Crop Biotechnology For Food Security And Nutrition

INTRODUCTION

The  level of hunger globally remains high, with 795 million people still facing hunger, roughly one in four children affected by stunting, and 8 percent of children affected by wasting. Of the many strategies that have been suggested to address the issues of global poverty, hunger and environmental degradation, crop biotechnology is seen as a viable contribution to the solution. Biotechnology is any technological application that uses biological systems, living organisms or derivatives thereof, to make or modify products or processes for specific use. Some of the potential benefits of biotechnology includes but not limited to environmental conservation, improved food security and reduced malnutrition, use of biofuel to complement the non-renewable energy and source of raw materials used in industries.

DURATION

10 days.

TOPIC TO BE COVERED

Module 1: Integrated Pest Management

• Introduction/meaning
• Techniques in IPM
• Benefits of IPM

Module 2: Integrated soil health and fertility management

• Soil structure and texture
• Soil health
• Macro and micro nutrients
• Fertilizers
• Manures
• Other soil amendments
• Soil PH

Module 3: Regulatory and research compliance

• Protocol, National policies,  laws and authorizes to regulate crop biotechnology
• Guidelines for Inspection and Monitoring GMOs

Module 4: Crop management

• Establishments/proposals
• Crop nutrition
• Cultural practices
• Pest and disease control

Module 6: Plant production techniques

• Controlled environment
• Open field
• Irrigation vs rain fed
• Crop rotation

Module 7: Cost management and crop budgets

• Crop production plan
• Crop budgets/production cost

Module 8: Record keeping

• Types of crop records
• What are records
• Why keep records/importance
• Examples of crop records

Module 9: Biotechnology

• Micro- propagation
• Molecular Plant Breeding through Biotechnology