Mtui

International Journal for Biotechnology and Molecular Biology Research Vol. 2(13), pp. 222-231, 30 December, 2011
Available online at http://www.academicjournals.org/IJBMBR
DOI: 10.5897/IJBMBRX11.003
ISSN- 2141-2154 ©2011 Academic Journals

Review

Involvement of biotechnology in climate change
adaptation and mitigation: Improving agricultural yield
and food security
Godliving Y. S. Mtui
Department of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, University of Dar es Salaam, P. O. Box 35179, Dar es Salaam,
Tanzania. E-mail: gmtui@udsm.ac.tz, gmtui@hotmail.com.
Accepted 31 October, 2011

In the context of climate change adaptation and mitigation, biotechnology can respond positively
towards reducing vulnerability of natural and human systems to climate change effects. This paper
reviews different approaches in which both conventional and modern biotechnology can be employed
to address climate change adaptation and mitigation for improved crops adaptability, productivity and
food security and contributing to the reduction of the greenhouse gases. The current challenges and
future perspectives of biotechnology for climate change adaptation and mitigation are highlighted. The
negative effects of climate change on agricultural productivity and food security as a result of extreme
temperature, drought, salinity and infectious disease vectors include low yield, hunger and
malnutrition. Conventional agricultural biotechnology methods such as energy-efficient farming, use of
biofertilizers, tissue culture and breeding for adaptive varieties are among feasible options that could
positively address the potential negative effects of climate change and thereby contributing to carbon
sequestration initiatives. On the other hand, the adoption of modern biotechnology through the use of
genetically modified stress-tolerant, energy-efficient and high-yielding transgenic crops also stand to
substantially counter the negative effects of climate change. Safe application of biotechnology will
greatly complement other on-going measures being taken to improve agricultural productivity and food
security. Both conventional and modern agricultural biotechnologies will significantly contribute to the
current and future worldwide climate change adaptation and mitigation efforts.

Key words: Adaptation, carbon sequestration, climate change, green biotechnology, marker assisted selection,
mitigation.

INTRODUCTION

Climate change is a significant and lasting change in the man-made greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, such
statistical properties of the climatic system when as the halocarbons and other chlorine and bromine
considered over long periods of time. It can be caused containing substances. Beside CO2, N2O and CH4, the
either by the Earth's natural forces, which include solar Kyoto Protocol (http://kyotoprotocol.com) deals with the
radiation and continental drift, or human activities greenhouse gases such as sulphur hexafluoride (SF6),
(Theodore, 2001). Greenhouse gases are those gaseous hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) and perfluorocarbons (PFCs).
constituents of the atmosphere, both natural and An increase in the concentration of greenhouse gases
anthropogenic, that absorb and emit radiation at specific leads to increased infrared opacity of the atmosphere, an
wavelengths within the spectrum of infrared radiation imbalance that can only be compensated for by an
emitted by the Earth‟s surface, the atmosphere and increase in the temperature of the surface-troposphere
clouds (IPCC, 2007). Water vapour (H2O), carbon dioxide system. This phenomenon is termed the greenhouse
(CO2), nitrous oxide (N2O), methane (CH4) and ozone effect (IPCC, 2007).
(O3) are the primary greenhouse gases in the Earth‟s Adaptation to climate change is a response that seeks
atmosphere. Moreover, there are a number of entirely to reduce the vulnerability of natural and human systems

Mtui 223

to climate change effects (IPCC, 2007). Another policy diversity, taxonomic relationships between plant species
response to climate change is known as climate change and biological processes such as mating systems, pollen
mitigation. It refers to human intervention to reduce the or disease dispersal (Johanson and Ives, 2001).
sources or decrease intensity of negative climate change Biotechnology enables development of disease
effects. Most often, climate change mitigation scenarios diagnostic kits for use in laboratory and field. These kits
involve reductions in the concentrations of greenhouse are able to detect plant diseases early, by testing for the
gases, either by reducing their sources or by increasing presence of pathogen‟s deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) or
their „sinks‟. Examples of mitigation measures include proteins which are produced by pathogens or plants
using fossil fuels more efficiently for industrial processes during infection (Kumar and Naidu, 2006). Conventional
or electricity generation, switching from biomass to agricultural biotechnologies works better when combined
renewable energy, improving the insulation of buildings, with modern biotechnological approaches.
and expanding forest and other „sinks‟ to remove more Modern agricultural biotechnology refers to
carbon dioxide from the atmosphere (IPCC, 2007; biotechnological techniques for the manipulation of
Sallema and Mtui, 2008). The decline of crops yield, heat genetic material and the fusion of cells beyond normal
stress and ocean acidification are among some of the breeding barriers. The most obvious example is genetic
negative effects of climate change. In order to feed the engineering to create genetically modified organisms
ever increasing world population, there is a need to (GMOs) through „transgenic‟ technology involving the
double the rate of agricultural production. Biotechnology insertion or deletion of genes. In genetic engineering or
can contribute positively by mitigating the impact of genetic transformation, the genetic material is modified
climate change through green house gas reduction, crops by artificial means. It involves isolation and cutting of a
adaptation and increase in yield using less land gene at a precise location by using specific enzymes.
(Treasury, 2009). This paper seeks to address the Selected DNA fragments can then be transferred into the
contribution of biotechnology to adaptation and mitigation cells of the target organism. The common practice in
of negative climatic effects. genetic engineering is the use of a bacterium
Agrobacterium tumafaciens as a vector to transfer the
genetic trait (Johanson and Ives, 2001). A more recent
AGRICULTURAL BIOTECHNOLOGY technology is ballistic impregnation method whereby a
DNA is attached to a minute gold or tungsten particle and
Agricultural biotechnology involves the practical then „fired‟ into the plant tissue (Morris, 2011). Crops may
application of biological organisms, or their sub-cellular be modified for improved flavour, increased resistance to
components in agriculture. The techniques currently in pests and diseases, or enhanced growth in adverse
use include tissue culture, conventional breeding, weather conditions. In recent years, biosafety and genetic
molecular marker-assisted breeding and genetic engineering projects have been initiated in Africa, with
engineering. Tissue culture is the cultivation of plant cells the aim of introducing genetically modified organisms into
or tissues on specifically formulated nutrient media. Africa‟s agricultural systems. Already, countries like
Under optimal conditions, a whole plant can be South Africa, Egypt and Burkina Faso have
regenerated from a single cell; a rapid and essential tool commercialized GMOs while many others have
for mass propagation and production of disease-free developed the capacity to conduct research and
plants (Kumar and Naidu, 2006). Advances in breeding development in modern agricultural biotechnology
help agriculture achieve higher yields and meet the (Mayet, 2007). „Green biotechnology‟ is the term referring
needs of expanding population with limited land and to the use of environmentally friendly solutions in
water resources. As a result of improved plant breeding agriculture, horticulture, and animal breeding processes
techniques, the productivity gains in worldwide production (Treasury, 2009).
of primary crops, including maize, wheat, rice and oilseed Recombinant DNA technology has significantly
has increased by 21% percent since 1995, while total augmented the conventional crop improvement, and has
land devoted to these crops has increased by only 2% the potential to assist plant breeders to meet the
(Treasury, 2009). In molecular assisted breeding, increased food demand predicted for the 21st century.
molecular markers (identifiable DNA sequences found at Dramatic progress has been made over the past two
specific location of the genome) are being used. By decades in manipulating genes from diverse and exotic
determining location and likely actions of genes, sources, and inserting them into microorganisms and
scientists can quickly and accurately identify plants crops to confer resistance to pests and diseases,
carrying desirable characteristics, hence conventional tolerance to herbicides, drought, soil salinity and
breeding can be conducted with greater precision aluminium toxicity, improve post-harvest quality, enhance
(Mneney et al., 2001; Sharma et al., 2002). Molecular nutrient uptake and nutritional quality; increase
markers can be used in plant breeding to increase the photosynthetic rate, sugar and starch production,
speed and efficiency of the introduction of new genes increase effectiveness of bio control agents, improve
(marker assisted introgression), understanding of genetic understanding of gene action and metabolic pathways,

224 Int. J. Biotechnol. Mol. Biol. Res.

and production of drugs and vaccines in crops (Sharma biotechnology amounted to savings of about 962 million
et al., 2002 ; Vallad and Goodman, 2004). kg of CO2 emitted in 2005, while the adoption of reduced
tillage or no tillage practices led to a reduction of 40.43
kg/ha or 89.44 kg/ha CO2 emissions due to less fuel
BIOTECHNOLOGY FOR CLIMATE CHANGE usage respectively (Brookes and Barfoot, 2006, 2008).
MITIGATION

Greenhouse gas reduction Carbon sequestration

Agricultural practices such as deforestation, inorganic The capture or uptake of carbon containing substances,
fertilizer use and overgrazing currently account for about in particular carbon dioxide (CO2), is often called carbon
25% of green house gases (CO2, CH4 and N2O) emission sequestration. It is commonly used to describe any
(Treasury, 2009). Various initiatives under the banner of increase in soil organic carbon content caused by change
green biotechnology, may offer solution to decrease of land management, with implication that the increased
green house gases and mitigate climate change by giving soil carbon storage mitigates climate change (Powlson et
farmers opportunities to use less and environmentally al., 2011). Therefore, soil carbon sequestration is an
friendly energy, carbon sequestration and reduce fertilizer important strategy to mitigate the increase of atmospheric
usage (Treasury, 2009). CO2 concentration. Reducing the amount of conventional
tillage is one way of enhancing carbon sequestration. By
leaving at least 30% of residue on the soil surface, no-till
Use of environmentally friendly fuels agriculture reduces loss of CO2 from agricultural systems
and may also play a role in reducing water loss through
Given the impacts of climate change on agricultural evaporation, increase soil stability and creation of cooler
productivity and the role played by agriculture practices in soil microclimate. Conservation practices that help
global warming, agricultural techniques must play a prevent soil erosion, may also sequester soil carbon and
crucial role in the fight against climate change. enhance methane (CH4) consumption (West and Post,
Production of biofuels, both from traditional and GMO 2002; Johnsona et al., 2007). Powlson et al. (2011) have
crops such as sugarcane, oilseed, rapeseed, and suggested that the climate change benefit of increased
jatropha will help to reduce the adverse effects of CO2 soil organic carbon from enhanced crop growth (for
emission by the transport sector (Sarin et al., 2007; example using industrial fertilizers) must be balanced
Treasury, 2009). Energy efficient farming will therefore against greenhouse gas emissions emanating from the
adopt machines that use bioethanol and biodiesel instead manufacture and use of such fertilizers.
of the conventional fossil fuels. Green energy programs In modern agricultural practices, genetically modified
TM
through plantations of perennial non edible oil-seed Round up Ready (herbicide resistant) soybean
producing plants will help in cleansing the atmosphere technology has accounted for up to 95% of no-till area in
and production of biodiesel for direct use in the energy the United States of America (USA) and Argentina, and
sector, or in blending biofuels with fossil fuels in certain led to sequestration of 63,859 million tones of CO 2
proportions thereby minimizing use of fossil fuels to some (Fawcett and Towery, 2003; Brimner et al., 2004; Kleter
extent (Lua et al., 2009; Jain and Sharma, 2010; Lybbert et al., 2008). The modified crops reduce the need for
and Summer, 2010). tillage or ploughing to allow farmers to adopt „no till‟
farming practices. In terms of climate change mitigation,
this practice enhances soil quality and retails more
Less fuel consumptions carbon in the soil (Brookes and Barfoot, 2008).

Organic farming uses less fuel by the application of
compost and mulching techniques which reduce weeds Reduced artificial fertilizer use
and herbicides spraying due to less ploughing (Maeder et
al., 2002). Reduced irrigation would also contribute to The dependency on agricultural chemicals to sustain
reduced fuel usage, thereby reducing the amount of CO2 productivity in marginal landscapes has led to a global-
release into the atmosphere. Using modern scale contamination of the environment with toxins that
biotechnology such as GMOs and other related change the course of biogeochemical cycles
technologies facilitate less fuel usage by decreasing (Ogunseitan, 2003). Reduced fertilizer use also means
necessity and frequency of spraying and reducing tillage less nitrogen pollution of ground and surface waters.
or excluding the tillage practice. For example, insect- Artificial inorganic nitrogenous fertilizers such as
resistant GM crops reduce fuel usage and CO 2 ammonium sulphate, ammonium chloride, ammonium
production by reducing insecticides application. phosphates, sodium nitrate and calcium nitrate are
Reduction of fuel usage due to the application of responsible for the formation and release of greenhouse

Mtui 225

gases (particularly N2O) from the soil to the atmosphere second option is more feasible. Utilizing organic residues
when they interact with common soil bacteria (Brookes as a source of nutrients for plants, good agronomical
and Barfoot, 2009). To reduce the negative effects of practices such as landscape management, crop rotation
artificial fertilizers, the use of environmentally friendly or mixed farming, and use of traditional and indigenous
biotechnology-based fertilizes are being encouraged. knowledge on „non-chemical‟ pests and diseases control
are some of conventional options (Bianchi et al., 2006).
Biotechnology and application of advanced techniques in
Biofertilizers breeding can help agriculture further to achieve higher
yields and meet needs of expanding population with
Organic farming technologies utilizing bio-based limited land and water resources (Treasury, 2009).
fertilizers (composted humus and animal manure), or
crop rotation and intercropping with leguminous plants
with nitrogen-fixing abilities are some of the conventional Adaptation to biotic stresses
biotechnological options for reducing artificial fertilizer
use. In modern biotechnology, the use of mutation or The major aim of agricultural biotechnology is to enhance
genetic engineering techniques to improve Rhizobium productivity and maximize productive capacity of
inoculants have resulted to strains with improved diminishing resources. Conventional landscape
nitrogen-fixing characteristics (Zahran, 2001). management practices and breeding initiatives have
Biotechnological advances involving the induction of contributed significantly to crop adaptations through the
nodular structures on the roots of cereal crops such as development of strains that are resistant to biotic stresses
rice and wheat offer a bright prospect of non-leguminous such as insects, fungi, bacteria and viruses (Valllad and
plants being enabled to fix nitrogen in the soil (Kennedy Goodman, 2004; Bianchi et al., 2006). In modern
and Tchan, 1992; Paau, 2002; Saikia and Jain, 2007; biotechnology, the ability of a soil bacterium (Baccilus
Yan et al., 2008). Another option is the cultivation of GM thuringiensis, Bt) gene to be transformed into maize,
crops that use nitrogen more efficiently. An example of cotton and other crops to impart internal protection
such crops is the nitrogen-efficient GM canola which not against insects (mainly of the order lepidoptera and
only reduces the amount of nitrogen fertilizer that is lost diptera) significantly contributes to agricultural pest
into the atmosphere or leached into soil and waterways, control strategies. For many farmers, Bt crops are
but it also impacts positively on the economies of farmers proving to be valuable tools for integrated pest
through improved profitability (Treasury, 2009). Managing management programs by giving farmers new pest
soil nitrogen to match crop needs can reduce N2O control choices (Zhe and Mithcell, 2011). Transgenic
emission and avoid adverse impacts on water quality. canola (oil seed rape) and soybean have been modified
Also, manipulating animal diet and manure management to be resistant to specific herbicides (May et al., 2005;
can reduce CH4 and N2O emission from animal Bonny, 2008). Also, GM cassava, potatoes, bananas and
husbandry (Johnsona et al., 2007). other crops that are resistant to fungi, bacteria and
viruses are in development; some have already been
commercialised while others are undergoing field trials
BIOTECHNOLOGY FOR CROP ADAPTATION (Mneney, 2001; Van Camp, 2005). Studies carried out
between 2002 and 2005 found out that biotic stress-
Climate change leads in reduced crop yield due to resistant GM crops account for increases in average yield
inadequate rainfall, emergence of potential weeds, pests of 11 to 12% for canola and maize compared to
and diseases caused by fungi, bacteria and viruses conventional crops (Qaim and Zilberman, 2003; Gomez-
(Johnsona et al., 2007; Lin et al., 2008). One way of Barbero et al., 2008; Brookes and Barfoot, 2008, 2009).
adapting to such calamities is to apply agricultural
biotechnologies that counter the effects of such changes
by improving crop productivities per unit area of land Adaptation to abiotic stresses
cultivated.
Climate change poses an enormous challenge in terms of
available agricultural land and fresh water use. Abiotic
Biotechnology for increased yield per unit area of stresses including salinity, drought, extreme
land temperatures, chemical toxicity and oxidative stress have
negative impacts on agriculture and natural status of the
To satisfy the growing worldwide demand for food crops, environment. The agricultural sector uses about 70% of
two options are available: Either to increase the area the available fresh water and this is likely to increase as
under production, or improve productivity on existing temperature rises (Brookes and Barfoot, 2008).
farmland (Edgerton, 2009). Given the world‟s available Moreover, about 25 million acres of land is lost each year
arable land, and the climate change dynamics, the due to salinity caused by unsustainable irrigation


techniques (Ruane et al., 2008). It is anticipated that should include conventional breeding and germplasm
increased salinity of arable land will lead to 30% land loss selection, elucidation of specific molecular control
within 25 years and up to 50% by the year 2050 (Wang et mechanisms in tolerant and sensitive genotypes,
al., 2003; Valliyodan et al., 2006). Therefore, solutions to biotechnology-oriented improvement of selection and
facilitate crop adaptation to abiotic stressful conditions breeding procedures (functional analysis, marker probes
(drought and salinity) need to be developed. Plant and transformation with specific genes) and improvement
biotechnology programs should give priority to the and adaptation of current agricultural practices (Wang et
breeding for drought and salinity tolerance in crops and al., 2003). With the availability of whole genome
forests. Conventional approaches to mitigate the effects sequences of plants, physical maps, genetics and
of drought and salinity stresses involve selection and functional genomics tools, integrated approaches using
growing drought resistant crops that can tolerate harsh molecular breeding and genetic engineering offer new
conditions on marginal lands. Such crops include opportunities for improving stress resistance (Manavalan
cassava, millet and sunflower (Manavalan et al., 2009). et al., 2009).
While mulching to prevent surface water loss has been a
common practice for organic farmers; tissue culture and
breeding are being used to cross drought tolerant crops Agroecology and agroforestry
with other high yielding species to create a drought
tolerant, high yielding hybrids (Apse and Blumwald, 2002; Consequences of global climate change responsible for
Ruane et al., 2008). However, although adaptation to altering patterns of temperature and precipitation are
stress under natural conditions has some ecological threatening agriculture in many tropical regions.
advantages, the metabolic and energy costs may Agroecological and agroforest management systems,
overshadow its benefit to agriculture. Therefore, blending such as shade management in crop systems, may
traditional and molecular breeding techniques would be mitigate the effects of extreme temperature and
most desirable (Wang et al, 2001; Apse and Blumwald, precipitation, thereby reducing the ecological and
2002). economic vulnerability of many rural farmers, and
Molecular control mechanisms for abiotic stress improving the agroecological resistance to extreme
tolerance are based on activation and regulation of climate events (Lin et al., 2008). Fungal applications in
specific stress-related genes. Transgenic plants are biotechnology, termed mycobiotechnology, are part of a
engineered based on different stress mechanisms: larger trend toward using living systems to solve
metabolism, regulatory controls, ion transport, environmental problems and restore degraded
antioxidants and detoxification, late embryogenesis ecosystems. The sciences of mycoforestry and
abundance, heat shock processes and heat proteins mycorestoration are part of an emerging field of research
(Wang et al., 2001, 2003). It has been reported by Zhu and application for regeneration of degraded forest
(2001) that salt tolerant plants also often tolerate other ecosystems (Cheung and Chang, 2009). Mycorestoration
stresses including chilling, freezing heat and drought. attempts to use fungi to help repair or restore ecologically
Already, a number of abiotic stress tolerant, high harmed habitats. Whether the habitats have been
performance GM crop plants have been developed. damaged from human activities or natural disasters,
These include tobacco (Hong et al., 2000); Arabinopsis saprophytic and mycorrhizal fungi can help steer the
thaliana and Brasicca napus (Jaglo et al., 2001); Tomato course to recovery. A number of non-legume woody
(Hsieh et al., 2002; Zhang and Blumwald, 2002); rice plants such as casuarinas (Casuartna sp.) and alders
(Yamanouchi et al., 2002); maize, cotton, wheat and (Alnus sp.) can fix nitrogen symbiotically with
oilseed rape (Yamaguchi and Blumwals, 2005; Brookes actinomycete bacteria (Frankia sp.), a phenomenon that
and Barfoot, 2006). Plants may also be engineered to is beneficial to forestry and agroforesty (Franche et al.,
reduce the levels of poly (ADP ribose) polymerise, a key 1998). Both endo- and ectomycorrhizal symbiotic fungi
stress related enzyme, resulting in plants that are able to together with actinomycetes have been used as
survive drought compared to their non-GM counterparts. inoculants in regeneration of degraded forests (Saikia
Field trial results have shown a 44% increase in yield in and Jain, 2007). Therefore, both mycorrhizal fungi and
favour of such GM crop plants (Brookes and Barfoot, actinorhizal bacteria technologies can be applied with the
2008). Another technology involving the use of genetic aim of increasing soil fertility and improving water uptake
„switches‟ (transcription factors and stress genes) from by plants (Ruane et al., 2008). Afforestation would
microbial sources is currently under research by the indirectly contribute to improved agricultural productivity
United Kingdom (UK) Agricultural Biotechnology Council and food security because forests create microclimates
(ABC; http://www.abcinformation.org). This technology that improve rainfall availability. Furthermore, forests act
has been tested and resulted in two-fold increase in as carbon sinks thereby contributing towards
productivity for Arabidopsis and 30% yield increase for sequestration and concomitant greenhouse reduction
maize during severe water stress. It has been suggested effects for climate change mitigation. Consequently,
that comprehensive breeding plan for abiotic stress forestry and agroforestry offer the potential to develop

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Table 1. Conventional agricultural biotechnologies for climate change adaptation and mitigation.

Measure Biotechnology Application Reference
Coffee and banana and West and Post, 2002; Johnsona et
No-till practices
horticultural farming al., 2007; Powlson et al., 2011.
Climate change mitigation:
Reduced artificial fertilize use
Composting and use of animal Treasury, 2009; Powlson et al.,
Biofertilizers
manure 2011.

Mycorrhizal and actinorrhizal
Franche et al., 1998; Zahran, 2001.
symbiosis
Agroforestry
Afforestation (native & exotic Lin et al., 2008 .
trees)
Carbon sequestration
Inoculation of nitrogen fixers Zahran, 2001.
Biogas from agro wastes Treasury, 2009.
Bioethanol from sugarcane Lybert and Summer, 2010;
Biofuels production
Biodiesel from jatropha, palm Sarin et al., 2007; Lua, 2009; Jain
oil and Sharma, 2010.

Mulching Horticlutural practices Johnsona et al., 2007.
Adaptation to climate change:
Adaptation to biotic and Drought tolerant sorghum,
Tissue culture Apse and Blumwald, 2002.
abiotic stresses millet, sunflower.
Cross breeding Drought resistant Pearl millet Ruane et al., 2008.
Shading coffee and banana Franche et al., 1998; Saikia and
Agroforestry
plantations. Jain, 2007.
Increased crop yield per unit Crop rotation, traditional
Improved productivity Edgerton, 2009; Treasury, 2009.
area of land pesticides.

synergies between efforts to mitigate climate change and modern biotechnology strategies within national policies
efforts to help vulnerable populations to adapt to negative and legal frameworks in order to increase resilience of
consequences of climate change (Verchot et al., 2007). local crop varieties against changes in environmental
The conventional and modern biotechnological initiatives dynamics (Stinger et al., 2009).
related to climate change adaptation and mitigation are Despite the availability of promising research results,
summarized in Tables 1 and 2. many applications of biotechnology have not met their full
potential to deliver practical solutions to end-users in
developing countries (Ruane et al., 2008). The
CHALLENGES AND FUTURE PERSPECTIVES challenges for the bioenergy sector are concerns about
imminent land, water, food and feed conflicts as a result
As the world population is expected to reach 8 billion of introduction of large scale plantations of energy crops
people by 2028, the demand for food is also expected to in limited arable land (Rubin, 2008; Mtui, 2009). In the
increase by 55%. Moreover, out of world‟s total land area area of increased soil fertility using biofertilizers, nitrogen
of 13 billion hectares (ha), only 12% is cultivated. In the fixation research is moving towards genomic studies
next 30 years, developing countries will need an whereby complete sequences of nitrogen-fixing bacteria
additional 120 million hecters for crops (Ruane et al., are being elucidated (Yan et al., 2008). In forest
2008). Therefore, science and technology should take a biotechnology, there is a poor understanding of forest
lead in spearheading increased agricultural productivity. If genomics and complex ecosystem processes at
we want to feed the world without destroying our landscape scales. It is argued that genomic approaches
resources, science and technology should drive the for monitoring soil microbial communities could become
development of modern agriculture. Genetically modified an important tool in understanding the effects of biomass
crop varieties are the most cost effective ways to sustain removal for biofuels, or enhancing durable below-ground
farming in marginal areas and restore degraded lands to carbon sequestration (Groover, 2007).
production (Treasury, 2009). Efforts should be made to Modern biotechnology has encountered enormous
integrate local and conventional biotechnologies with public debates related to risks and benefits of the GMOs


Table 2. Modern agricultural biotechnologies for climate change adaptation and mitigation.

Measure Biotechnology Application Reference
Engineering herbicide Fawcett and Towery, 2003;
GM soy beans
Climate change resistance Brimner et al., 2004; Kleter et al.,
GM canola 2008
mitigation: to reduce spraying

Engineering insect resistance May et al., 2005; Bonny, 2008;
Bt maize, cotton, and eggplants
to reduce spraying Zhe and Mithcell, 2011
Less fuel consumption

Reduced artificial fertilize Genetic improvement of Tchan, 1992; Zahran, 2001;
use Engineering nitrogen fixation Rhizobium; inducing N-fixation to Kennedy and Paau, 2002; Saikia
non-legumes and Jain, 2007; Yan et al., 2008

No-till farming due to Herbicide resistant GM soy beans, Fawcett and Towery, 2003; Kleter
Biotechnological advances canola et al., 2008
Carbon sequestration Green energy GM energy crops Lybbert and Summer, 2010
Nitrogen- efficient GM crops N-efficient GM canola Johnsona et al., 2007

Molecular marker assisted Drought resistant maize, wheat
Adaptation to Wang et al., 2001, 2003
breeding for stress resistance hybrids
climate change: Hong et al., 2000; Jaglo et al.,
GM Arabidopsis , Tobacco, maize,
Engineering drought tolerance 2001; Yamanouchi et al., 2002;
wheat, cotton, soybean
Adaptation to biotic and Manavalan et al., 2009
abiotic stresses Hsieh et al., 2002; Zhang and
Engineering salt tolerance GM tomato, rice
Blumwald, 2002
Engineering heat tolerance GM Arabidopsis, GM Brassica Sp. Jaglo et al., 2001; Zhu, 2001.

Fungal, bacterial and viral
Improved productivity per Increased crop yield per unit Mneney, 2001; Van Camp, 2005;
resistant GM cassava, potatoes,
unit area of land area of land Gomez-Barbero et al., 2008
bananas, maize, canola.

technology in terms of health, environment, socio- for unforeseen effects (Bruinsma et al., 2003). In order to
economic and ethical issues (Bakshi, 2003). The overcome the challenges currently encountered in
attitudes and interests of various stakeholder groups development and application of modern biotechnology,
supporting or opposing modern biotechnology have led to governments ought to put in place appropriate biosafety
polarized opinions (Bruinsma et al., 2003; Aerni 2005). and biotechnology policies and legal frameworks before
There have been opponent activists who dispute the adopting such technologies (Stringer et al., 2009). Table
safety of the technology, citing possible risks including: 3 summarizes major challenges to climate change and
creation of more rigorous pests and pathogens, agricultural biotechnology, and some proposed solutions.
exacerbating the effects of existing pests, harm to non
target species, disruption of biotic communities and loss
of species and genetic diversity within species (Snow et CONCLUSION
al., 2005). Political, socio-economic, cultural and ethical
concerns about modern biotechnology are related to the This review shows that safe development and application
fear of technological “neo-colonialism” in developing of plant biotechnology can contribute positively towards
countries, intellectual property rights, land ownership, climate change adaptation and mitigation through
customer choices, negative cultural and religious reduction of CO2 emissions, carbon sequestration,
perceptions, and fear of the unknown (Brink et al., 1998, reduced fuel use, adoption of environmentally friendly
Makinde et al., 2009). Such public concerns have led to fuels, and reduced artificial fertilizer use, employing
over-regulation of the technology, which threatens to biofuels for improved soil fertility and crop adaptability.
retard its applications (Qaim, 2009). It is suggested that These measures are meant to improve agricultural
the effects of GMOs should be studied case-by-case, productivity and food security, and at the same time
incorporating assessment of potential plant/ecosystem protecting our environment from adverse effects of
interactions, accessible and relevant indicators and tests climate change. There is consensus among scientific

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Table 3. Challenges in the climate change and biotechnology debates, and proposed solutions.

Challenge Proposed solution Reference
Climate change:
Oreskes, 2004; Doran and
Scepticism on the cause of climatic Arguments should be scientifically-driven; not
Zimmerman, 2009; Anderegg et
variations: whether it is man-made or natural politically or self-interest driven.
al., 2011
phenomena.

Carbon/emission trading: an industrialized Each country in the world has a stake in effecting
IPCC, 2007; Barker, 2007
world issue or the whole world initiative? the reduction of CO2 emissions.

Food security:
Science and technology should take a leading role Ruane et al., 2008;
Overall, the world‟s food security is not
to ensure food sufficiency. Treasury, 2009
stable.

Biotic and abiotic stresses threaten food Conventional and modern biotechnology Gomez-Barbero et al., 2008;
productivity. interventions are needed to solve the problem. Manavalan et al., 2009

Renewable energy:
Encourage the use of marginal lands; use second
There is imminent land, water, food and feed
generation sources (agricultural and forest Mtui 2007, 2009; Rubin, 2008
conflicts in large-scale production of energy
residues) for bioenergy.
crops.

Concerns on side effects of GMOs should be Bakshi, 2003; Bruinsma et al.,
Modern biotechnology:
science-based, and should be studied case-by- 2003; Aerni, 2005; Snow et al.,
Safety concerns on health and environment.
case. 2005

Socio-economic, cultural and ethical
concerns such as National biosafety and biotechnology policies and
Treasury, 2009, Qaim, 2009.
IPR issues; loss of traditional crops; fear of legal frameworks should guide the technologies.
the unknown.

community that climate variability is a result of direct and (http://www.pnas.org/cgi/doi/ 10.1073/pcnas.1003187107.
Apse MP, Blumwald E (2002). Engineering salt tolerance in plants.
indirect anthropogenic activities. An integrated approach
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