Difference between revisions of "Food/Seeding the world with optimized species"
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In 1968 Paul Ehrlich wrote a book called ''The Population Bomb'', warning that India and China were headed for catastrophic famines, as food production could not keep up with their expanding populations. Yet just six years later, in 1974, not only had the famines not materialized, but India and China were exporting grains. | In 1968 Paul Ehrlich wrote a book called ''The Population Bomb'', warning that India and China were headed for catastrophic famines, as food production could not keep up with their expanding populations. Yet just six years later, in 1974, not only had the famines not materialized, but India and China were exporting grains. | ||
| − | What changed? High-yield, drought-resistant, semi-dwarf varieties of wheat and other crops were introduced to these countries by an initiative headed by {{wp|Norman_Borlaug|Norman Borlaug}}, "the man who fed the world". This | + | What changed? High-yield, drought-resistant, semi-dwarf varieties of wheat and other crops were introduced to these countries by an initiative headed by {{wp|Norman_Borlaug|Norman Borlaug}}, "the man who fed the world". This is one dramatic example of the difference that using an optimized strain of a plant can make. |
| − | + | Other optimized strains have been introduced since then: NERICA rice has 2.5 times the yield of previously used strains. In 2002, a new strain of tomato was released in India that doubled yields and contains six times as much beta-carotene <sup>[http://www.avrdc.org/pdf/mtp2003.pdf]</sup>. A new kind of pineapple was recently introduced in Cuba that has triple the yield of previous varieties <sup>[http://knowledge.cta.int/en/Dossiers/CTA-and-S-T/Developments/Cuba-introduces-new-pineapple-variety-that-triples-yield]</sup>. There are countless more example like this, both for plants and livestock. | |
| − | Borlaug achieved huge increases in yield by selective breeding. Around seventy years earlier, {{wp|Luther_Burbank|Luther Burbank}} had achieved something similar by creating hybrids. But now, in the early 21st century, we have | + | Borlaug achieved huge increases in yield by selective breeding. Around seventy years earlier, {{wp|Luther_Burbank|Luther Burbank}} had achieved something similar by creating hybrids. But now, in the early 21st century, we have a third powerful tool in our quest for better plants and livestock: genetic modification. |
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| + | Up until now, genetic modification of food-plants has been quite simple. Generally, a single new gene has been inserted into a plant, to cause it to produce a nutrient or a pest-repellent, or convey some other desirable trait. But due to the rapid acceleration of [[Biotechnology|genomic technologies]], we are about to see more complex modifications, combining multiple desirable traits in a single species. Genetic modification can even allow plants to grow in soils they otherwise could not <sup>[http://146.186.172.254/nas/Speakers/Herrera-Estrella%20man.html]</sup>, opening up whole new swathes of farmland. Biotechnology can also create microbes that help soil conditions, pest control and plant growth. Certain bacteria can significantly improve the yield and nutritional profile of a wide range of plants <sup>[http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=ArticleListURL&_method=list&_ArticleListID=1404110315&_sort=v&_st=17&view=c&_acct=C000050221&_version=1&_urlVersion=0&_userid=10&md5=eb611b992793b406c9bdc0279dc70e83]</sup> and we are likely to improve on these even more. | ||
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| + | Using a combination of selective breeding, hybridization and genetic modification, it is becoming possible to create the highest-yielding, fastest-growing, most compact, hardiest, most water-efficient, most nutritious, tastiest plants that have ever existed. Combined with the high-yield farming techniques described above, this can produce an abundance of high-quality food for everyone. | ||
The recent surprising trend toward 'garage' biotechnology (or 'biohacking') may even play a role. It will be interesting to see what new biotechnologies come out of hackerspaces like [http://diybio.org/ DIYbio] and [http://biocurious.org BioCurious] that could help feed the world. | The recent surprising trend toward 'garage' biotechnology (or 'biohacking') may even play a role. It will be interesting to see what new biotechnologies come out of hackerspaces like [http://diybio.org/ DIYbio] and [http://biocurious.org BioCurious] that could help feed the world. | ||
| − | Once optimized strains are created, they can be spread around the world through free | + | Robert Levin identified one of the key characteristics of agalmic (i.e. [[Post-scarcity|non-scarce]]) goods as being so abundant that "I can give you one without appreciably diminishing my supply". This applies particularly well to biological resources like plants, because of their ability to self-replicate. A farmer growing a productive plant will not be hurt by giving away a cutting for free. This creates a perfect milieu for a {{wp|Gift_economy|gift economy}} to emerge. Once optimized strains are created, they can be spread around the world through free exchanges on the Internet, where anyone can ask for a seed, a cutting or a bacterial culture and have it sent to them for free. |
Revision as of 16:22, 24 July 2010
In 1968 Paul Ehrlich wrote a book called The Population Bomb, warning that India and China were headed for catastrophic famines, as food production could not keep up with their expanding populations. Yet just six years later, in 1974, not only had the famines not materialized, but India and China were exporting grains.
What changed? High-yield, drought-resistant, semi-dwarf varieties of wheat and other crops were introduced to these countries by an initiative headed by Norman Borlaug 
, "the man who fed the world". This is one dramatic example of the difference that using an optimized strain of a plant can make.
Other optimized strains have been introduced since then: NERICA rice has 2.5 times the yield of previously used strains. In 2002, a new strain of tomato was released in India that doubled yields and contains six times as much beta-carotene [1]. A new kind of pineapple was recently introduced in Cuba that has triple the yield of previous varieties [2]. There are countless more example like this, both for plants and livestock.
Borlaug achieved huge increases in yield by selective breeding. Around seventy years earlier, Luther Burbank had achieved something similar by creating hybrids. But now, in the early 21st century, we have a third powerful tool in our quest for better plants and livestock: genetic modification.
Up until now, genetic modification of food-plants has been quite simple. Generally, a single new gene has been inserted into a plant, to cause it to produce a nutrient or a pest-repellent, or convey some other desirable trait. But due to the rapid acceleration of genomic technologies, we are about to see more complex modifications, combining multiple desirable traits in a single species. Genetic modification can even allow plants to grow in soils they otherwise could not [3], opening up whole new swathes of farmland. Biotechnology can also create microbes that help soil conditions, pest control and plant growth. Certain bacteria can significantly improve the yield and nutritional profile of a wide range of plants [4] and we are likely to improve on these even more.
Using a combination of selective breeding, hybridization and genetic modification, it is becoming possible to create the highest-yielding, fastest-growing, most compact, hardiest, most water-efficient, most nutritious, tastiest plants that have ever existed. Combined with the high-yield farming techniques described above, this can produce an abundance of high-quality food for everyone.
The recent surprising trend toward 'garage' biotechnology (or 'biohacking') may even play a role. It will be interesting to see what new biotechnologies come out of hackerspaces like DIYbio and BioCurious that could help feed the world.
Robert Levin identified one of the key characteristics of agalmic (i.e. non-scarce) goods as being so abundant that "I can give you one without appreciably diminishing my supply". This applies particularly well to biological resources like plants, because of their ability to self-replicate. A farmer growing a productive plant will not be hurt by giving away a cutting for free. This creates a perfect milieu for a gift economy to emerge. Once optimized strains are created, they can be spread around the world through free exchanges on the Internet, where anyone can ask for a seed, a cutting or a bacterial culture and have it sent to them for free.
