Biotech is the only way to sustain food security

Sustainable agriculture aims to meet the food and fiber demands of society in an environmentally sound manner that does not harm the natural ecosystem or processes. The integration of a healthy environment and economic profitability with social and economic equality is essential to develop sustainable climate-resilient agriculture. Biotechnology has emerged as a promising tool in crop improvement, offering the potential to increase yield, biotic and abiotic resistance, and nutrient-rich crops.

The term “sustainable” derives from “sustain,” which means to maintain, uphold, and endure. Sustainable agricultural development attempts to meet society’s food and fiber demands with long-term solutions for current and future generations. The primary requirement for sustainable agriculture is to merge a healthy environment and economic profitability with social and economic equality and to develop climate-resilient agriculture. To attain this goal, sustainable agricultural scientists must use multidisciplinary approaches that combine biology, engineering, chemistry, economics, and community development. The 1990 Farm Bill (The Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade (FACT) Act of 1990) defines sustainable agriculture as an integrated system of plant and animal production practices having a site-specific application that will, over the long term, fulfill the (a) food and fiber needs; (b) enhance environmental quality by judicial use of natural resources; (c) make the most efficient use of on-farm resources by integrating regenerative approaches; (d) improve farm economics; and (e) enhance the quality of life for farmers and society as a whole [1–3].

Biotechnology is the technological application in biology, primarily involving the transfer of genetic material containing a specific trait from one crop/organism to another in order to improve crop productivity and resistance to various biotic and abiotic stresses. Many on-farm and small-plot research studies demonstrated that biotechnological intervention could improve crop yield and nutrient quality [4], and weed management [5] without affecting the ecosystem and environment. Engineered crops like glyphosate-resistant crops make weed control simple and more efficient [6]. The crop can be engineered for disease resistance properties and can decrease the use of synthetic pesticides. Crops can be biofortified by introducing genes specific to certain metabolic pathways, such as Golden Rice fortified by introducing genes for the biosynthesis of beta-carotene [7]. Recent advances in OMICS approaches, especially CRISPR genome editing, have provided more opportunities and hope for developing the second/third generation of biotechnological products. Despite the potential of biotechnology in sustainable agriculture, it still faces challenges due to public sentiments. There is a need for more outreach and extension to answer people’s queries and concerns. The potential risks of genetically modified organisms and the need to safeguard biodiversity pose a challenge to the broad applicability of biotechnology in agriculture.

The agricultural revolution in the 21st century is the cumulative effect of improved agronomic management, plant breeding, fertilizer technology, and farm mechanization, which has dramatically improved crop production. However, climate change, abiotic and biotic stress, biodiversity losses, and soil degradation will potentially affect crop production, as studies have described yield stagnation and increased yield variability in recent years. In a study by Ray and colleagues [8] for 4 major crops of the world, maize, rice, wheat, and soybean, the yield of these crops increased by 1.6%, 1.0%, 0.9%, and 1.3% per year, respectively, which is less than the 2.4% per year required rate to meet the demand of the increasing population. The projected world population will reach 9 billion figures by 2030, and the earth will be warmer as we reach 2030; biotechnology will be critical in countering climate change and food security issues.