Genetic Improvements in Agriculture

Abstract

In 10,000 years of agricultural innovation humans have domesticated plants to produce more food, resist more pests, facilitate harvesting and provide better nutrition than their wild relatives. An understanding of the history and future of genetic improvements in agriculture is particularly relevant as we look ahead to the challenges brought by increasing population, degrading soils, disappearing water reserves, escalating energy prices and climate change. This lecture includes a discussion of the use of GM in what many describe as the second green revolution. This lecture is designed for a general audience or first year university students - no prior knowledge is assumed.