Agricultural Biotechnology

 Agricultural Biotechnology:

• Agricultural biotechnology is a set of tools that include traditional breeding techniques to alter living organisms to modify or make products, improve plants or animals, or develop microorganisms for specific agricultural uses. Genetic engineering is the name given to some methods that scientists use to introduce new traits to an organism.

• Biotechnology has resulted in benefits to farmers, producers, and consumers by providing nutritionally-enriched foods, longer-lasting products, and lower levels of toxicants. Biotechnology can also make production cheaper and more manageable, enabling farmers to keep up with demands for food while reducing production costs.

• Biotechnology has helped to make insect pest control and weed management safer and easier, while safeguarding crops against diseases. However, assessing risks is challenging because natural and human-modified systems are complex, and GMOs may affect non-GMO organisms' genetics and reduce biodiversity.

• GM food labeling is highly required to verify if people have been harmed over the years by consuming GMF. The law for mandatory labeling is crucial, and a consensual system on GMO labeling is necessary. People across the world seek transparency and consumer choice, and believe that compulsory labeling schemes on GM ingredients are highly required.

• The organic movement is opposed to any use of GMOs in agriculture, and organic standards explicitly prohibit their use. However, some organic farmers have found their crops, including seeds, to contain detectable levels of genetically engineered DNA. The origin of pollution may be caused by pollen drift from GMO fields in surrounding areas, or the contamination may have also come from the seed supply.

Nutrition Facts Labels

Nutrition Facts Labels

• Packaged foods are required by law to carry a nutrition facts label.
• Nutrition facts labels show the nutrient content and ingredients in the food.
• Reading nutrition facts labels can help choose foods that are high in nutrients such as protein and low in nutrients such as fat.
• Nutrient density is the ratio of nutrient content to total energy content in kilocalories.
• Nutrient-dense foods help get enough of each nutrient without taking in too many kilocalories.
• Reading the ingredients list can also help choose healthful foods.
• Top of the list ingredients such as whole grains, vegetables, and fruits are needed the most in a balanced diet.
• Processed foods supply fewer nutrients than whole foods, even when they have been enriched or fortified with added nutrients.
• Micronutrients, including vitamins and minerals, do not provide energy.
• Adequate amounts of micronutrients are essential for good health.
• Many people do not eat enough of the right foods to meet their requirements.
• Vitamins are organic compounds that are needed by the body to function properly.
• There are 13 vitamins that humans need.
• Vitamins play many roles in good health, ranging from helping maintain vision to helping form red blood cells.
• Many vitamins are components of enzymes, and several vitamins act as antioxidants.
• Some vitamins, including vitamin B6, are produced by bacteria that normally live in the intestines, where they help digest food.
• Vitamin D is synthesized in the skin when exposed to UV radiation in sunlight.
• Good food sources of vitamins are whole grains, vegetables, fruits, milk, and nuts.
• Consuming inadequate amounts of vitamins can cause deficiency diseases.
• Consuming too much of some vitamins can also be dangerous.
• Vitamins are either fat-soluble or water-soluble.
• Vitamins A, D, E, and K are fat-soluble and can accumulate in the body and lead to overdoses.
• Vitamin C and all the B vitamins are water-soluble and are excreted in the urine.
• Recommended daily intakes not established; figures given are adequate daily intakes.
• Minerals are essential for the body's metabolism, growth, and repair.
• Minerals are divided into two groups: macrominerals and microminerals or trace elements.
• Macrominerals are needed in larger amounts than trace elements.
• The seven macrominerals are calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, sodium, potassium, chloride, and sulfur.
• Good food sources of macrominerals are milk, yogurt, cheese, leafy vegetables, whole grains, fruits, and lean meats.
• Trace elements are needed in smaller amounts than macrominerals.
• The nine trace elements are iron, zinc, copper, selenium, iodine, chromium, fluoride, molybdenum, and manganese.
• Good food sources of trace elements are seafood, organ meats, lean meats, nuts, seeds, whole grains, and legumes.

What is food security and what are its pillars?

 What is food security and what are its pillars?

Food security is the condition when all individuals have access to sufficient food of the right dietary mix (quality) at all times, enabling them to lead an active and healthy life. 

The four pillars of food security are:

1. Availability: Food availability refers to the production and supply of food, both domestically and through trade. It is crucial to ensure that the food produced is enough to feed the population, and that food is available in the right places and at the right times.
2. Access: Food access refers to the ability of individuals to obtain food. It depends on people's ability to purchase food, their physical access to markets, and the availability of food assistance programs.
3. Utilization: Food utilization refers to the capacity of individuals to use food effectively to maintain a healthy and active life. It includes access to clean water and proper sanitation, as well as education on nutrition and food preparation.
4. Stability: Food stability refers to the ability of individuals and communities to access food at all times, even during emergencies or difficult periods, such as natural disasters or economic crises. It requires reliable food systems and safety nets that can withstand shocks and crises.

All four pillars are interrelated and essential to achieve food security at all levels, from the individual to the global level.