question_answer 89)

  What are three options to increase food production? Discuss each giving the salient features, merits and demerits.

Answer:

                  Traditional farming can only yield a limited biomass as food for humans and animals. Better management practices and increase agricultural land can increase yield, but only to a limited extent. Following are the three options to increase food production (a) Single Cell Protein The biomass obtained from microorganisms can be treated or processed in industry to be used as food and is called single cell protein. Merits of Single Cell Proteins (i) Its production reduces pollution as it uses organic wastes and industrial effluents. (ii) It provides a protein-rich diet. (iii) It fulfills the demand of protein for human diet and takes off the pressure on agriculture system. Demerits of Single Cell Protein (i) Sometimes the microbial biomass when taken as diet supplement may lead to allergic reactions. (ii) Many types of microorganisms produce substances which are toxic to the humans and also to the animals. (b)Biofortification   It is the method for developing crops with higher levels of vitamins, minerals proteins and healthier fats to improve public health.                                               Merits of Biofortification (i) It can increase yields grown on the same or less acreage. (ii)It can potentially improve nutritional value or other health benefits. Demerits of Biofortification (i) Its successful implementation into society requires safe delivery systems, stable policies ,and appropriate social infrastructures. (ii) It continued by financial support also. (c) Tissue-Culture It is an in vitro technique for regeneration of a whole plant from any part of a plant by growing it on culture medium under aseptic conditions. Merits of Tissue Culture (i) A large number of plants can be grown in short time. (ii) Disease-free plants can be multiplied. (iii) Seedless plants can be multiplied (iv) The plants where sexual reproduction is absent may undergo somatic hybridization. Demerits of Tissue Culture (i) It requires great expense because it needs latest techniques in the laboratories (ii) It requires acclimatization of plants grown by tissue culture to the external environment. (iii) It requires special expertise.