BIOT12001 Food & Plant Biotechnology

One of the major challenges in the coming decades is to feed a world population approaching 9 - 10 billion in size. Both animal and plant agriculture will play a major role in achieving this agenda, not only to produce the food we need, but also to deliver a growing array of natural products needed by current and developing industries. This course includes a brief review of traditional agricultural practices and then outlines the potential role that genetic engineering and biotechnology has in current and future food production systems. Emphasis is placed on a balanced appraisal of the need for biotechnology interventions and associated environmental concerns.