More Information
5.8 Application of Modern Biotechnologies
Publication: , Volume Section 5 – Plantation silviculture, pp 8, Dec 2023Abstract: Mankind has had a long history of domesticating various plants and animals both for provision of food and making articles for every-day use. This has occurred to the extent that many of these domesticated species no longer resemble their original ancestors, for example, if currentday maize is compared with its ancestor theosinte (which appears to us more like a common grass species, with tiny ‘cobs’). In agriculture, waves of innovation have led to significantly increased production and improvement in the quality of agricultural products. Recently, the use of modern biotechnology, which many have termed the second green revolution, has demonstrated a strong capability to produce even more food, and with reduced environmental impact. In 2002, more than 40 million hectares were planted worldwide with genetically modified crop varieties (James 2002) and the commercial, environmental and health benefits have been widely researched. However, it is noted that few areas of scientific enterprise have attracted so much public attention over recent years as the prospect of genetic engineering. Forestry is somewhat different from agriculture because of significantly longer rotation times and a very low level of domestication. Further, most forest products world-wide are actually derived from native, naturally growing and regenerating forests rather than plantations. However, many will agree that harvesting timber from our native forests is no longer sustainable. The Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) of the United Nations has stated that more wood is consumed than is actually produced in the world’s forests. Further, the world wood demand is rising every year and is predicted to do so for the foreseeable future.