Can biotech crops save us from climate change?

Biotechnology may help offset the effects of climate change and help increase food production, according to the International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-biotech Applications (ISAAA).

 

“Biotech crops, for the last 16 years of commercialization, have been contributing to the reduction of carbon dioxide emissions,” notes an ISAAA briefing paper, “Biotechnology and Climate Change.”

 

The publication adds that biotech crops—often called "genetically modified organisms" or GMOs, and which include soybean, corn, cotton, and canola—have allowed farmers “to use less and environmentally friendly energy and fertilizer, and practice soil carbon sequestration.”

 

Climate change is caused by an increase in the amount of greenhouse gases (carbon dioxide and other industrial gases) spewed into the atmosphere through human activities.

 

Climate change, which has been cited as a possible culprit of the recent super typhoons that hit the Philippines, will have a direct effect on food production in ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) region.

 

“Higher temperatures have significant ramifications for food production,” points out Impact of climate change on ASEAN food security: Downscaling analysis and response published by the Singapore-based Center for Non-Traditional Security (NTS) Studies.

 

The NTS publication cites these three reasons: 

 

 

“Climate change is more disastrous to the agricultural industry of the Philippines and its neighboring countries than in other parts of the world,” warned Dr. David Street of the US Argonne National Laboratory.

 

The Laguna-based International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) reported that climate change could reduce rice yields.  Although its study showed that rice could benefit from higher levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, an increase in temperature would “nullify any yield increase.”

 

As such, the ISAAA bats for green biotechnology that offers a solution to decrease greenhouse gases which, in turn, mitigates climate change.

 

“Crops can be modified faster through biotechnology than conventional crops, thus hastening implementation of strategies to meet rapid and severe climatic changes,” the ISAAA briefing paper explains. 

 

According to the paper, pest and disease resistant biotech crops have been continuously developed as new pests and diseases emerge with changes in climate. “Resistant varieties will also reduce pesticide application and hence carbon dioxide emission,” it adds. “Crop tolerant to various abiotech stresses have been developed in response to climate changes.”

 

In 2012, almost 40% (2.5 billion) of the world population of 6.7 billion rely on agriculture for their livelihood.  These are the number of people who will be most severely affected by climate change.

 

“To mitigate these effects, current agricultural approaches need to be modified and innovative adaption strategies need to be in place to efficiently produce more food in stressed conditions and with net reduction in greenhouse gas emissions,” the ISAAA briefing paper recommends.

 

Another ISAAA briefing paper reports that farmers planting biotech crops since 1996 “have reduced pesticide inputs in their fields by 9% (over 474 million kilograms) which led to an overall reduction in the environmental footprint of biotech crops by 18.1%.”

 

Not only that.  Biotech crops have had a positive impact on farm income worldwide due to enhanced productivity and efficiency gains.

 

“In 2011, direct global farm income benefit was US$19.8 billion,” the ISAAA briefing paper notes.  “Over the period of 16 years (between 1996-2011), farm incomes have increased by US$98.2 billion.” — TJD, GMA News