GMO foods have been available to consumers since the early 1990s. Since then, the FDA, EPA, and USDA have worked together to ensure that crops produced through genetic engineering for sale to consumers are safe for people, animals, and the ...

Agricultural biotechnology is a range of tools, including traditional breeding techniques, that alter living organisms, or parts of organisms, to make or modify products; improve plants or animals; or develop microorganisms for specific agricultural uses.

Biotechnology tools complement, rather than replace, the traditional methods used to enhance agricultural productivity and build on a base of understanding derived from traditional studies in biology, genetics, physiology, and biochemistry.

Through this USDA-HSI initiative, we will provide experiential learning (EL) and project-based learning (PBL) activities by involving BS/MS students in advanced research on plant growth and physiology, crop production, genetic engineering, plant biotechnology, microbial biotechnology, cell culture, breeding, and biocontrol areas. We will focus on developing technical and non-technical skills such as leadership, entrepreneurship, communications, problem-solving, and decision-making to enable job-ready human resources for Agriculture and sustainable livelihood goals.

March 3, 2026 - Agricultural biotechnology, also known as agribiotech, is an area of agricultural science involving the use of scientific tools and techniques, including genetic engineering, molecular markers, molecular diagnostics, vaccines, and tissue culture, to modify living organisms: plants, animals, ...

Agricultural biotechnology is a collection of scientific techniques used to improve plants, animals and microorganisms.

Agricultural biotechnology, also referred to as green biotechnology, is defined as the application of biotechnology to agricultural processes, involving techniques such as genetic engineering and plant breeding to enhance crop yields, nutritional content, disease resistance, and other beneficial ...

May 15, 2025 - These innovations in biotechnology from conventional breeding to advanced data-trait elucidation integrated methods are pushing the boundaries of climate resilient and next generation crop development. This review focused on the future of resilient and sustainable agriculture that lies in the convergence of conventional and molecular breeding, biotechnology approaches and AI’s driven strategies that enabling scientists to understand the genomics circuits of crops.

March 29, 2021 - Agricultural biotechnology refers to a range of tools—including genetic engineering and some conventional breeding techniques—to genetically modify living plants, animals, microbes, and other organisms for agricultural uses (e.g., food, ...

February 3, 2026 - Biotechnology includes a broad range of technologies applied in crops, livestock, forestry, fisheries and aquaculture, and agro-industry. They are used for many different purposes, such as the genetic improvement of plants and animals to increase their yields or efficiency; characterization and conservation of genetic resources for food and agriculture; plant and animal disease diagnosis; vaccine development; and production of fermented foods.

If a common theme emerged from the workshop, it was that biotechnology constitutes only one part of a complex and nuanced set of investments needed to enhance crop productivity, increase yields, and ultimately ensure food security. The movement of biotechnological innovations into farming systems of the developing world faces several challenges, including simply knowing what crop characteristics farmers need.

The three agencies regulate these products based on the characteristics of the actual products and their intended uses, and they operate under the existing laws passed by Congress to ensure the safety of plants used in agriculture, the safety of pesticides used in agriculture, and the safety of foods we eat and feeds given to animals. Many other USDA agencies have roles in the development, use, and marketing of these products as well. Learn more about How the U.S. Government Regulates Biotech Plants. Since the first successful commercialization of a biotechnology-derived crop in the 1990s, many new crop varieties have been developed and made available to U.S.

(A Lot More than Just GM Crops) · Agricultural Biotechnology

The Agricultural and Medical Biotechnology program is a life science degree for students who wish to pursue opportunities in biotechnology, human health, agricultural productivity and environmental sustainability.

March 15, 2026 - Key Takeaways Biotechnology in agriculture enhances crop yield, quality, and resilience using genetic, microbial, and cellular tools. Key technologies include GM crops, gene editing, biopesticides, and biofertilizers.

March 5, 2024 - Agricultural Biotechnology · Genome Editing in Agricultural Biotechnology · Agricultural Biotechnology · In this section · Feed Your Mind Main Page · Download in PDF · en Español (Spanish) Genome editing is a tool that plant breeders can use to introduce new traits into crops.

October 17, 2024 - Since the development of the first biotech crop varieties, IFPRI has analyzed their costs, risks, and benefits for farmers and consumers in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Evidence to date, including that generated by IFPRI researchers, has identified important productivity, environmental, and socioeconomic benefits from agricultural biotechnology for numerous developing countries.

Participate in undergraduate research guided by renowned faculty and funded by organizations like the U.S. Departments of Energy and Agriculture and the Environmental Protection Agency

The agricultural biotechnology concentration is for students interested in the application of biotechnology for specific agricultural uses.

Conventional plant breeding remains inherently random and slow, constrained by the availability of desirable traits in closely related plant species. In contrast, agricultural biotechnology employs the modern tools of genetic engineering to reduce uncertainty and breeding time and to transfer traits from more distantly related plants.