Plant biotechnology is an advanced breeding technology that enables plant breeders to introduce beneficial traits into plants.
For thousands of years, farmers have used traditional breeding methods to develop many of the crops we rely on today. Today, farmers and scientists use many different techniques to benefit from a plant’s natural genetic diversity to produce plants with beneficial characteristics.
Plant biotechnology allows scientists to make precise changes in a plant’s genetic makeup, enabling the development of new varieties with targeted, desirable traits. These traits help crops adapt to the effects of climate change and provide increase resistance to pests, weeds, and diseases in crops. This not only enhances food and nutritional security but also promotes greater sustainability in agriculture.
Terms such as genetic engineering (GE) and genetically modified organisms (GMO) are commonly used terms in plant biotechnology.
As part of CropLife UK, the Agricultural Biotechnology (ABC) is responsible for providing information and updates on the agricultural applications of plant biotechnology.