1.1 Introduction
Genetic engineering of food is the science which involves deliberate modification of the genetic material of plants. It is an old agricultural practice carried on by farmers since early historical time, but recently it has been improved by technology. Many foods consumed today are either genetically modified (GM) whole foods, or certain ingredients from gene modification technology (Adesida, 2004). Genetic engineering is a new type of genetic modification. It is the purposeful addition of a foreign gene or genes to the genome of an organism. A gene holds information that will give the organism a trait. Genetic engineering is not bound by the limitations of traditional plant breeding. Genetic engineering physically removes the DNA from one organism and transfers the gene(s) for one or a few traits into another (khan et al., 2013).
Since crossing is not necessary, the 'sexual' barrier between species is overcome. Therefore, traits from any living organism can be transferred into a plant. This method is also more specific in that a single trait can be added to a plant. Genetic engineering becomes a powerful technique that applicable for altering the genetic make-up of the crop plants. It is achieved through transgenic or recombinant DNA technology. The crop plants having so many desired characters but due the presence of one or few unfavorable characters makes the crop to limit in its area and production. This makes the farmers to forcefully have to shift to other crops.
As a prelude to other parts of this study, this chapter will discuss the background upon which this study was initiated, the statement of problems that led to this study, the Aim and Objectives of the study. Others are Significance of the study, Scope of work, Research questions, Limitations of the Study and Definition of technical terms.
1.2 Background of Study
The early and most cost-reward producing use of genetic engineers has been in the development of insecticide and pesticide resistance in field crops. A great deal of interest has currently been shown in incorporating tolerance to environmental stresses in crop cultivars in order to stabilize the yield under fluctuating environmental conditions. In addition, as enhanced nutritive value of crop has gathered much interest to combat malnutrition in developing countries and to meet the food preference of naturalists, several transgenic cultivars with fortified nutritive values have been released. Some degree of success has also been accomplished in developing crops with chemical constituent of industrial value and the use of plants as hosts for pharmaceutical products (Singh and Singh, 2014).
Genetic engineers have developed genetic recombination techniques to manipulate gene sequences in plants, animals and other organisms to express specific traits. Applications for genetic engineering are increasing as engineers and scientists work together to identify the locations and functions of specific genes in the DNA sequence of various organisms. Once each gene is classified, engineers develop ways to alter them to create organisms that provide benefits such as cows that produce larger volumes of meat, fueland plastics-generating bacteria, and pest-resistant crops (Acquaah, 2007).
According to (James, 2013 and Khan and Hakeem , 2015) Commercialization of first genetically engineered crop started back in 1996 and since then it has reached new heights in its application and wide adaptability to various sectors of modern agriculture. Since 1996 to 2013 there has been tremendous increase in the acreage of genetically engineered crops. Between 1996 and 2013 there has been more than 100 fold increase in the acreage of genetically engineered crops. Recombinant technology is also helpful in solving the problems arising due to biotic and abiotic stresses.
In addition to genetic engineering helping GMO plants and crops thrive in a variety of conditions; it also has many benefits to human society. However, it is not set to replace conventional plant breeding but is a modern tool for use of plant breeders to fasten the breeding programme. Transgenic technology yielded genetically modified (GM) crops having novel genes with favourable characteristics like higher yields, herbicide resistant, insect and disease resistant, drought resistant, salinity resistant and the others (Tester and Langridge, 2010).
Food security exits when all people have physical and economic access to sufficient, safe, and nutritious food. The development and use of GM crops is seen as key to reduce hunger and increase supply of food (Shiva, 2011). GM cops contribute to food production increase and thus improve the availability of food at global and local levels. Genetically engineered crops would make food crops grow higher in yield and more robust to biotic and abiotic stress (Fedorff et al., 2010). This could stabilize and increase food supplies. Crops with new traits can be associated with food safety risks, which have to be accepted and managed case by case. But such risks are not specific to GM crops (European Commission, 2010).
Once the science of genetics became better understood, plant breeders used what they knew about the genes of a plant to select for specific desirable traits. This type of genetic modification, called traditional plant breeding, modifies the genetic composition of plants by making crosses and selecting new superior genotype combinations. Traditional plant breeding has been going on for hundreds of years and is still commonly used today. Plant breeding is an important tool, but has limitations. First, breeding can only be done between two plants that can sexually mate with each other. This limits the new traits that can be added to those that already exist in that species. Second, when plants are mated, (crossed), many traits are transferred along with the trait of interest including traits with undesirable effects on yield potential (Tester and Langridge, 2010).
Therefore, in Nigeria where the research was carried out, the activities that was conducted is to know the Enhancing Food Supply through Genetic Engineering.
1.3 Statement of Problems
Investigation revealed that there is a need to establish reliable protocols for genetic engineering of crop plants so that these crops also could be brought under the umbrella of crops amenable for genetic engineering. The greatest challenge in agriculture is to improve food grain production and eradication of malnutrition problem in the developing countries and hopefully this technique will be applied to the regions where food shortage is greatest. By knowing the present problems of farmers and also health point of view, developing safe and efficient transgenic plants is needed (Tester and Langridge, 2010). For achieving these, there is need of intensifying research at national and international levels to ensure that biotechnology leads to second revolution in agriculture, which both productive and sustainable. Synergy between Genetic Engineering breeding and traditional plant breeding needs to be further strengthened.
1.4 Aim and Objectives of Study
The aim of the study is to examine the procedures for Enhancing Food Supply through Genetic Engineering. In achieving this aim, the following specific objectives were laid out as follows:
- To determine the genetic engineering factors inhibiting food supply;
- To assess the application of Genetic Engineering to food supply improvement; and
- To examine the genetic engineering processes involved in food supply improvement.
1.5 Research Questions
The study came up with research questions so as to be able to ascertain the above stated objectives. The specific research questions for the study are stated below as follows:
- What is the genetic engineering factors inhibiting food supply?
- How can genetic engineering be applied to improve crop production?
- What is the genetic engineering processes involved in food supply improvement?
1.7 Significance of Study
This study will be of immense benefit to researchers who intend to know more on this study and can also be used by non-researchers to build more on their research work. This study contributes to knowledge and could serve as a guide for other study.
1.8 Scope of the Study
The scope of the research is focused on the Enhancing Food Supply through Genetic Engineering in Nigeria.
1.9 Limitations of the Study
During the course of this study, many things militated against its completion, some of which are:
- Time Constraint: The time frame given to accomplish this project was very short due to school academic calendar and it was carried out under pressure which made the researcher not to implement some necessary features.
- Research material: availability of research material is a major setback to the scope of the study.
- Frequent power failure: This made the researcher append more money on fuel to ensure sustainable power.
- Financial Constraint: Insufficient fund tends to impede the efficiency of the researcher in sourcing for the relevant materials, literature or information and in the process of data collection (internet).
