Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Biotechnology is compatible with sustainable agriculture

  • Published:
Journal of Agricultural and Environmental Ethics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Biotechnology can provide appropriate new tools for use in solution of specific problems in sustainable agriculture. Its usefulness will depend in large part on the degree to which sustainable agriculturists understand the utility of biotechnology and apply it toward ends they deem important. Biotechnology can give little assistance to sustainable agriculture in the short term. It can be more useful in the medium term, and it could be highly useful in the long term as an integral part of the art and science of plant breeding and other components of sustainable agriculture systems.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Allen, P., D.V. Dusan, J. Lundy, and S. Gliessman. 1991. Integrating social, environmental, and economic issues in sustainable agriculture.American Journal of Alternative Agriculture 5: 34–39.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bartels, D., and D. Nelson. 1994. Approaches to improve stress tolerance using molecular genetics.Plant, cell and environment 17: 659–667.

    Google Scholar 

  • Batie, S.S., and D.B. Taylor. 1989. Widespread adoption of non-conventional agriculture: Profitability and impacts.American Journal of Alternative Agriculture 4: 128–134.

    Google Scholar 

  • Batte, M., L. Forster, K. Bacon, and T. Stout. 1993. Performance of Alternative Tillage Systems on Ohio Farms. The Ohio State University, Dept. Agric. Econ. and Rural Soc. October 29, 1993. Ohio Farm Household, Longitudinal Study. ESO 2073.

  • Baumgardt, B.R., and M.A. Martin, eds. 1991.Agricultural Biotechnology: Issues and Choices. West Lafayette, IN: Purdue University Agricultural Experiment Station.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bent, A.F., B.N. Kunkel, D. Dahlbeck, K.L. Brown, R. Schmidt, J. Giraudat, J. Leung, and B.J. Staskawicz. 1994. RPS2 of Arabidopsis thaliana: A leucinerich repeat class of plant disease resistance genes.Science 265: 1856–1860.

    Google Scholar 

  • Benz, B.F., L. Sánches-Velásques, and F.S. Michel. 1993. Ecología y etnobotánica de Zea diploperennis, Investigaciones preliminares. InBiología, ecología y conservación del género Zea, edited by B.F. Benz. pp. 165–178. Guadalajara, Jalisco, México: Universidad de Guadalajara.

    Google Scholar 

  • Boulter, D. 1993. Insect pest control by copying nature using genetically engineered crops.Phytochemistry 34: 1453–1466.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brattsten, L.B. 1991. Bioengineering of crop plants and resistant biotype evolution in insects: counteracting coevolution.Archives of Insect Biochemistry and Physiology 17: 253–267.

    Google Scholar 

  • Briggs, S.P. 1995. Plant disease resistance: Grand unification theory in sight.Current Biology 5: 128–131.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brunke, K.J., and R.L. Meeusen. 1991. Insect control with genetically engineered crops.Tibtech 9: 197–200.

    Google Scholar 

  • Buxton, D.R., R. Shibles, R.A. Forsberg, B.L. Blad, K.H. Asay, G.M. Paulsen, and R.F. Wilson, eds. 1993.International Crop Science I. Madison, WI: Crop Science Society of America, Inc.

    Google Scholar 

  • Byerlee, D. 1994. Modern Varieties, Productivity, and Sustainability: Recent Experience and Emerging Challenges. CIMMYT, Mexico, D.F. 1994. ISBN: 968-6923-32-2.

  • Commandeur, P., G.v. Roozendaal, J.v. Wijk, J. Kamen, R. Pistorius, J. Bijman, P. Smits, G. Verschuur, and G. Junne, eds. 1993.Biotechnology and Development Monitor, No. 16. Amsterdam: University of Amsterdam.

    Google Scholar 

  • Crosson, P. 1989. What is alternative agriculture?American Journal of Alternative Agriculture 4: 28–31.

    Google Scholar 

  • Crouch, M. 1991. The very structure of scientific research mitigates against developing products to help the environment, the poor and the hungry.Journal of Agricultural and Environmental Ethics 4: 151–158.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dahlberg, K.A. 1991. Sustainable agriculture — fad or harbinger?BioScience 41: 337–340.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dangl, J.L. 1995. Piece de resistance: novel classes of plant disease resistance genes.Cell 80: 363–366.

    Google Scholar 

  • DuPuis, E.M., and C. Geisler. 1988. Biotechnology and the small farm.BioScience 38: 406–410.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fowler, C., and P. Mooney. 1990.Shattering: Food, Politics, and the Loss of Genetic Diversity. Tucson: University of Arizona Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fraley, R. 1992. Sustaining the food supply.Bio/Technology 10: 40–43.

    Google Scholar 

  • Francis, C.A. 1989. Sustaining agriculture and development: Challenges for the future.American Journal of Alternative Agriculture 4: 98–100.

    Google Scholar 

  • Frederici, B.A. 1993. Insecticidal bacterial proteins identify the midgut epithelium as a source of novel target sites for insect control.Archives of Insect Biochemistry and Physiology 22: 357–371.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gatehouse, A.M.R., D. Boulter, and H.V. Hilder. 1992. Potential of plant-derived genes in the genetic manipulation of crops for insect resistance. InBiotechnology in Agriculture, edited by A.M.R. Gatehouse, V.A. Hilder and D. Boulter, pp. 155–181. Wallingford, Oxford, UK: CAP International.

    Google Scholar 

  • Goldburg, R., J. Rissler, H. Shand, and C. Hassebrook. 1990. Biotechnology's Bitter Harvest — Herbicide Tolerant Crops and the Threat to Sustainable Agriculture. The Biotechnology Working Group/The Tides Foundation/Environmental Defense Fund, New York, NY. March, 1990.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hamilton, N.D. 1994. Agriculture Without Farmers?: Is Industrialization Restructuring American Food Production and Threatening the Future of Sustainable Agriculture. Drake University Law School, Agricultural Law Center, Des Moines, IA. February 1994: 94–1.

    Google Scholar 

  • Haverkort, B., and W. Hiemstra. 1993. Differentiating the role of biotechnology.Biotechnology and Development Monitor 1993: 3–5.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jackson, W. 1987.Altars of Unhewn Stone: Science and the Earth. San Francisco: North Point Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • —. 1991. Our vision for the agricultural sciences need not include biotechnology.Journal of Agricultural and Environmental Ethics 4: 207–215.

    Google Scholar 

  • Janick, J., and J.E. Simon. 1990.Advances in New Crops. Portland, OR: Timber Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Keeney, D.R. 1989. Toward a sustainable agriculture: Need for clarification of concepts and terminology.American Journal of Sustainable Agriculture 4: 101–105.

    Google Scholar 

  • —. 1995. Sustainable Agriculture and Sustainable Development: At the Crossroads. International Fertilizer Development Center, Muscle Shoals, AL (USA). February 1995. Travis P. Hignett Memorial Lecture.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kennedy, J.F., V.M. Cabalda, and C.A. White. 1988. Enzymic starch utilization and genetic engineering.Tibtech 6: 184–189.

    Google Scholar 

  • Khush, G.S., and G.H. Toenniessen, eds. 1991.Rice Biotechnology. Biotechnology in Agriculture Series. Wallingford and Manila: CAB International and International Rice Research Institute.

    Google Scholar 

  • Koch, C. 1994. Photosynthetic electron transport is differentially affected during early stages of cultivar/race-specific interactions between potato and Phytophthora infestans.Planta 193: 551–557.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lasley, P., E. Hoiberg, and G. Bultena. 1993. Is sustainable agriculture an elixir for rural communities?American Journal of Alternative Agriculture 8: 133–139.

    Google Scholar 

  • Leisinger, K.M. 1995. Sociopolitical effects of new biotechnologies in developing countries. International Food Policy Research Institute, Washington, DC, March 1994. Food, Agriculture, and the Environment Discussion Paper 2.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lockeretz, W. 1988. Open questions in sustainable agriculture.American Journal of Alternative Agriculture 3: 174–181.

    Google Scholar 

  • Martin, G.B., S.H. Brommonschenkel, J. Chumwongse, A. Frary, M.W. Ganal, R. Spivey, T.Y. Wu, E.D. Earle, and S.D. Tanksley, 1993. Map-Based cloning of a protein kinase gene conferring disease resistance in tomato.Science 262: 1432–1436.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mitchell, D.O., and M.D. Ingco. 1993. The World Food Outlook. International Economics Department of the World Bank, Washington, DC November 1993.

    Google Scholar 

  • Moffat, A.S. 1994. Mapping the sequence of disease resistance.Science 265: 1804–1805.

    Google Scholar 

  • NRC. 1989. Alternative Agriculture. Board on Agriculture, National Research Council (NRC). Washington, DC: National Academy Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Paarlberg, D. 1990. The Economics of New Crops. InAdvances in New Crops, edited by J. Janick, and J.E. Simon, pp. 2–6. Portland, OR: Timber Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Punja, Z.K., and Y.Y. Zhang. 1993. Plant chitinases and their roles in resistance to fungal diseases.Journal of Nematology 25: 526–540.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ragot, M., and D.A. Hoisington. 1993. Molecular markers for plant breeding: comparisons of RFLP and RAPD genotyping costs.Theoretical and Applied Genetics 86: 975–984.

    Google Scholar 

  • Reisner, A., and G. Walter. 1992. Agricultural Scientists Definition of the Essential Attributes of Sustainable Agriculture: A Delphi Study. University of Illinois. July 15, 1992. Presented at the June 1992 Conference of Diversity in Food, Agriculture, Nutrition and Environment, East Lansing, Michigan.

  • Somerville, C., and J. Browse. 1991. Plant lipids: Metabolism, mutants, and membranes.Science 252: 80–87.

    Google Scholar 

  • Somerville, C.R. 1991. Prospects for genetic modification of the composition of edible oils from higher plants.Food Biotechnology 6: 217–226.

    Google Scholar 

  • Strittmatter, G., and D. Wegener. 1993. Genetic engineering of disease and pest resistance in plants — present state of the art.Zeitschrift für Naturforshung C 48: 673–688.

    Google Scholar 

  • Strong, D.R. 1990. Interface of the natural enemy and environment. InUCLA Symposia on Molecular and Cellular Biology, edited by R.R. Baker and P.E. Dunn, pp. 57–64. New York: Wiley-Liss, Inc.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stuber, C.W. 1992. Biochemical and molecular markers in plant breeding. InPlant Breeding Reviews, edited by J. Janick, pp. 37–61. New York: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

    Google Scholar 

  • Swaminathan, M.S. 1989. Biotechnology and a better common present. Asian and Pacific Development Centre, Kuala Lumpur. 6–8 March 1989. Closing Address and Summary.

    Google Scholar 

  • —. 1991. Biotechnology and rural development. Centre for Research on Sustainable Agricultural and Rural Development, Madras (India). January 22–26, 1991.

    Google Scholar 

  • Vierling, E. 1991. The Roles of Heat Shock Proteins in Plants. InAnnual Review of Plant Physiology and Plant Molecular Biology, edited by W.R. Briggs, R.L. Jones, and V. Walbot, pp. 579–620. Palo Alto, CA: Annual Reviews, Inc.

    Google Scholar 

  • Woolhouse, H.W. 1992. Promoting crop protection by genetic engineering and conventional plant breeding: problems and prospects. InBiotechnology in Agriculture, edited by A.M.R. Gatehouse, V.A. Hilder, and D. Boulter Wallingford, pp. 249–256. Oxford, UK: CAP International.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhu, Q., E.A. Maher, S. Masoud, R.A. Dixon, and C.J. Lamb. 1994. Enhanced protection against fungal attack by constitutive co-expression of chitinase and glucanase genes in transgenic tobacco.Biotechnology 12: 807–812.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Agronomy, Iowa State University, 6837 N.W. Beaver Drive, P.O. Box 446, 50131, Johnston, IA, USA

    Donald N. Duvick

Authors
  1. Donald N. Duvick
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Duvick, D.N. Biotechnology is compatible with sustainable agriculture. J Agric Environ Ethics 8, 112–125 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02251875

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02251875

Keywords

Search

Navigation