Biotechnology, a Means to Augment Food Production, Experts Affirm

Pakistani and Indian scientists affirm that biotechnology is a vital means to augment food production by 5 to 6 per cent and it can bring about ‘food security' in any country. During an interview with ACJ News on Friday, Pakistan Biotechnology Information Center (PABIC) Director at Karachi University, Prof. Dr. M. Iqbal Choudhary said that food inadequacy is recognized as a global primary issue. In Pakistan, 20 per cent of the people had been recorded to have acute malnutrition, while this figure was 10 per cent a decade back. Pakistan is one of the three Muslim countries (with Sudan and Bangladesh) commercializing biotech crops, out of 57 Muslim nations. Unfortunately, Pakistan is still facing food shortage and biotechnology can help in attaining food security.

M. S. Swaminathan Research Foundation (MSSRF) Director in Chennai, Dr G.N. Hariharan also expressed his optimism on the impact of biotechnology in India. But there is a need for people to know the benefits of biotech crops, including its effect on health and the environment. According to a report of Global Agriculture Information Network, "Bt cotton is the only GE crop currently approved for commercial cultivation in India. Agricultural cotton trade between the United States and India was estimated at about $5.6 billion in 2013, favoring India."

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