Food Biotech - L1

8/2/2019 Food Biotech - L1

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OVERVIEWOVERVIEW


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Learning OutcomesLearning Outcomes

At the end of this lecture, students will be able to:At the end of this lecture, students will be able to:

Describe the evolution of food biotechnologyDescribe the evolution of food biotechnology

from traditional to modern biotechnologyfrom traditional to modern biotechnology Describe the problems within global foodDescribe the problems within global food

production that lead to biotechnologicalproduction that lead to biotechnological

advancement in food production andadvancement in food production and

technologytechnology


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Definition of Biotechnology

A general definition of biotechnology is the use of a

living organism or its products for commercial purpose.

These activities include making bread, cheese, beer,

and wine in addition to selective breeding of food crops

and domestic animals.


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Traditional Biotechnologies

Mean a series of technologies that have been in use

since we ceased to be hunter-gatherers.

These include :

Fermentation, for the production of fermented drinks,such as beer and wine, and foods, such as bread and

cheese.


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Plant breeding, extending from the dawn of agriculture,

in the breeding of corn for example, right up to thepresent day, in the production of modern high-yielding

wheat strains, for example, the short-stalked varieties.

The use of enzymes in food processing, for example

the use of an extract of the calfs stomach (containing

the enzyme chymosin) in cheese processing.


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Then there are a number of 20th Century developments,

such as :

A fermentation process for the production of acetone, for

use in the making of explosives, developed during the

First World War.

Another fermentation process, using deep vat

fermentation, that was developed for the production of

penicillin in the Second World War.


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New Biotechnologies

Derives from techniques discovered only in the last20 years. Briefly they are :

i. The ability to cut and stitch DNA

ii. The ability to move DNA and genes from one

organism to another and moreover the ability topersuade the new gene in this new organism, that is

to make new proteins.

iii. The ability to modify proteins by a process termed

protein engineering.


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What is Food Biotechnology

Food biotechnology employs the tools of modern

genetics in the age-old process of improving food

production.

Biotechnology helps to produce an abundant supply ofbetter-tasting and more nutritious foods.


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For thousands of years, humans have been selecting,

sowing and harvesting seeds that produce food

products, for sustenance.

We have also been baking bread, brewing beer,

producing soy sauce and making vinegar and tempeh.

They are in fact using the principles of biotechnology to

make and modify plants and food products.


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In other words, our ancestors moved and changed

genes to enhance the beneficial qualities of food.

Today modern biotechnology allows food producers to

do the same thing but with greater understanding and

precision.


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Importance of Biotechnology in Food

Production

The use of biotechnology in food production includes :

Plants that are more resistant to disease, insects, and

weed killers.

Plants that require less waterProducing enzymes used in food processing, such as

chymosin used in making cheese

Improved food quality to extend shelf-life


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Improved nutritional qualities

Improved efficiency of food production

Production of foods containing vaccines. Currently

under development is the production of a cholera

vaccine in potatoes. Eating these potatoes would allow

easier and greater immunization to the worlds

population. This is important because cholera is

significant cause of diarrhea and death in third world

countries.


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Drought


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The drought in Northern China, the worst in 50 years, is

worsening, and summer harvest is now threatened. Thearea of affected crops has expanded to 161 million mu

(was 141 million last week), and 4.37 million people and

2.1 million livestock are facing drinking water shortage.

The scarcity of rain in some parts of the north and centralprovinces is the worst in recorded history.

The drought which started in November threatens over

half the wheat crop in eight provinces - Hebei, Shanxi,

Anhui, Jiangsu, Henan, Shandong, Shaanxi and Gansu.


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Australia has been experiencing an unrelenting droughtAustralia has been experiencing an unrelenting droughtsince 2004, and 41 percent of Australia's agriculturesince 2004, and 41 percent of Australia's agriculturecontinues to suffer from the worst drought in 117 yearscontinues to suffer from the worst drought in 117 years

of recordof record--keeping. The drought has been so severe thatkeeping. The drought has been so severe thatrivers stopped flowing, lakes turned toxic, and farmersrivers stopped flowing, lakes turned toxic, and farmersabandoned their land in frustration:abandoned their land in frustration:

A) The Murray River stopped flowing at its terminalA) The Murray River stopped flowing at its terminal

point, and its mouth has closed up.point, and its mouth has closed up.B) Australia's lower lakes are evaporating, and they areB) Australia's lower lakes are evaporating, and they arenow a meter (3.2 feet) below sea level. If these lakesnow a meter (3.2 feet) below sea level. If these lakesevaporate any further, the soil and the mud systemevaporate any further, the soil and the mud systembelow the water is going to be exposed to the air. Thebelow the water is going to be exposed to the air. Themud will then acidify, releasing sulfuric acid and a wholemud will then acidify, releasing sulfuric acid and a whole

range of heavy metals. After this occurs, those lowerrange of heavy metals. After this occurs, those lowerlake systems will essentially become a toxic swamplake systems will essentially become a toxic swampwhich will never be able to be recovered. The Australianwhich will never be able to be recovered. The Australiangovernment's only options to prevent this are to allowgovernment's only options to prevent this are to allowsalt water in, creating a dead sea, or to pray for rain.salt water in, creating a dead sea, or to pray for rain.


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Competitive Currency Appreciation

Countries depreciating their currency in the currentenvironment will produce the unwanted consequence of

boosting exportsof food.

Even with export restrictions like those in China,currency depreciation would cause the outflow of

significant quantities of grain via the black market.


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Other ProblemsOther Problems

DiseasesDiseases

Changing in demands and expectationChanging in demands and expectation

Government regulations and lawsGovernment regulations and laws GlobalisationGlobalisation

Documents

Food Biotech - L1