Nutritionally enhanced crops and food security: scientific achievements versus political expediency.
Genetic engineering (GE) is one of a raft of strategies that can be used to tackle malnutrition. Recent scientific advances have shown that multiple deficiencies can be tackled simultaneously using engineered plant varieties containing high levels of different minerals and organic nutrients. However, the impact of this progress is being diluted by the unwillingness of politicians to see beyond immediate popular support, favoring political expediency over controversial but potentially life-saving decisions based on rational scientific evidence.
Department of Plant Production and Forestry Science, ETSEA, University of Lleida, Av. Alcalde Rovira Roure, 191, 25198 Lleida, Spain.
Gemma
G
Farre
Richard M
RM
Twyman
Changfu
C
Zhu
Teresa
T
Capell
Paul
P
Christou
D000383:Agriculture / Q000379:methods*; D001709:Biotechnology / Q000379:methods*; D018556:Crops, Agricultural / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*; D059022:Food Safety; D005818:Genetic Engineering / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D030821:Plants, Genetically Modified / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*