THEM
It is not possible to achieve reasonable
agricultural productivity without significantly
affecting the environment.
Traditionally, tillage of soil has been used as the
primary means to control weeds. However, this
can also lead to soil degradation by causing
erosion, reducing soil quality and harming soil
organisms.
once effective herbicides were developed in the
second half of the 20th century, farmers began to
reduce their dependence on tillage.
The development of GM crops modified to be
tolerant to herbicides has provided new tools and
practices for controlling weeds and has
accelerated the adoption of conservation tillage,
low-till or no -till practices.
Yield is a critical factor in measuring the success
of most crops, drop yields are depressed by such
biotic stresses such as weeds, insects, and
pathogens. Abiotic stress tolerances are of
particular importance in the light of increasing
water shortages and global climate changes.
Crops are being researched which will be heat,
drought, saline and cold tolerant.
Without yield improvements that may help to
constrain the agricultural footprint, it is
predicted that over the next 50 years, a third of
all remaining natural tropical and temperate
ecosystems could be lost to agriculture.
Foods will be modified to remove allergens and
toxic substances
Transgenic plants can be used for
bioremediation of soils and water courses.
Peer reviewed by Dr. Franceses TenCalla and Dr. John Purcell of Monsanto.
Cockburn, Andrew. "Commercial Plant Breeding: What Is in the Biotech Pipeline?" Journal of Commercial Biotechnology.
10.3 (2004): 209-223. Print.
ME
In order to feed the worlds populations, there
will be environmental impact regardless of what
is done.
When soil is tilled to combat the spread of weeds
in farms, the soil is degraded due to erosion.
The amount of tillage done by farmers has
declined due to the introduction of GM crops
that are resistant to herbicides, allowing farmers
to till the soil less, resulting in less soil erosion,
preservation of soil quality, and less use of
energy.
Crops success are determined by how much they
produce. Yields can be reduced by living and
nonliving factors.
Research is being made on crops to make them
tolerant to many non-living factors.
If nothing is done to allows crops to produce
more without expanding the area of cultivation,
in 50 years tropical and temperate ecosystems
will be reduced by a third.
Modification of food will be able to make food
more healthy for those with allergies.
Genetically modified plants are able to remove
pollutants from the soil and water.