BIOL 136(S) Agricultural Biotechnology in Developing Economies

This course, intended for students interested in policy issues, deals with biological aspects of agricultural development. A primary focus is the generation of new crop varieties through biotechnology and the potential socioeconomic impacts of introducing these modified plants in developing countries. Principles of plant breeding and genetic engineering will be integrated with discussions of global population growth and the possible contributions of plant biotechnology to the amelioration of food shortages. We will look retrospectively at the three decades of the Green Revolution, in which classical breeding led to the development of high-yielding varieties of staple crops, and then consider future prospects for the development and diffusion of new varieties generated using the modern tools of recombinant DNA and plant tissue culture. Case studies will be used to explore biotechnology transfer, the contributions of indigenous farmer knowledge, and integrated pest management. Topics also include: human nutritional requirements; biodiversity and the preservation of genetic resources; risks associated with agricultural biotechnology; the role of the agricultural sector in economic development; the moral obligation of technology-rich nations to aid resource-poor farmers; and the impact of new technologies on women engaged in traditional agriculture. Issues of sustainability-biological, social, and environmental-will be considered throughout the course. Course requirements: one exam, several short papers, and a final research paper. No prerequisites. Does not satisfy premedical course requirements in biology; does not count for Biology major credit.

Hour: BANTA