BIOTECHNOLOGY IN AGRICULTURE AND ITS RELATIONSHIP TO THE PRINCIPLES OF SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE

Biotechnology is one of the fastest growing areas in science that made a great development in various fields such as agriculture, medicine, pharmacy, industry and environment science. In fact, biotechnology is the science and technology of peaceful and humanitarian use of living things to human welfare and environmental protection. Along with the development of this technology, sustainable agriculture has been taken into account. Biotechnologists believe that the biotechnology is like a miracle and could help us to achieve sustainability in agriculture. Biotechnology improves production, saves time and money and causes reduction in chemical application. Nonetheless, other aspects of biotechnology such as socio-economic aspects are usually ignored. On the other hand, traditional agriculture, irrespective of the application of this technology in sustainable agriculture, believes that these advantages are temporary and even are considered as serious threat for ecosystems in long-term. Sustainable agricultural is a holistic approach in which proper management of natural resources are practiced to supply human needs for food and other goods while conserving environmental quality and preventing natural resource degradation. In developing sustainable agriculture, reducing the pressure on land and ecosystems, avoiding the use of chemicals in the form of fertilizers, pesticides, and herbicides and conserving natural resources and human health are the main objectives [1]. Agricultural biotechnology plays a crucial role in economic growth sustainability and economic competitiveness, especially in developing countries. In addition, biotechnology has a specific position in enhancing food security so that could be used as an advantage in sustainable agriculture for small farmers in developing countries. Biotechnology by reducing the use of chemicals in agriculture has brought many environmental benefits to our society and perhaps the world and caused economic growth. Although these cases are considered as valuable progress, there still is some way to go towards achieving a sustainable agriculture development. To pass through this way, considerable changes are needed in the structure of political approaches and the research companies to produce products meeting ecological, socio-economic criteria. To achieve such changes it is necessary for authorities to reconsider the relationships between farmers, industry, consumers and universities [2].Keywords: Biotechnology, Sustainable agriculture, Economic aspects, Social aspects.

Keywords:

Biotechnology , Sustainable agriculture , Economic aspects , Social aspects