The use of the most recent biotechnology has a significant impact on agriculture, crop yields, and food sources that have played a crucial role in agriculture.
The speakers at a one-day seminar on Wednesday urged the government to ensure that the agriculture sector is revived using modern technology and modern methods in order to support the flagging national economy.
The seminar on “Challenges, Opportunities and Trends in Biotechnology in Pakistan” was jointly organised by the Pakistan Environmental Protection Agency (Pak-EPA) and Pakistan Academy of Environmental Sciences (PAES).
The use of the most recent bio technology has a significant impact on agriculture, crop yields, and food sources that have played a crucial role in agriculture.
Farmers are now able to produce more crops while also addressing the challenges of climate change in the current situation, which has an impact on yield. The nation’s food problems could be solved by biotechnology, which would also guarantee a sustainable food supply for future generations.
Lack of knowledge and understanding, insufficient research and development capacity, a restrictive regulatory environment, restricted access to financing, infrastructure issues, and socioeconomic factors were some of the difficulties Pakistan faced in adopting and implementing biotechnology in agriculture.
To fully comprehend the situation and identify challenges, opportunities, and trends in this area, the Pak-EPA and PAES collaborated in Pakistan under one roof with the participation of all stakeholders.
The seminar’s theme and general discussion points were outlined in the welcome letter by Pak-EPA Director General Farzana Altaf Shah. She also emphasised the significance of new technologies and approaches for making farming more efficient and lucrative.
Engineer Jawed Salim Qureshi, chairman of the Four Brothers Group, brought up the private sector’s contribution to the introduction of biotech during the panel discussion.
He stated that in order to boost the national economy and agricultural output, ambitious and audacious decisions must be made now. According to Qureshi, only the agricultural sector has the ability to strengthen the national economy through timely interventions.
He suggested creating a five-person expert committee to direct and advise the transition of land farming to contemporary technology and practises.
Dr. Khalid Hameed, chairman of the Tara Group, stated that it is urgent to begin using contemporary technology, early warning systems, and best scientific practises. He claimed that unpredictable rain patterns, climate change, and pests were all threatening the agriculture industry in Pakistan.
Dr. Hameed suggested that the government take a firm stand against the use of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in agricultural seed production.
Dr. Samin Mehnaz, a specialist from Forman Christian College in Lahore, gave the group a presentation on the use of microbes in climate-resilient agriculture.
She mentioned how the use of microbe-based biofertilizers was being emphasised in nations like India and the member states of the European Union. She claimed that the microbes had demonstrated their effectiveness in the industry by assisting in the production of high-quality products of various varieties.
The Pakistani companies had an opportunity to tap the unexplored international market of biofertilizers through better production to earn billions of dollars foreign exchange, she added.