Question

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

Answer 1

Traditional farming can only yield 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 protein.

(A) Single cell protein: The biomass obtained from microorganisms can be treated or processed in the industry to be used as food and is called single cell protein.

Merits of single-cell proteins

1. Its production reduces pollution as it uses organic wastes and industrial waste effluents.
2. It provides a protein-rich diet.
3. It fulfills the demand of protein for human diet and takes off the pressure on the agriculture system.

Demetris of single cell protein

1. Sometimes the microbial biomass when taken as a diet supplement may lead to allergic reactions.
2. Many types of microorganisms produce substances which are toxic to humans and also to animals.

(B) Biofortification: The method for developing crops with higher levels of vitamins, minerals proteins and healthier fats to improve public health.

Merits of biofortification

1. It can increase yields frown on the same or less acreage.
2. It can potentially improve the nutritional value or other health benefits .

Demerits of biofortification

1. Its successful implementation into society requires safe delivery systems, stable policies and appropriable social infrastructures.
2. It comtined by financial suport also.

(C) Tissue-Culture: It is a vitro technique for regeneration of a whole plant from any part of the plant by growing it on culture medium under aseptic conditions .

Merits of tissue Culture

1. A large number of plants can be grown is short time
2. Disease - Free plants can be multiplied
3. Seedless plants can be multiplied
4. The plants where sexual reproduction is absent may undergo somatic hybridisation.

Demerits of tissue Culture

1. It requires great expense it latest techniques in the laboratory.
2. It requires the acclimatisation of plants grown by tissue culture to the external environment.
3. It requires special expertise.