Answer:
Traditional farming can only yield a
limited biomass as food for humans and animals. Better management practices and
increase agricultural land can increase yield, but only to a limited extent.
Following are the three options to
increase food production
(a) Single Cell Protein
The biomass obtained from microorganisms
can be treated or processed in industry to be used as food and is called single
cell protein.
Merits of Single Cell Proteins
(i)
Its production reduces pollution as it uses organic wastes and industrial
effluents.
(ii) It provides a protein-rich
diet.
(iii)
It fulfills the demand of protein for human diet and takes off the pressure on
agriculture system.
Demerits of Single Cell Protein
(i)
Sometimes the microbial biomass when taken as diet supplement may lead to
allergic reactions.
(ii)
Many types of microorganisms produce substances which are toxic to the humans
and also to the animals.
(b)Biofortification
It is the method for developing
crops with higher levels of vitamins, minerals proteins and healthier fats to
improve public health.
Merits of Biofortification
(i)
It can increase yields grown on the same or less acreage.
(ii)It
can potentially improve nutritional value or other health benefits.
Demerits of Biofortification
(i)
Its successful implementation into society requires safe delivery systems,
stable policies ,and appropriate social infrastructures.
(ii) It continued by financial
support also.
(c) Tissue-Culture
It is an in vitro technique for
regeneration of a whole plant from any part of a plant by growing it on culture
medium under aseptic conditions.
Merits of Tissue Culture
(i) A large number of plants can be
grown in short time.
(ii) Disease-free plants can be
multiplied.
(iii) Seedless plants can be
multiplied
(iv) The plants where sexual
reproduction is absent may undergo somatic hybridization.
Demerits of Tissue Culture
(i)
It requires great expense because it needs latest techniques in the laboratories
(ii) It requires acclimatization of
plants grown by tissue culture to the external environment.
(iii) It requires special
expertise.
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