Exploring the role of biotechnology and biodiversity in achieving sustainable and nutritional food systems

Isnainul Kusuma, Safinta Nurindra Rahmadhia, Alfian Ma'arif

Abstract


The global food system faces significant challenges due to rapid population growth, climate change, and diminishing natural resources, threatening food security and environmental sustainability. Conventional agricultural practices exacerbate biodiversity loss and environmental degradation, further destabilizing food production systems. Integrating biotechnology and biodiversity offers a promising pathway toward sustainable agriculture by enhancing crop resilience, improving nutritional quality, and preserving genetic diversity critical for ecosystem stability. This study systematically reviews the synergistic roles of biotechnology and biodiversity in sustainable agriculture, providing actionable insights to address global challenges inclusively and equitably. Biotechnology enhances agricultural productivity by improving crop resistance to environmental stresses, pests, and diseases, while promoting resource efficiency and reducing reliance on chemical inputs. Simultaneously, biodiversity supports ecosystem resilience by offering genetic resources essential for developing nutrient-rich crops and sustainable farming systems. Their integration fosters innovations such as biofortified crops, beneficial microorganisms for soil health, and sustainable food processing techniques, advancing food security and ecosystem health. However, the widespread adoption of these approaches faces challenges, including public skepticism, limited access for smallholder farmers, and ecological risks associated with genetically modified organisms. Addressing these barriers requires strategic collaboration among stakeholders, inclusive policymaking, and investment in infrastructure to ensure equitable and sustainable benefits. By aligning technological innovation with biodiversity conservation, biotechnology and biodiversity collectively pave the way for a more adaptive, productive, and resilient global food system, securing food and nutritional needs for current and future generations.

Keywords


Biotechnology; Biodeversity; Food; Nutrition.

Full Text:

PDF

References


United Nations, “Population,” United Nations, 2022. https://www.un.org/en/global-issues/population#:~:text=The world population is projected,levels in the near future. (accessed Dec. 24, 2024).

S. Umesha, H. M. G. Manukumar, and B. Chandrasekhar, “Sustainable Agriculture and Food Security,” in Biotechnology for Sustainable Agriculture, pp. 67–92, 2018.

T. I. K. Munaweera, N. U. Jayawardana, R. Rajaratnam, and N. Dissanayake, “Modern plant biotechnology as a strategy in addressing climate change and attaining food security,” Agric. Food Secur., vol. 11, no. 1, p. 26, 2022.

A. O. Uncu, S. Doganlar, and A. Frary, “Biotechnology for Enhanced Nutritional Quality in Plants,” CRC. Crit. Rev. Plant Sci., vol. 32, no. 5, pp. 321–343, 2013.

C. O. Diyaolu and I. O. Folarin, “The Role of Biodiversity in Agricultural Resilience: Protecting Ecosystem Services for Sustainable Food Production,” Int. J. Res. Publ. Rev., vol. 5, no. 10, pp. 1560–1573, 2024.

S. Pastorino et al., “School meals and food systems: Rethinking the consequences for climate, environment, biodiversity, and food sovereignty,” London Sch. Hyg. Trop. Med., p. 166, 2023.

A. Singh and A. Gupta, “Food Security Through Sustainable Agriculture: A Prospective Study in the Indian Context,” pp. 155–182, 2024.

W. Zhang, E. Dulloo, G. Kennedy, A. Bailey, H. Sandhu, and E. Nkonya, “Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services,” in Sustainable Food and Agriculture, pp. 137–152, 2019.

P. Kapoor et al., “Biotechnology for Advancing Regenerative Agriculture: Opportunities and Challenges,” in Regenerative Agriculture for Sustainable Food Systems, pp. 453–493, 2024.

D. E. Ervin, L. L. Glenna, and R. A. Jussaume, “Are biotechnology and sustainable agriculture compatible?,” Renew. Agric. Food Syst., vol. 25, no. 2, pp. 143–157, 2010.

J. R. Beddington et al., “The role for scientists in tackling food insecurity and climate change,” Agric. Food Secur., vol. 1, no. 1, p. 10, 2012.

R. K. Salgotra and B. S. Chauhan, “Genetic Diversity, Conservation, and Utilization of Plant Genetic Resources,” Genes (Basel)., vol. 14, no. 1, p. 174, 2023.

A. L. Harfouche, V. Petousi, R. Meilan, J. Sweet, T. Twardowski, and A. Altman, “Promoting Ethically Responsible Use of Agricultural Biotechnology,” Trends Plant Sci., vol. 26, no. 6, pp. 546–559, 2021.

F. A. Khan, Biotechnology Fundamentals. Third edition. | Boca Raton : CRC Press, 2020.: CRC Press, 2020.

N. Khan et al., “Potential Role of Technology Innovation in Transformation of Sustainable Food Systems: A Review,” Agriculture, vol. 11, no. 10, p. 984, 2021.

A. Khokhar et al., “Correction to: Genetic modification strategies for enhancing plant resilience to abiotic stresses in the context of climate change,” Funct. Integr. Genomics, vol. 23, no. 4, p. 319, 2023.

D. Shikha et al., “A Review on Propelling Agricultural Practices with Biotechnology into a New Era,” J. Adv. Biol. Biotechnol., vol. 27, no. 3, pp. 99–111, 2024.

M. Garg et al., “Biofortified Crops Generated by Breeding, Agronomy, and Transgenic Approaches Are Improving Lives of Millions of People around the World,” Front. Nutr., vol. 5, 2018.

T. Johns, B. Powell, P. Maundu, and P. B. Eyzaguirre, “Agricultural biodiversity as a link between traditional food systems and contemporary development, social integrity and ecological health,” J. Sci. Food Agric., vol. 93, no. 14, pp. 3433–3442, 2013.

A. Garg, S. Basu, N. P. Shetti, M. Bhattu, A. N. Alodhayb, and S. Pandiaraj, “Biowaste to bioenergy nexus: Fostering sustainability and circular economy,” Environ. Res., vol. 250, p. 118503, 2024.

S. M. Brouder and J. J. Volenec, “Impact of climate change on crop nutrient and water use efficiencies,” Physiol. Plant., vol. 133, no. 4, pp. 705–724, 2008.

T. Varzakas and M. Antoniadou, “A Holistic Approach for Ethics and Sustainability in the Food Chain: The Gateway to Oral and Systemic Health,” Foods, vol. 13, no. 8, p. 1224, 2024.

R. C. Verma et al., “The Role of Insects in Ecosystems, an in-depth Review of Entomological Research,” Int. J. Environ. Clim. Chang., vol. 13, no. 10, pp. 4340–4348, 2023.

T. H. Oliver et al., “Biodiversity and Resilience of Ecosystem Functions,” Trends Ecol. Evol., vol. 30, no. 11, pp. 673–684, 2015.

B. B. Lin, “Resilience in Agriculture through Crop Diversification: Adaptive Management for Environmental Change,” Bioscience, vol. 61, no. 3, pp. 183–193, 2011.

S. Datta, J. Singh, S. Singh, and J. Singh, “Earthworms, pesticides and sustainable agriculture: a review,” Environ. Sci. Pollut. Res., vol. 23, no. 9, pp. 8227–8243, 2016.

M. Emmerson et al., “How Agricultural Intensification Affects Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services,” 2016, pp. 43–97.

S. L. Dwivedi, E. T. Lammerts van Bueren, S. Ceccarelli, S. Grando, H. D. Upadhyaya, and R. Ortiz, “Diversifying Food Systems in the Pursuit of Sustainable Food Production and Healthy Diets,” Trends Plant Sci., vol. 22, no. 10, pp. 842–856, 2017.

A. Ratnadass, P. Fernandes, J. Avelino, and R. Habib, “Plant species diversity for sustainable management of crop pests and diseases in agroecosystems: a review,” Agron. Sustain. Dev., vol. 32, no. 1, pp. 273–303, 2012.

P. Smith et al., “Biogeochemical cycles and biodiversity as key drivers of ecosystem services provided by soils,” SOIL, vol. 1, no. 2, pp. 665–685, 2015.

J. Davis et al., “When trends intersect: The challenge of protecting freshwater ecosystems under multiple land use and hydrological intensification scenarios,” Sci. Total Environ., vol. 534, pp. 65–78, 2015.

N. P. Hariram, K. B. Mekha, V. Suganthan, and K. Sudhakar, “Sustainalism: An Integrated Socio-Economic-Environmental Model to Address Sustainable Development and Sustainability,” Sustainability, vol. 15, no. 13, p. 10682, 2023.

M. Altieri, C. Nicholls, and R. Montalba, “Technological Approaches to Sustainable Agriculture at a Crossroads: An Agroecological Perspective,” Sustainability, vol. 9, no. 3, p. 349, 2017.

A. Badiyal et al., “Synergizing biotechnology and natural farming: pioneering agricultural sustainability through innovative interventions,” Front. Plant Sci., vol. 15, 2024.

M. Halewood et al., “Plant genetic resources for food and agriculture: opportunities and challenges emerging from the science and information technology revolution,” New Phytol., vol. 217, no. 4, pp. 1407–1419, 2018.

E. B. Kopp, P. A. Niklaus, and S. E. Wuest, “Ecological principles to guide the development of crop variety mixtures,” J. Plant Ecol., vol. 16, no. 6, 2023.

A. Kumar et al., “Integrating Omics and Gene Editing Tools for Rapid Improvement of Traditional Food Plants for Diversified and Sustainable Food Security,” Int. J. Mol. Sci., vol. 22, no. 15, p. 8093, 2021.

V. Ayyam, S. Palanivel, and S. Chandrakasan, “Crop Genetic Diversity in the Tropical Coastal Areas,” in Coastal Ecosystems of the Tropics - Adaptive Management, pp. 137–152, 2019.

M. Toro and G. Andrade, “Arbuscular Mycorrhizae: Beneficial Microorganisms for Sustainable Agriculture,” pp. 57–70, 2021.

A. Bargaz, K. Lyamlouli, M. Chtouki, Y. Zeroual, and D. Dhiba, “Soil Microbial Resources for Improving Fertilizers Efficiency in an Integrated Plant Nutrient Management System,” Front. Microbiol., vol. 9, 2018.

P. K. Sahu, D. P. Singh, R. Prabha, K. K. Meena, and P. C. Abhilash, “Connecting microbial capabilities with the soil and plant health: Options for agricultural sustainability,” Ecol. Indic., vol. 105, pp. 601–612, 2019.

G. Sharma and B. K. Pradhan, “Exploring Traditional Knowledge: Bio-Prospecting and Biopiracy in India and Southeast Asian Mega-Diversity Nations,” in Biodiversity and Business, pp. 447–483, 2024.

A. K. Singh, R. M. Singh, A. Velmurugan, R. Rahul Kumar, and U. Biswas, “Harnessing Genetic Resources in Field Crops for Developing Resilience to Climate Change,” in Biodiversity and Climate Change Adaptation in Tropical Islands, pp. 597–621, 2018.

M. Karaca and A. G. Ince, “Conservation of Biodiversity and Genetic Resources for Sustainable Agriculture,” in Innovations in Sustainable Agriculture, Cham: Springer International Publishing, pp. 363–410, 2019.

Á. Toledo and B. Burlingame, “Biodiversity and nutrition: A common path toward global food security and sustainable development,” J. Food Compos. Anal., vol. 19, no. 6–7, pp. 477–483, 2006.

G. S. Khush, S. Lee, J.-I. Cho, and J.-S. Jeon, “Biofortification of crops for reducing malnutrition,” Plant Biotechnol. Rep., vol. 6, no. 3, pp. 195–202, 2012.

S. Kumar, A. Mukherjee, and J. Dutta, “Chitosan based nanocomposite films and coatings: Emerging antimicrobial food packaging alternatives,” Trends Food Sci. Technol., vol. 97, pp. 196–209, 2020.

A. Dubock, “An overview of agriculture, nutrition and fortification, supplementation and biofortification: Golden Rice as an example for enhancing micronutrient intake,” Agric. Food Secur., vol. 6, no. 1, p. 59, 2017.

K. Y. Saghir Ahmad, “Malnutrition: Causes and Strategies,” J. Food Process. Technol., vol. 06, no. 04, 2015.

R. Kahane et al., “Agrobiodiversity for food security, health and income,” Agron. Sustain. Dev., vol. 33, no. 4, pp. 671–693, 2013.

J. Matías et al., “From ‘Farm to Fork’: Exploring the Potential of Nutrient-Rich and Stress-Resilient Emergent Crops for Sustainable and Healthy Food in the Mediterranean Region in the Face of Climate Change Challenges,” Plants, vol. 13, no. 14, p. 1914, 2024.

A. M. L. Li, “Ecological determinants of health: food and environment on human health,” Environ. Sci. Pollut. Res., vol. 24, no. 10, pp. 9002–9015, 2017.

U. De Corato, “Improving the shelf-life and quality of fresh and minimally-processed fruits and vegetables for a modern food industry: A comprehensive critical review from the traditional technologies into the most promising advancements,” Crit. Rev. Food Sci. Nutr., vol. 60, no. 6, pp. 940–975, 2020.

R. Sharma, P. Garg, P. Kumar, S. K. Bhatia, and S. Kulshrestha, “Microbial Fermentation and Its Role in Quality Improvement of Fermented Foods,” Fermentation, vol. 6, no. 4, p. 106, 2020.

M. Bilal and H. M. N. Iqbal, “State-of-the-art strategies and applied perspectives of enzyme biocatalysis in food sector — current status and future trends,” Crit. Rev. Food Sci. Nutr., vol. 60, no. 12, pp. 2052–2066, 2020.

S. M. Mitchell and S. M. Shortell, “The Governance and Management of Effective Community Health Partnerships: A Typology for Research, Policy, and Practice,” Milbank Q., vol. 78, no. 2, pp. 241–289, 2000.

B. Trump, C. Cummings, K. Klasa, S. Galaitsi, and I. Linkov, “Governing biotechnology to provide safety and security and address ethical, legal, and social implications,” Front. Genet., vol. 13, 2023.

Nwakamma Ninduwezuor-Ehiobu et al., “EXPLORING INNOVATIVE MATERIAL INTEGRATION IN MODERN MANUFACTURING FOR ADVANCING U.S. COMPETITIVENESS IN SUSTAINABLE GLOBAL ECONOMY,” Eng. Sci. Technol. J., vol. 4, no. 3, pp. 140–168, 2023.

S. Getahun, H. Kefale, and Y. Gelaye, “Application of Precision Agriculture Technologies for Sustainable Crop Production and Environmental Sustainability: A Systematic Review,” Sci. World J., vol. 2024, no. 1, 2024.

P. W. Wambugu, M.-N. Ndjiondjop, and R. J. Henry, “Role of genomics in promoting the utilization of plant genetic resources in genebanks,” Brief. Funct. Genomics, vol. 17, no. 3, pp. 198–206, 2018.

P. Nakawuka, S. Langan, P. Schmitter, and J. Barron, “A review of trends, constraints and opportunities of smallholder irrigation in East Africa,” Glob. Food Sec., vol. 17, pp. 196–212, 2018.

M. M. Urugo et al., “Addressing post-harvest losses through agro-processing for sustainable development in Ethiopia,” J. Agric. Food Res., vol. 18, p. 101316, 2024.




DOI: https://doi.org/10.21107/jsa.v2i1.20

Refbacks

  • There are currently no refbacks.


Copyright (c) 2024 Isnainul Kusuma, Safinta Nurindra Rahmadhia, Alfian Ma'arif

Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

Journal of Science in Agrotechnology
ISSN: 2986-1411
Published by: Universitas Trunojoyo Madura, Indonesia
Organized by: Lembaga Penelitian dan Pengabdian Masyarakat, Universitas Trunojoyo Madura, Indonesia
Address: Gedung Graha Utama Lt.1, Universitas Trunojoyo Madura, Jl. Raya Telang, Kamal Bangkalan, Kode Pos 69162, Madura
Website: https://jsa.trunojoyo.ac.id/jsa
Email: jsa@trunojoyo.ac.id