Will Biotechnology overcome World food shortages?

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Will biotechnology overcome world food shortage?

Biotechnology is using living organisms to make products that help the human health and environment. Microorganisms can be used to produce food such as milk, yoghurt, alcohol, soy sauce and cheese. They are fermented in vessels that have optimum conditions helping the microorganisms to grow and respire an/aerobically. An example is the production of yeast, provided with a lot of oxygen, the cells respire aerobically breaking down the sugar and producing waste products, carbon dioxide and water. With a lack of oxygen they respire anaerobically producing ethanol and carbon dioxide. Alcohol is formed in this way. Optimum conditions include the right temperature, pH and the right amount of oxygen. Aseptic conditions are vital in the fermentation process to avoid contamination.

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Using microorganisms for food production is advantageous because they are easy to handle and can grow in any country, they multiply very quickly and their waste products can be used for other industrial purposes.

 "In developing countries about 650 million of the poorest people live in rural areas where the local production of food is the main economic activity. Without successful agriculture, these people will have neither employment nor the resources they need for a better life. Farming the land is the engine of progress in less developed countries." Biotechnology can increase crop yields encouraging the amount of food ...

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