Scientists developed a new strain of rice that could increase crop
yields by a fifth for small farmers. It grows well in soils lacking the
nutrient phosphorus. The gene will be now transferred to modern
varieties of rice using classic methods of cross-breeding, not genetic
engineering.
Many soil types bond tightly to phosphorus, allowing only a small
quantity of the precious mineral to plant roots.To solve this problems,
farmers seek help of phosphorus fertilisers. But in poor countries, this
option costs too much, which means the plant is left undernourished.
Ultimately, this meagre growth affects yields.
In October 2011, the UN Population Fund (UNFPA) said the global
population of seven billion could rise to at least 10 billion by 2100.
Therefore, we need more yields. Phosphate fertilisers are typically
extracted from layers of rock which were ocean sediments millions of
years ago.
No comments:
Post a Comment