A recent study by the University of Göttingen shows that new plant breeding technologies – such as genetic engineering and gene editing – help to increase food production while being more environmentally friendly, reports Phys.Org. The results have been published in the journal Applied Economic Perspectives and Policy.
For the study, agricultural economist Professor Matin Qaim, from the University of Göttingen, evaluated 50 years’ worth of research from around the world.
“Cereals are cheap sources of calories, which explains why hunger has been significantly reduced in recent decades,” explains Qaim.
“Unfortunately, the Green Revolution was less successful in combating widespread micronutrient deficiency. This requires a more balanced diet and more diversity in agricultural production with more beans, vegetables, fruit and other locally adapted species.”
