Aquaculture and Biotechnology as Methods

Aquaculture and Biotechnology as Methods to Addressing World Hunger The emphasis on fishery operations that are treated in the same fashion as the world's land-born farming operations is something of a double edge sword. Though it may potentially promote more sustainable practices than free-roaming fishing operations, some tactics such as the use of antibiotics can potentially introduce dangerous and problematic new elements to the ecosystem. (Wikipedia, 1) Given the bleak projections for the immediate future of available water-born food supplies, greater regulation is necessary before we can approve too strongly of aquaculture. Thus, there is more of an inclination to push for biotechnology methods as a way to actually increase the food supply. Of late, world hunger experts have begun to see virtue in employing methods of agriculture in such developing nations as India which would allow for a diminished need for the implementation of insecticidal measures that could contribute to an already stifling and reciprocating problem for the nation. And there is reason of optimism according to recent findings regarding the potential benefits of bioengineering, particularly as such benefits concern the problems unique to impoverished nations. Two of the greatest threats to sustenance in India are drought and pestilence, both of which account for the widespread failure of many crops to reach harvest. The bollworm that ravages cotton crops in India accounted, in 2003, for the destruction of more than 50% of the nations' cotton harvest. (Yang, 1) However, during this same year, a breed of cotton was engineered for resistance against the bollworm "with a gene from the insecticidal bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt)." (Yang, 1) The results would be a dramatic success in yielded greater crop harvest with no reported negative health outcomes. Naturally, this is still an area which does require far greater scientific research before we can fully dismiss the possibility of its negative impact on environment, ecology and human health. But it does offer some promise to developing nations. Works Cited: