2. 2
The application of biotechnology to enhance food
production and quality
Any substance eaten to provide
nutritional support for the body
Any technology that uses biological system ,living
organisms or their derivatives thereof, to make or
modify products or processes for specific use.
(UN convention on biological diversity)
3. 3
HISTORY OF FOOD BIOTECHNOLOGY
ANCIENT CLASSICAL MODERN
Begins with early civilization
Useful plants brought from the wild, planted near caves where people lived
About 10,000 years ago, farming began
Using processes that prevented or slow spoilage e.g. heating by fire
Wide use of fermentation
4,000years ago,the production of cheese ,the first food biotech
product, through fermentation of milk, by Nomadic tribes in Asia.
Use of enzyme rennet ,came from calve stomach, in fermentation
Rennet is genetically engineered today
Based on genetics research since mid 1800`s
Production of new varieties of desired crop plants and other organisms
Became possible with introduction of recombinant DNA technology in 1973
In 1900s,the first rDNA food biotechnology derived crop was tomato called
flavrsavr.
4. 4
Food biotechnology has a great deal of benefits in many aspects.
Some major aspects with benefits are:
BIOTECHNOLOGY AND BIOPROCESSINGBIOTECHNOLOGY AND BIOPROCESSING1)
The production of various foods and
food ingredients through fermentation.
Anaerobic enzymatic conversion of organic compound
especially carbohydrate to simple compound, such as organic
acids,vitamins,etc.
Two factors responsible for fermentation-microorganism and
enzymes.
The use of recombinant DNA food biotechnology has improved
bioprocessing through genetical modification of responsible
microorganism for the sake of more product consumer
benefits;as,
5. 5
A)
Used as food acidulants
Citric,lactic,gluconicand propionic acids are major organic acids.
It accounts for 75% of food acidulants usage with combination of acetic
acid.
rDNA food biotechnology has increased the rate of glucose fermentation
and eliminated enzymes that degrade citrate in the production organism.
B)
Essential for food production(milk clotting,bread production).
rDNA biotechnology has increased variety of food enzymes.e.g chymosin.
First rDNA biotechnology derived processing enzyme,identical to rennet
However it is 95% purer than rennet enzyme.
C)
Microorganisms _yeasts,bacteria,and molds are directly responsible
for food processing and preservation.
rDNA food biotechnology has brought about genetic modification in
these microorganisms using self cloning to ensure more food
processing and preservation.
6. 6
2)
rDNA biotechnology has increased world cop production,variety and
suitability in any given area ,even in under condition areas.
More organoleptic and nutritional quality of plant driven foods.
Improved shell life of fresh fruits and vegetables.
Reduction in undesirable constituents ,such as allergens,toxicants of
some crops.
Introduction of disease resisting and health promoting constituents
into crops e.g. substance protecting from cancer, high cholestrol, high
blood pressure etc.
Transformation of ring spot causing viral protein coat gene in
papaya trees in Hawaii to enable them to resist killing and to grow
normally.
Production of strawberries resisting to soil born fungal pathogens.
Production of first fireblight disease resistant apple and pear tree.
7. 7
3)
A)
rDNA food biotechnology has potential to enhance animal feed by
directing the plant itself to produce more nutritious by modifying basic
compostion of feed derived from forage and grain which indirectly
benefit in many ways;as,
Enhanced animal productivity.
Improved human nutrition in developing countries where meat
consumption is very much lower than that in developed countries.
Increased silage corn(BMR-corn)digestibility for ruminant animals.
Increased oil content about 6% in maize corn as compare to 3.5% in
conventional one.
B)
At present animals receive multiple injection of vaccine to maintain their
health.
Much inconvenient and even can cause meat spoilage.
However rDNA biotechnology has potential to get rid of this situation.
rDNA food biotechnology- derived plant vaccines against transmissible
gastroentritis virus protecting from swine in clinical trials.
8. 8
rDNA food biotechnology has offered number of environmental
benefits. Some of them are:
oThe introduction of new varieties of crops exhibiting increased
resistance to pests,environmentally benign herbicides and viruses.
for example:
o Canola field require only one herbicides instead of two.
oGlyphosphate-tolerant soybeans carry bacterial gene and are
relatively insensitive to herbicides.
o Reduction in number of pesticides application.
oReduction in soil erosion.
oReduction in air pollution caused previously by burning of affected
crop.
4)
9. 9
5)
rDNA food biotechnology has brought innumerable benefits to
economic Sectors. A few examples of them include:
A study showed that herbicide-tolerant soybeans reduced farm input
Cost by 3-6% and increased average yield by more than 13-18% in most
region of the USA.
Another study showed that herbicide-tolerant corn and canola
benefited ,ranging from $15-$24 per acre.
45% of farmers had higher yield of Bt corn as compare to
conventional corn in 1998 in the USA.
26% of farmers of Bt corn reported a decrease in pesticide use.
A study demonstrated that glyphosphate tolerant varieties produced
greater yields (31 bushels per acre) and profit ($86) as compare to
conventional canola yield(28.6 bushels per acre) and profit($52 per
acre) respectively.
10. 10
6)
rDNA food biotechnology has potential to produce such plants that
provide:
food with increased quantity and quality.
Satisfaction for nutritional need of different population
Protection against health hazards.
Golden rice with increased
content of beta carotene, the
precursor of Vitamin A, and iron
content save from vitamin A and
iron deficiency disease, Such as
blindness, loss of immune
response and anemia respectively.
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7)
rDNA food biotechnology has led to the production of wide variety of
curing compounds,ranging from edible vaccines against hepatitis B,
Norwalk viruses, pseudomonas aeruginosa,staphylococcus aureus to
canncer and diabetes.
Reports describe that edible vaccine against a pathogenic strain of
Ecoli and a monoclonal antibody against cariogenic streptococcus
Mutants have successful results.
Research has showed that vaccines against enterotoxins of vibrio
cholera ecoli induce production of antibodies that can neutralize the
toxins by preventing them from binding to gut cell.
Prevention of dental caries by bactericidal mouthwash through
antibodies.
rDNA food biotechnology derived vaccines are potentially
cheap, convenient to distribute and simple and safe to administer.
Production in abundance without the risk of contamination by
animal pathogen.
12. 12
1)
There is concern that the increasing role of the private sector in
research and aggressive patenting of genes and research resources
is limiting the public sector access to the necessary materials and
processes for pioneering research.
However, this is not absolutely true, as recently some major
biotechnology companies have announced to to grant patent licenses
even without charge.
13. 13
2)
Environmental concerns have been raised about the
impact of following modifications by rDNA food
biotechnology.
A)
There is major concern about Bt corn pollens that
they are toxic to the non targeted organisms.
However, at the time of Bt corn introduction, EPA
applicant reported that there was no greater effect
on non targeted organism (monarch butterflies) with
Bt corn than with insecticide use.
Another sims and reams reseach showed that Bt
toxin is rapidly broken down by the action of
microbes and has no effect on soil organisms(non
targeted organisms).
14. 14
B)
There is a concern that the gene for herbicide tolerance may
spread via pollen from rDNA food biotechnology- derived crop to
weed population which will creat such forms difficult to control in
the future.
However, this does not really happen.Because rDNA food
biotechnology has introduced transgene in the DNA of chloroplast
which is not carried in pollen grains,hence is not likely to cause over
control growth of weed.
C)
There is concern that recombination between a virally derived
transgene and another virus can produce new virus with enhanced
Virulence.
However, NRC committee report demonstrated that most virus derived
resistance genes are unlikely to present unmanageable and unusual
Problems as compare to traditional one.
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3)
A)
Since genetic modification involves the
introduction of new genes into recipient plant and
these genes would produce new proteins.
The potential allergenicity of foods developed
through rDNA food biotechnology is a source of
concern.
However, no unique allergic reaction has occurred
so far.
A case in point is one involving preparation of
variety of soybean.
A high methionine protein was introduced into
soybeans using a gene from brazil nut.
Brazil nuts are known to be allergic.
It is said that it was due to this factor that
commercial production of that variety of soybean
ceased.
16. 16
B)
There is the concern of potential for transfer of the antibiotic resistance
gene from rDNA food biotechnology derived plant to microorganism,
thereby reducing efficacy of the antibiotic.
However, this does not happen. The main reason is that there are not
known mechanisms for transfer of DNA from palnt cell to bacteria and
the bacteria in the digestive would not be competent to take up free DNA.
C)
There is a concern that rDNA food biotechnology derived products
may have adverse effects on environment.
However, no adverse effects have been reported due to continued
research,monitoring,oversight,surveillance and management.
17. 17
D)
There is a concern that rDNA food
biotechnology derived new varieties of crop
may involve toxicants which is not really true.
However, the largest known member of
naturally occurring toxicants are endogenous
i.e. They are produced by the normal
metabolic processes of the organism that is
food source.
Solanine, a neurotoxin in potatoes,
has been the cause of outbreak of
human poisoning when potatoes are
grown under unfavorable conditions
or when they formed a large part of
diet.
18. 18
There is an urgent need to take following steps by
food biotechnology industry:
vigorous pre-marketing testing and evaluation of
modified food.
Enhancement of consumer confidence.
