What Does it Mean to Have a High-Yield Crop?
Crops such as corn and soybeans that have been genetically modified to boost growth, improve disease resistance and increase usable components are labeled high-yielding varieties. Although responsible for greater agriculture production, they are sometimes criticized for higher input demands. Does this Spark an idea?
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History
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High-yielding varieties originated with the Green Revolution of the 1950s and 1960s when new seed hybrids were developed to address global food shortages. Genetically engineered crops were introduced in 1996.
Crop Function
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Compared with conventional cultivars, today's high-yielding crops direct plant resources toward harvestable products such as grain rather than structural components such as stem height.
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Disease Resistance
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Because they can be more susceptible to disease than traditional cultivars, many genetically engineered varieties have disease resistance built into the seed.
Controversy
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Some regions--including parts of Europe and Asia--have banned genetically modified crops although research has not found any health threat to humans or livestock consuming such crops.
Future Potential
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Research on genetically engineered crop varieties currently includes a look at providing enhanced nutritional qualities. These nutritionally fortified crops are being targeted at parts of Africa and other developing regions where nutrition is of particular concern.
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References
- Photo Credit Photo courtesy of USDA Agricultural Research Service, Photo courtesy of USDA Agricultural Research Service
