Genetic Engineering Can Help Curb Pesticide Use

EghtesadOnline: Per capita consumption of pesticides in Iran is around 400 grams per year as opposed to 70 grams in the European countries and 80 grams in the United States, the head of Iranian Genetics Society said.

News ID: ۷۷۴۴۹۸

09 March 2017

Mahmoud Tavallaei added that biotechnology can help reduce the amount of pesticides used in the agriculture sector, IRNA reported.

According to Samira Kahak, secretary of the Biosafety Society of Iran’s Consulting Council, genetic engineering can reduce pesticide consumption by 37% and improve agricultural production and farmers’ income by 22% and 68% respectively.

Genetically modified organisms can be defined as plants, animals or microorganisms in which the DNA has been altered in a way that does not occur naturally. The technology is often called modern biotechnology or genetic engineering, Financial Tribune reported.