ABSTRACT
The cultivable land available for crop production is shrinking day by day because of fast urban growth as well as land degradation, and the trend is expected to be much more drastic in developing countries than in the developed ones. Yields of several crops have already reached a plateau in developed countries, and therefore, most of the productivity gains in the future will have to be achieved in developing countries through better natural resources management and crop improvement. Productivity gains are essential for long-term economic growth, but in the short term, these are even more important for maintaining adequate food supplies for the increasing global population. Therefore, in this context, biotechnology will play an important role in food production in the near future. In this regard, we attempt to take a critical but practical look at the prospects and constraints of various types of biotechnologies and their application for increasing crop production and improving nutritional quality. Within this, we also address the critical issues of biosafety and impact of the genetically engineered crops on the environment. Genetic engineering offers plant breeders access to an infinitely wide array of novel genes and traits, which can be inserted through a single event into high-yielding and locally adapted cultivars.
