The Inequity of Biotechnological Impact

Less than 1% of the total population developing world is positively affected by biotechnological innovation. The global impact biotechnology on agriculture impeded disproportionate development and growth economically important crops in developed world. In over 2 decades, 526 genetically engineered events, or bioengineered (BE) traits, 32 have been approved 44 countries (ISAAA database, 2020ISAAA databaseGM Approval Database. International Service for Acquisition Agri-biotech Applications, 2020http://www.isaaa.org/gmapprovaldatabase/Google Scholar). Of these countries, 38 are high income, representing 73% Just six represent low-income including four Africa Although many import BE feed, food, processing, just half cultivate (ISAAA, 2017ISAAAGlobal Status Commercialized Biotech/GM Crops 2017: Biotech Crop Adoption Surges as Economic Benefits Accumulate 22 Years. ISAAA Brief No. 53. ISAAA, Ithaca, NY2017https://www.isaaa.org/resources/publications/briefs/53/Google Twenty years since their development, acreage used has increased from 1.7 million to 191.7 hectares. This increase dominated such cotton, maize, soybean, which also account 65% new traits (Brookes Barfoot, 2018Brookes G. Barfoot P. Farm income production impacts using GM crop technology 1996-2016.GM Food. 2018; 9: 59-89Crossref PubMed Scopus (46) Google Minor orphan staple crops, grown consumed predominantly Africa, Asia, South America, lack genomic resources feasible approaches necessary scientific advances. Biotechnological advances primarily focused challenges that farmers face: pests pathogens. majority commercialized involved herbicide tolerance insect virus resistance However, does not always translate into commercialization adoption. Academic collaborations with industry often cover average US$136 cost estimated 13 discovery testing approval (McDougall, 2011McDougall time discovery, authorisation a plant derived trait: consultancy study CropLife International.https://croplife.org/wp-content/uploads/pdf_files/Getting-a-Biotech-Crop-to-Market-Phillips-McDougall-Study.pdfDate: 2011Google this exorbitant innovation will low- lower- middle-income nations US$1.5 trillion forgone economic benefit 2050 (Giddings et al., 2016Giddings L.V. Atkinson R.D. Wu J.U. Suppressing Growth: How GMO Opposition Hurts Developing Nations. Information Technology Innovation Foundation, Washington2016Google 20 existing insect-resistant brinjal (eggplant) only minor currently represented. regional-specific varieties, drought-tolerant herbicide-tolerant sorghum, virus-resistant bananas, being (Blaustein, 2008Blaustein R.J. green revolution arrives Africa.Bioscience. 2008; 58: 8-14https://doi.org/10.1641/B580103Crossref (17) Scholar), there clear discrepancy funding between major crops. Thus, those greatest need least science. Population reliance traditional less efficient smallholder farming practices further exacerbate inequality endanger 1.4 billion children already facing food insecurity (Pardey 2016Pardey P.G. Chan-Kang C. Dehmer S.P. Beddow J.M. Agricultural R&D move.Nature. 2016; 537: 301-303Crossref (72) solutions address agricultural problems could be developed; however, mechanisms support vigorous research programs. comparison, investment rose US$13.25 per person US$17.73 30 while decreased US$1.73 US$1.51 Currently, 9% world's undernourished, deficiencies iron, vitamin A, zinc result hundreds thousands suffering anemia, blindness, stunted each year. Malnutrition largest contributor disease prevalent world, accounting 45% childhood mortality (FAO 2020FAO, IFAD, UNICEF, WFP WHOThe State Food Security Nutrition World 2020. Transforming Systems Affordable Healthy Diets. FAO, Rome2020https://doi.org/10.4060/ca9692enCrossref 28.2% under 5 wasted (Müller Krawinkel, 2005Müller O. Krawinkel M. health countries.CMAJ. 2005; 173: 279-286Crossref (536) America. overcome nutrient other parts fortification during processing dietary supplementation America Europe, cannot applied countries. With molecular biosynthesis metabolism, provide solution mineral (Jiang 2020Jiang L. Strobbe S. Van Der Straeten D. Zhang Regulation metabolism: backbone biofortification alleviation hidden hunger.Mol. Plant. 2020; https://doi.org/10.1016/j.molp.2020.11.019Abstract Full Text PDF (4) Biofortification would vulnerable populations sustainable access essential nutrients successfully demonstrated beta-carotene-enriched banana, canola, carrot, cauliflower, potato, rice, tomato (Strobbe 2018Strobbe De Lepeleire J. From planta function vitamin-rich crops: ACE biofortification.Front. Plant Sci. 1862Crossref (16) Scholar); iron-enriched grains cassava; protein-enriched sorghum (Hunt, 2003Hunt J.R. Bioavailability zinc, trace minerals vegetarian diets.Am. Clin. Nutr. 2003; 78: 633S-639SCrossref adoption biofortified transgenic staples hindered associated regulatory costs. For example, late 1990s combat A deficiency (VAD), took decades yet adopted regions VAD meantime, continue suffer endemic deficiencies, exacerbating social feeds cycle poverty. delayed responsible loss life otherwise prevented. expected reach 9.7 2050, 97% food-insecure Efforts yield beans, cassava, millet, teff, wheat achieved higher maize output through cultivation, rather productivity acre. prepared consequences climate change disproportionately located Africa. Rice imports projected rise 57.8% sub-Saharan dependence avoided diversification (Mabhaudhi 2019Mabhaudhi T. Chimonyo V.G.P. Hlahla Massawe F. Mayes Nhamo Modi A.T. Prospects change.Planta. 2019; 250: 695-708Crossref (45) Biotechnology improved lives 65 people, but Science play more significant role ending hunger, achieving security, improving nutrition, promoting agriculture, supporting United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals, 2030 (Sachs 2020Sachs Schmidt-Traub Kroll Lafortune Fuller Woelm Goals COVID-19. Report Cambridge University Press, Cambridge2020Google make advancements wide impact, processes evolve, infrastructures should generate distribute seed varieties. people who unable advocate science, we ensure inequity genetic engineering past repeat itself gene editing coming years. To application gene-editing techniques both developed. Previously, costs sequencing genomes prevented staples. technologies led accurate affordable genome sequencing. Complete, assembled, well-annotated identifying potential target genes off-targets, unintended mutations introduced. African Orphan Consortium sequenced 8 101 it aims sequence (Hendre 2019Hendre P.S. Muthemba Kariba R. Muchugi A. Fu Y. Chang Song B. Liu H. Liao X. al.African (AOCC): status crops.Planta. 989-1003Crossref (24) Applications CRISPR include allele generation, biofortification, cryptic activation, de novo domestication, haploid induction, stress resilience, senescence (Pramanik 2020Pramanik Shelake R.M. Kim M.J. J.Y. CRISPR-mediated across central dogma biology basic improvement.Mol. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.molp.2020.11.002Abstract (14) equality requires open latest advancements, journals, methods, conferences, well open-source computational resources, available No conflict interest declared.