Syllabus- Food bio-technology, Food safety and Food quality standards, Food Laws and Regulations. Recent trends in organic farming and farm mechanization. Safe Drinking Water – De-fluoridation and other Techniques.
Number of questions- Mains: 02, Prelims – 10
Mains Questions of the day-
1.Examine the role of biotechnology in achieving food security in India. What are various challenges faced by biotechnology sector in India?
Introduction:
Write briefly about Food Security
Body:
Mention the role of biotechnology in achieving food security in India and associated challenges to it.
Conclusion:
- Population pressure has already begun to affect the environment in large parts of the developing world.
- Because of intensive land use and widespread biomass shortage, cultivated soils are being depleted of essential nutrients and organic matter.
- Fisheries, livestock and forestry resources are also under increasing strain.
- Biotechnology is the one of the important way out for this.
Content:
- Food insecurity is one of the most pressing problems today, creating directly or indirectly several other challenges.
- The challenge of nutritiously feeding the skyrocketing population will be even more severe in coming times.
- For instance, the National Institute of Nutrition highlights that majority (two-thirds) of the states have a high percentage of malnourished children and high level of wasting.
- This is mainly because of the non-availability/non-accessibility of/to enough amounts of proteins and micronutrients for pregnant women and children under the age of five.
- The recently released Global Hunger Index also highlights that the situation is serious for India.
Food security has three dimensions:
- Availability of sufficient quantities of food of appropriate quality, supplied through domestic production or imports.
- Access by households and individuals to appropriate foods for a nutritious diet.
- Optimal uptake of nourishment thanks to a sustaining diet, clean water and adequate sanitation, together with health care.
Securing food security with biotechnology:
- There are a range of biotechnological approaches, including both traditional ones like selective breeding and fermentation techniques, and modern ones such as genomics, molecular breeding and genetic engineering, that can contribute towards achieving food and nutrition security.
- In the current era, advances in genomics sciences have equipped scientists to decode genomes for any crop species and we can get information on genes responsible for important agronomic traits. Gene information can be used to accelerate breeding programmes and develop high-yielding and better varieties faster.
- For example, the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), have developed improved lines of chickpea (tolerant to drought), groundnut (resistant to foliar disease), pearl millet (having high iron and zinc contents) and sorghum (tolerant to drought).
- We have already seen the success of Bt cotton in our country, as India from being an importer a few years ago has now become a major exporter. The other potential GM crop to help the farming community is GM mustard.
- Biotech crops can play a significant role in food security, giving farmers satisfaction about their benefits and high adoption rates. Biotech crops helped alleviate poverty by helping 18 million small farmers and their families, totaling 65 million people.
- The spectrum of potential benefits from the application of genetic engineering and biotechnology to food crops in developing countries ranges from diagnostic aids, for example in plant diseases, through to gene mapping.
- The main objective of research and development for food security is to find improved seed varieties, that enable reliable high yields at the same or lower tillage costs through qualities such as resistance to or tolerance of plant diseases (fungi, bacteria, viruses) and animal pests (insects, mites, nematodes) as well as to stress factors such as climatic variation or aridity, poor soil quality.
- Equally important objectives are the transfer of genes with nitrogen-fixing capacity onto grains, and the improvement of food quality by overcoming vitamin or mineral deficiencies. All these crucial and basic needed expectations can be satisfied with the use of biotechnology.
Challenges faced by Biotechnology sector:
- Biotechnology research often requires access to laboratories with high-end scientific infrastructure, the supply of expensive chemicals and reagents with minimum shipping time between the supplier and the user, and a disciplined work culture and documentation practice due to regulatory and intellectual property filing requirement.
- Compared to the developed economies (the United States), biotechnology research in India is mainly funded by the public exchequer. Unless the private sector starts supporting applied research and engages with academic institutions, the innovation in applied and translational biotechnology will be minimal.
- Companies have not been able to launch new products at a significant pace because of bureaucratic red-tape and multiple regulatory bodies.
- Innovative companies face funding constraints since the investors have shied away from early-stage ventures.
- Another issue is the lack of trained manpower. While India has a considerable number of graduates and postgraduates in biotechnology and related fields, they are not employable. Thus companies have to invest heavily in their training before incorporating them into the business.
- Lack of manufacturing capacity. Several biotech parks (established through PPPs) are solely focused on providing biotech services and diagnostics rather than pure biotech manufacturing.
- Low wages of scientists (compared to the developed economies) and a few institutional research bases have not helped create more jobs in biotechnology.
2. Discuss the Biotechnology applications in Agriculture and Allied sectors.
Introduction:
Write briefly about Biotechnology and its importance.
Body:
Mention the applications of Biotechnology in Agriculture and Allied sectors
Conclusion:
- The benefits of biotechnology are especially meaningful at a time when our global population is growing and our demand for food is increasing, mainly in developing countries.
- However, it should be kept in mind that the long-term consequences of the genetic modification are still unknown so the technology should be used cautiously.
Content:
- Biotechnology is the field that exploits living organisms to make technological advances in various fields for the sustainable development of mankind.
- Biotechnology is the use of an organism, or a component of an organism or other biological system, to make a product or process for a specific use.
- With the development of genetic engineering in the 1970s, research in biotechnology developed rapidly because of the new possibility to make changes in the organisms’ genetic material (DNA).
- Biotechnology deals with industrial scale production of biopharmaceuticals and biologicals using genetically modified microbes, fungi, plants and animals.
- Genetic Engineering techniques to alter the chemistry of genetic material to introduce into host organism and thus change the phenotype of organism.
- The genotype is a set of genes in DNA responsible for unique traits or characteristics while the phenotype is the physical appearance or characteristic of an organism.
Application of biotechnology in Agriculture:
- Biotechnology has played a major role in agriculture by altering genes, studying and cloning various crops in order to provide better quality products of foods ultimately improving our lives.
- Hybrid Seeds, Artificial Seeds, Photosynthesis improver, Stress resistant crops and plants, Bio fertilizers, Bio-pesticides are some of the potential applications.
- Potential advantages that biotechnology can confer across a wide range of agricultural applications are in areas such as livestock management, storage of agricultural products and sustaining current crop yields, while reducing the use of fertilizers, herbicides and pesticides.
- Biotechnology offers a very promising alternative to synthetic foods and an improvement on conventional plant-breeding technologies. Combined with other advanced agricultural technologies, it offers an exciting and environmentally responsible way to meet consumer demand for sustainable agriculture.
Application of biotechnology in Animal Husbandry:
- The application of biotechnology in this area, in increasing production efficiency through manipulation and control of physiological systems and improving the health and well-being of animals, assumes great significance.
- Biotechnology is being harnessed in various aspects of the livestock industry to hasten breed development for improved animal health and welfare, enhanced reproduction, and improved nutritional quality and safety of animal-derived foods.
- Various biotechnology methods are used in improving the breeding stock of animals. These include Artificial insemination (AI), Embryo transfer (ET), In-vitro fertilization (IVF), Somatic cell nuclear transfer, and the emerging technology on somatic cell nuclear transfer.
- Artificial insemination is the deliberate introduction of sperm into a female’s cervix or uterine cavity for the purpose of achieving a pregnancy through in vivo fertilization by means other than sexual intercourse or invitro-fertilisation.
- Embryo transplantation, used with cattle, goats, pigs, and sheep, aims to increase the number of offspring from a quality female.
- Cloning embryos to artificially produce genetic duplicates of an animal has also become possible.
- Direct manipulation and alteration of an animal’s genetic material— genetic engineering—has the potential to produce even more drastic changes in animal breeding. It is believed that genetically altered pigs may one day be able to provide compatible organs for emergency transplantation (xenotransplantation) into humans.
Application of Biotechnology in Food Processing:
- Modern Biotechnology is helpful in enhancing taste, yield, shell life and nutritive values. This is also useful in food processing (fermentation and enzyme involving processes). So Biotechnology is beneficial in erasing hunger, malnutrition and diseases from developing countries and third word.
- Modern biotechnology products are commercially reasonable hence it can improve agriculture as well as food industry that will result in raise in income of poor farmers.
- Biotechnology has a major application in the food sector.
- Bread, cheese, wine, beer, yogurt, and vinegar are all made by culturing microorganisms and are really the oldest products of biotechnology.
- It helps in improving the edibility, texture, and storage of the food; in preventing the attack of the food, mainly dairy, by the virus like bacteriophage.
- Biotechnologists are also developing tests that will allow the detection of food-contaminating microorganisms and the toxins they produce, which may be present only in minute quantities.
- Biotechnology also has applications in the detection of mutagens (substances that cause genetic mutations) in individual food products.
- GM crops which have been approved for use in food items in select countries include corn, maize, soya, tomato, potato and papaya.
- Latest innovations in biotechnology that fortify major staples with micro nutrients like vitamin A, zinc and iron can be game changers for hunger problem in India.
Prelims Questions of the day:
1.Which of the following is a process that uses microorganisms to detoxify contaminants in the soil?
- Biosensors
- Biomarkers
- Bioremediation
- Bio fortification
Answer: C
Explanation:
Bioremediation – is a process that uses mainly microorganisms, plants, or microbial or plant enzymes to detoxify contaminants in the soil and other environments.
2. Which of the following is a new grouping, shares various common global issues including food security crisis and defence?
- Quad
- Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA)
- I2U2
- ASEAN
Answer: C
Explanation:
- The new I2U2 grouping of India, Israel, UAE, and the US will hold its first virtual summit in July 2022. I2U2 group has been formed as part of the United States Government’s efforts to re-energize and revitalize American alliances all over the world.
- The leaders of the four countries will discuss the food security crisis and the other areas of cooperation.
- I2U2 is the new grouping formed by four nations- India, Israel, UAE, and the US. The countries share various common global issues including food security crisis and defence, which will also be a highlight of the meeting of the four nations.
3. Who among the following paved way for research on GM crops in India?
- M. S. Swaminathan
- C.R. Bhatia
- Dr. Rajendra Singh Paroda
- Subrahmaniam Nagarajan
Answer: B
Explanation:
Subrahmaniam Nagarajan:
- Subrahmaniam Nagarajan was an Indian Wheat pathologist.
- He was the project director of all India wheat programs and author of more than 120 research papers, 50 book chapters, and 2 textbooks.
- He joined the IARI/ICAR as a wheat pathologist in 1974.
- Nagarajan was internationally respected and received the Borlaug award for his achievements in the advancement of the wheat program, pathology of wheat rusts, and its elimination.
- Because of his work and advice, for the last 12 years, there has been no crop damage due to rust epidemics.
Mankumbo Sambasivan Swaminathan:
- MS Swaminathan is an expert scientist and supervisor, known for his part in India’s Green Revolution, a program under which he planted various high-quality wheat and rice varieties.
- Swaminathan called as Father of the Green Revolution in India because he introduced and developed high-yield wheat varieties in India.
- His suggestions make the agriculture world stronger and vanish the problem of hunger and poverty.
- He is the founder of the MS Swaminathan Research Foundation.
- He brings moving India to sustainable development by using sustainable techniques, sustainable food security, and the preservation of biodiversity, and this movement is called an “evergreen revolution” by him.
C.R. Bhatia:
- A former DBT secretary who paved way for research on GM crops in India, passes away recently
- A father, a hardcore geneticist, and the person who approved the first import of genetically modified (GM) cotton seeds for scientific research into the country.
- That’s how the scientific community remembers Chittranjan Bhatia, a scientist and former secretary of the Department of Biotechnology (DBT).
- Bhatia, who died recently in Maharashtra, was instrumental in bringing the first batch of genetically modified cotton to India while he was DBT secretary between 1993 and 1995, when the world was still trying to understand GM crops.
4. Food and Agricultural Organisation is a specialized agency of which of the following international organization?
- WTO
- WHO
- IMO
- United Nations
Answer: D
Explanation:
Food and Agriculture Organization:
- The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations that leads international efforts to defeat hunger and improve nutrition and food security.
- It was founded in October 1945.
- The FAO is composed of 197 member states.
- It is headquartered in Rome, Italy.
- It helps governments and development agencies coordinate their activities to improve and develop agriculture, forestry, fisheries, and land and water resources.
- It also conducts research, provides technical assistance to projects, operates educational and training programs, and collects data on agricultural output, production, and development.
- FAO have pledged themselves to three main aims:
- to raise the levels of nutrition and the standards of living of their peoples;
- to improve the production and distribution of all food and agricultural products;
- to improve the condition of the rural population.
5.Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), comes under which of the following Ministry?
- Ministry of Consumer Affairs.
- Ministry of Commerce and Industry
- Minister of Corporate Affairs
- Minister of Information and Broadcasting
Answer: B
Explanation:
Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT):
- The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
- The renamed body will also be in charge of four new categories of responsibilities:
- the promotion of internal trade (including retail trade),
- the welfare of traders and their employees,
- matters relating to facilitating Ease of Doing Business,
- matters relating to promotion of start-ups.
- The matters related to internal trade were earlier under the domain of the Ministry of Consumer Affairs.
- The new responsibilities are in addition to the previous responsibilities of the erstwhile DIPP relating to general industrial policy, administration of the Industries, industrial management, productivity in industry, and matters related to e-commerce.
6.Which of the following type of Biotechnology used for used to obtain biofuels from certain microalgae?
- Green biotechnology
- Red biotechnology
- Blue biotechnology
- White biotechnology
Answer: C
Explanation:
Biotechnology has numerous applications, particularly in medicine and agriculture. The applications of biotechnology include therapeutics, diagnostics, genetically modified crops for agriculture, processed food, bioremediation, waste treatment, and energy production.
Types of Biotechnology
- Red biotechnology: This is the health branch and responsible, according to the Biotechnology Innovation Organization (BIO), for the development of more than 250 vaccines and medications such as antibiotics, regenerative therapies and the production of artificial organs.
- Green biotechnology: It is used by more than 13 million farmers worldwide to fight pests and nourish crops and strengthen them against microorganisms and extreme weather events, such as droughts and frosts.
- White biotechnology: The industrial branch works to improve manufacturing processes, the development of biofuels and other technologies to make industry more efficient and sustainable.
- Yellow biotechnology: This branch is focused on food production and, for example, it carries out research to reduce the levels of saturated fats in cooking oils.
- Blue biotechnology: This exploits marine resources to obtain aquaculture, cosmetics and health care products. In addition, it is the branch most widely used to obtain biofuels from certain microalgae.
- Grey biotechnology: Its purpose is the conservation and restoration of contaminated natural ecosystems through, as mentioned above, bioremediation processes.
- Gold biotechnology: Also known as bioinformatics, it is responsible for obtaining, storing, analysing and separating biological information, especially that related to DNA and amino acid sequences.
7.Which of the following represent the process of improving the nutritional quality of food crops?
- Biosensors
- Bioremediation
- Biomarkers
- Bio-fortification
Answer: D
Explanation:
- Biofortification is the process of improving the nutritional quality of food crops.
- Biofortification is the idea of breeding crops to increase their nutritional value. This can be done either through conventional selective breeding, or through genetic engineering.
- Examples of biofortification projects include:
- Iron-biofortification of rice, beans, sweet potato, cassava, and legumes.
- Zinc-biofortification of wheat, rice, beans, sweet potato, and maize.
- Provitamin A carotenoid-biofortification of sweet potato, maize and cassava.
- Amino acid and protein-biofortification of sorghum and cassava.
8.Which of the following is an application of biotechnology in the environment that responds to the chemicals to measure the effect of pollution caused?
- Biosensors
- Biomarkers
- Biofuels
- Bioremediation
Answer: B
Explanation:
Biomarkers – It is an application of biotechnology in the environment that responds to the chemicals to Measure the effect of pollution caused.
9.In which of the following place, National Agri-Food Biotechnology Institute was established?
- Mohali
- Ranchi
- Chennai
- Dehradun
Answer: A
Explanation:
- National Agri-Food Biotechnology Institute (NABI) is the first Agri-Food Biotechnology Institute, established in India on 18th February 2010.
- The institute aims at catalysing the transformation of Agri-food sector in India.
- The institute has the vision to be a nodal organization for knowledge generation and translational science leading to value-added products based on Agri-Food biotech innovations.
- The main research focus of NABI is to harness biotechnological tools in the area of Agriculture Biotechnology, Food and Nutritional Biotechnology so as to provide sustainable and novel solutions towards quality food and nutrition.
Vision
Food and nutritional security for all through agri-food biotechnology research and innovation.
Mission
To be a centre of excellence and provide leadership in agri-food biotechnology research.
Goal
Improving nutritional quality and availability of affordable agri-food and food products through innovations.
10.Which of the following is/are applications of Biotechnology in Food Processing?
- Protein Engineering
- Fermentation Process
- Fortification of Foods
- All the above
Answer: D
Explanation:
Application of Biotechnology in Food Processing:
Food handling is an interaction by which food items with short shelf life and effectively transitory unrefined substances are converted to edible and potable foods and beverages, which have a longer shelf life. The strategy by which the microbial organic entities and their subsidiaries are utilized to increment the edibility and the shelf life of foods is known as fermentation.
Protein Engineering:
- Biotechnology plays a significant role in protein engineering
- The useful enzymes of the microorganisms responsible for the improved fermentation are produced commercially at a large scale by culturing the organisms in tanks, etc.
- A protein with a unique fold, called Top7, and sensors for unnatural compounds have been designed using computational approaches. Rilonacept, a medication that has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of cryopyrin-associated periodic syndrome, was developed through the use of fusion proteins
Fermentation Process:
- It improves the dietary value of foods through the biosynthesis of vitamins, enhancing necessary amino acids and proteins, improving protein and fiber digestibility, enhancing micronutrient bioavailability, and humiliating anti-nutritional factors
- People are familiar with fermented foods and beverages, but they may not be aware of the many essential industrial goods that come from this process. For example, beer, wine, cheese, savory foods like Kimchi, Bread, etc
Fortification of Foods:
FSSAI operationalized the Food Safety and Standards (Fortification of Foods) Regulations, 2016 for fortifying staples to reduce the high burden of micronutrient malnutrition in India, namely
- Wheat Flour and Rice (with Iron, Vitamin B12 and Folic Acid)
- Milk and Lubricant Oil (with Vitamins A and D)
- Double Fortified Salt (with Iodine and Iron)
- The +F logo has been advised to recognize braced food sources
Stronghold is the expansion of key nutrients and minerals like iron, iodine, zinc, Vitamin D and staple food sources like rice, milk and salt to work on their healthful substance. These enhancements may have been at first present in the food preceding taking care of.