Plant genetic engineering is a fact, it is an efficient and necessary breeding technique, and it is both a challenge and a solution that will be accepted by the public

Arie Altman*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contributionpeer-review

2 Scopus citations

Abstract

While the future of commercializing GM plants seemed doomed just two years ago, as the public concerns were approaching panic, especially in Europe, the global area of transgenic crops between 2000 and 2001 reached about 130 million acres towards the end of 2001, which were grown by 5.5 million farmers and represented a 19% increase during the year 2000 and a 30-fold increase since 1996. The use of GM crops and related R&D activities is likely to increase in the years to come because plant genetic engineering is an efficient and a practical breeding technique that enables more sustainable and improved production of quality food, and is more environmentally friendly. Most important, we are more aware of the potential risks, the biosafety issues, and are able to take all precautionary steps. Plant biotechnology has changed the horticultural scene in three major areas: Control over plant growth and development; Protecting plants against the increasing threats of biotic stress; Improving food, and producing biochemicals and pharmaceuticals. The major challenges ahead include: Alleviating the hazards of abiotic stress, foremost salinity, drought and extreme temperatures; Maintenance and improvement of the environment, both large open spaces and unique ecological niches (foremost forests, grasslands and savannas); Improvement of crop quality and design of ."specialty food", using biochemical engineering. This includes a shift from the production of low-priced food and bulk commodities to high-priced, special plant-derived products. Biotechnology cannot solve all problems, however, it is a most powerful technique that can and will be integrated with all classical breeding programs of many horticultural plants. The only criterion to evaluate the efficiency of genetic engineering will be its cost effectiveness, actual needs, and benefits to sustainable development.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationXXVI International Horticultural Congress
Subtitle of host publicationBiotechnology in Horticultural Crop Improvement: Achievements, Opportunities and Limitations
PublisherInternational Society for Horticultural Science
Pages425-437
Number of pages13
ISBN (Print)9789066052581
DOIs
StatePublished - 30 Sep 2003

Publication series

NameActa Horticulturae
Volume625
ISSN (Print)0567-7572

Keywords

  • Abiotic and biotic stress
  • Bioethics
  • Biosafety
  • Biotechnology
  • Drought and salinity tolerance
  • GM crops

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