UNIVERSITY OF MAURITIUS - Faculty of Agriculture

1. UNIVERSITY OF MAURITIUS - Faculty of Agriculture “UNITED AGAINST HUNGER” Use of Biotechnology to achieve Food Security Plant Tissue Culture Single Cell Protein Plant tissue culture is the cultivation of plant cells or tissues on specifically formulated nutrients enriched media. Under appropriate conditions, an entire plant can be regenerated from each single cell, permitting the rapid production of many identical plants. Techniques employed in the regeneration of plants include the use of micro propagation. Micro-propagation is the practice of rapidly multiplying stock plant material to produce a large number of progeny plants, using modern plant tissue culture methods. This technique of micro-propagation is being practised in various institutions in Mauritius like the Food and Agricultural Research Council (FARC) and Mauritius Sugar Industry Research Institute (MSIRI). In this way, thousands of copies of plants have been produced in a short time. Micro-propagated plants are observed to establish more quickly, grow more vigorously and taller, have a shorter and more uniform production cycle, and produce higher yields than conventional propagules. Biotechnology Single cell protein simply refers to proteins extracted from pure culture or mixed culture of microorganisms such as algae, yeasts, fungi or bacteria. These extracted proteins are used as a substitute for protein-rich food in humans as well as animal feeds. SCP can be used for protein supplementation of a staple diet by replacing costly conventional sources like soy meal and fishmeal to alleviate the problem of protein scarcity. Moreover, bioconversion of agricultural and industrial wastes to protein-rich food- benefit of making the final product cheaper. This would also offset the negative cost value of wastes used as substrate to yield SCP. It would make food production less dependent upon land and relieve the pressure on agriculture. The SCP is rich in high quality protein and is rather poor in fats, which is rather desirable. They can be produced all the year round. An example is Spirulina. "Bio" means living, Biotechnology can be termed as any technological application that uses biological systems, living organisms or derivatives thereof, to make or modify products or processes for specific use. Since ancient times, people have been making use of biotechnology such as for the making of wine, beer, cheese and yogurt. Biotechnology largely makes use of genetic manipulation to get new products or enhanced existing processes. Various biotechnological applications ranges from Micro propagation or Tissue culture to produce plantlets, genetically modified/engineered organisms, to get enhanced characteristics, and use of bacteria in various food industries to optimize processes just to name a few. Biotechnology is an applied science that combines pure sciences such as biology, chemistry, biochemistry, genetics, microbiology just to name these. Genetically Modified Organism Enhanced Soil fertility • Genetically Modified Organism, GMO is an organism whose genetic material has been changed using genetic engineering techniques. It is simply the insertion or deletion of genes that usually come from another organism with specific characteristics. This is done mainly for some organisms to get enhanced specificities. • Plants are being genetically modified, so that we can obtain high yielding varieties for example or plant resistance to some specific disease. In so doing, we are decreasing cost of production, and increasing the yield. • Some examples are genetically engineered crops are • Golden Rice; this rice contains Beta-Carotene, which is converted into Vitamin A in the body when consumed. • Maize and soybean are modified to resist to pests, hence they can easily be • harvested and less funding in pesticides. Plants, animals, fungi, bacteria and humans affect the natural composition of soil. Soil used in agriculture serves as the primary nutrient base for plants. The plants use up the nutrients of the soil and the latter gets depleted in nutrients such as nitrogen which is essential for plant growth. Biotechnology can be used to develop new strains of microorganisms that can effectively fix nitrogen, converting it to ammonia hence making the soil more fertile. Bacteria are used to improve the quality of unfertile lands through the use of soil stimulants that can enhance soil bacterial action for the loosening of compact soil and better absorption of water for a better plant productivity. Hence, in regions that have poor soil fertility, this can help to achieve an optimal soil composition for effective and better yielding cultivars. References • Anupama, Ravindra P. , Centre for Biotechnology, Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University, Mahaveermarg, Hyderabad, IndnidhIuppangala • Bhalla, T.C., N.N. Sharma and M. Sharma, 2007.Production of Metabolites, Industrial Enzymes, Amino Acid, Organic Acids, Antibiotics, Vitamins and Single Cell Proteins. National Science Digital Library, India. • The Ecology Company, New Technology Bio Stimulants For Agriculture, Plants And Turf, Dec. 2009 • Essentails of Biotechnology, ChandraniSanyalDatta • Access Excellence, the National Health Museum,1994-2009