A study from the University of Chicago, Peking University and Guizhou University revealed that inserting a gene linked to human obesity into crops helps them grow bigger, thus dramatically improving plant growth and crop yield.
The researchers first studied how plants react to a foreign protein. When they found it didn’t harm the plants, they then infused rice and potato plants with a gene containing a protein associated with obesity in humans.
The protein chemically altered the genetic composition of the plants, resulting in 50% stronger growth, longer roots, better drought tolerance, and increased photosynthesis rates.
This development offers the possibility to increase yield from plants across the board.
Not only for food production, but also for timber, medicine, flowers, oil, biomass, etc.
As a result, we could get a lot higher yields from bio-engineered plants, but also reduce the strain on ecosystems and the planet, at the same time.
Do you agree that we need to use our knowledge and technology to improve agricultural yields? Or, do you oppose the idea and why? Please let us know in the comments below.