NS-FUTURE Joint Seminar by Selim Çetiner

Genetically Modified Organisms: Food Security and Modern Biotechnology in the 21st Century

Prof. Dr. Selim Çetiner

Food security for all continues to be a major problem for many developing countries. Since the world is faced with many constraints like population growth, global climate change, degradation of natural resources and the environment, sustainable intensification seems to be the only way for increased agricultural production per unit area. For this, modern biotechnological tools besides other technological improvements provide smart solutions.

The new millennium we are living is also called the age of life sciences because of the rapid discoveries in biological sciences. Genetically modified organisms are not only used in agricultural production but also in medicine, industry and other aspects of everyday life. While the use of GMOs in medicine and industry are accepted in general, the public reaction against the use of GMOs in agriculture is rather high. These reactions are usually ideological or emotional as each GMO is commercialized only after passing rigorous safety assessment procedures based on scientific methods.

In addition to using all available technological tools for sustainable intensification in food production, a major shift in eating habits and diets may have a significant contribution to global food security. In developed countries, people eat substantial amounts of meat and meat consumption in developing countries is also increasing.