA must be processed and assembled into a test tube and inserted into a new living organism. New genetic information can be added to biolistics. An example of transgenics is the rainbow papaya, which is genetically modified to provide resistance to the papaya ringspot.
Genome layout
Genome mutation is the use of an enzyme system to repair DNA directly inside a cell. Genome design is used to develop herbicide-resistant canola to help farmers control weeds.
Enhanced nutritional content
Agricultural biotechnology has been used to improve the nutrition of plant species to meet the needs of a growing population. Genetic engineering can produce plants that are rich in vitamins. For example, gold rice has three genes that allow plants to produce compounds that are converted into vitamin A in the human body. This improved rice is designed to combat the world's leading cause of blindness — vitamin A deficiency.
Similarly, the Banana 21 project worked to improve banana nutrition to combat micronutrient deficiencies in Uganda. By changing the genes of bananas to contain vitamin A and iron, Bananas 21 have helped to improve the nutritional solution of the basic food chain and the largest source of starch in Africa.
The best agro biotech companies in India?
As of my last update in September 2021, India had several prominent agro-biotech companies that were known for their contributions to agricultural biotechnology and related fields. It's important to note that the landscape of the industry may have changed since then, so I recommend checking more recent sources for the latest information. Nevertheless, here are some of the well-regarded agro-biotech companies in India:
Monsanto India Limited (Now part of Bayer CropScience): Monsanto was a major player in agricultural biotechnology, known for its genetically modified (GM) seeds and crop protection products. In 2018, Bayer acquired Monsanto, and it now operates under the name Bayer CropScience.
Mahyco (Maharashtra Hybrid Seeds Company): Mahyco is a leading seed company in India, involved in the development and distribution of hybrid seeds across various crops. It was known for its contributions to the Bt cotton sector.
Rasi Seeds: Rasi Seeds is another significant player in the Indian seed industry, focusing on hybrid seeds and biotechnology advancements in agriculture.
Bioseed: Bioseed, a subsidiary of the DCM Shriram Group, is a renowned seed company specializing in hybrid seeds and agricultural biotechnology.
Nuziveedu Seeds: Nuziveedu Seeds (NSL) is one of the largest seed companies in India, engaged in the research, development, production, and marketing of hybrid and GM seeds.
Advanta Limited (UPL Limited): Advanta Limited, formerly known as ITC Zeneca Limited, was acquired by United Phosphorus Limited (UPL) and operates under its umbrella. The company focuses on developing hybrid seeds and agricultural solutions.
Metahelix Life Sciences: Metahelix is a research-focused agro biotech company specializing in molecular breeding and crop protection products.
Krishidhan Seeds: Krishidhan Seeds is engaged in the development and marketing of hybrid seeds, including genetically modified crops.
Please note that the status and rankings of these companies might have changed since my last update, so it's essential to verify their current positions and reputations through recent sources and industry reports. Additionally, new companies may have emerged in the Indian agro-biotech sector, contributing to the advancement of agricultural practices in the country.
DuPont Pioneer (now part of Corteva Agriscience): DuPont Pioneer was a significant player in India's agro-biotech sector before it merged with Dow Chemical to form Corteva Agriscience. They were involved in developing advanced seed technologies for various crops.
JK Agri Genetics (JK Seeds): JK Agri Genetics is an Indian agro biotech company involved in the research, production, and marketing of hybrid seeds and agricultural inputs. They have a strong presence in the cotton seed industry.
Nuziveedu Seeds Limited (NSL): Nuziveedu Seeds is a major player in the Indian seed industry with a focus on hybrid seeds. They have a diverse portfolio of crops and are actively involved in biotechnology research.
Vibha Seeds: Vibha Seeds is known for its research and development of hybrid seeds for various crops, especially vegetables. They cater to farmers across different states in India.
It's important to conduct further research and refer to more recent sources to assess the current status and reputation of these companies as the agricultural biotech landscape in India may have evolved. Additionally, new companies may have emerged in the field since my last update.
What are the best career options after a B.Sc in biotechnology and a BSc in agriculture with the highest salary?
Both B.Sc in Biotechnology and B.Sc in Agriculture offer a wide range of career opportunities with varying salary potentials. Here are some of the best career options for each field with the highest salary potential:
Biotechnology:
a. Biomedical Engineer: Develop medical devices and equipment. Salaries can vary but can be quite high, especially with experience and advanced degrees.
b. Pharmaceutical Sales Representative: Sell pharmaceutical products to healthcare professionals. Salaries often include commissions, leading to high earning potential.
c. Bioinformatics Scientist: Analyze and interpret biological data using computational techniques. Salaries are typically high due to the specialized skill set required.
d. Research Scientist: Conduct research in various areas such as drug development, genetics, or environmental conservation. Salaries can be lucrative, especially in the pharmaceutical industry.
e. Biotechnology Consultant: Provide expertise to biotech companies, government agencies, or research institutions. Consultants often earn high hourly rates or project fees.
Agriculture:
a. Agricultural Engineer: Design agricultural machinery, equipment, and structures. Salaries can be high, particularly in sectors like precision agriculture and renewable energy.
b. Agricultural Economist: Analyze economic data related to agriculture and develop policies for agricultural sustainability. Salaries are competitive, especially with advanced degrees and experience.
c. Agribusiness Manager: Oversee the management of agricultural enterprises such as farms, food processing plants, or agricultural supply companies. Salaries can be high, particularly in large-scale operations.
d. Plant Breeder/Geneticist: Develop new plant varieties with desirable traits. Salaries can be substantial, especially in industries like seed production and biotechnology.
e. Food Scientist/Technologist: Develop and improve food products and processes. Salaries are competitive, particularly in sectors like food manufacturing and research.
In both fields, obtaining advanced degrees (such as M.Sc or Ph.D.) and gaining relevant work experience can significantly increase earning potential. Additionally, staying updated with industry trends and acquiring specialized skills through certifications or professional development courses can enhance career prospects and salary potential.
