Biotechnology & Human Population (OCR GCSE Combined Science A (Gateway))

Biotechnology & Human Population

• There are some possible biotechnological solutions to the demands of the growing human population

• These mainly centre around

  • Genetic modification of crops

  • Genetic modification of livestock

• Such solutions move towards a more intensive food production industry globally

  • More people plus less available land means that agricultural productivity must rise

Examples of agricultural productivity gains via biotechnology

Genetic Modification of Crops

• Genetically modified (GM) crops may be regarded as an elegant solution to increasing food production, but GM is not without its risks and drawbacks

• Just over 10% of the world's arable land is now under GM crops

  • This has grown rapidly since the 1990s

  • The fact that not more than 10% of arable land is GM suggests that the route towards a fully-GM food supply base still has its problems and blockages that are holding back progress

Advantages & Disadvantages of Genetically Engineered Plants Table