Plant biotechnology and its importance

What is meant by Plant Biotechnology?

• «Application of science and technology to plants, parts, products and models, to alter living or inert materials, in order to develop knowledge, goods and services» (OECD) 
• «Plant Biology Based Technology» (BIOVEGEN)

What are the applications?

• Improvement of varieties according to relevant agronomic features:
  • Productivity (resistance to biotic stress: pests, viruses, pathogens, abiotic stress tolerance to drought, salinity … herbicide tolerance. Plant-soil interaction, nutrient absorption, metabolism improvement, etc.)
  • Nutrition improvement: vitamin enrichment, flavor enhancement, nutraceutical foods.
  • Post-harvest Physiology (fruit ripening delay)
  • Food processing, IV range
  • Ornamental plants improvement: structure, size, color, smell, fruit absence…
• Phytoremediation: contaminants removal
• Biofuels: bioenergy crops (1st, 2nd, 3rd generation)
• Biofactories: biopolymers, therapeutic proteins, biodegradable plastics, etc.
• Natural diversity exploitation and biodiversity protection

Productivity, quality, sustainability, new applications