Aquaculture and Biotechnology as Methods to Addressing World Hunger
The emphasis on fishery operations that are treated in the same
fashion as the world's land-born farming operations is something of a
double edge sword. Though it may potentially promote more sustainable
practices than free-roaming fishing operations, some tactics such as the
use of antibiotics can potentially introduce dangerous and problematic new
elements to the ecosystem. (Wikipedia, 1) Given the bleak projections for
the immediate future of available water-born food supplies, greater
regulation is necessary before we can approve too strongly of aquaculture.
Thus, there is more of an inclination to push for biotechnology methods as
a way to actually increase the food supply.
Of late, world hunger experts have begun to see virtue in employing
methods of agriculture in such developing nations as India which would
allow for a diminished need for the implementation of insecticidal measures
that could contribute to an already stifling and reciprocating problem for
the nation. And there is reason of optimism according to recent findings
regarding the potential benefits of bioengineering, particularly as such
benefits concern the problems unique to impoverished nations. Two of the
greatest threats to sustenance in India are drought and pestilence, both of
which account for the widespread failure of many crops to reach harvest.
The bollworm that ravages cotton crops in India accounted, in 2003, for the
destruction of more than 50% of the nations' cotton harvest. (Yang, 1)
However, during this same year, a breed of cotton was engineered for
resistance against the bollworm "with a gene from the insecticidal
bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt)." (Yang, 1) The results would be a
dramatic success in yielded greater crop harvest with no reported negative
health outcomes. Naturally, this is still an area which does require far
greater scientific research before we can fully dismiss the possibility of
its negative impact on environment, ecology and human health. But it does
offer some promise to developing nations.
Works Cited:

Wikipedia. (2009). Aquaculture. Wikimedia, Ltd. Inc.

Yang, S. (2003) Genetically modified crops in India produced Greater
yields, Reduced Pesticide use. Eureka Alert. Online at