How does agricultural biotechnology help in disease management?

Prepare for the Biotech Certification Test. Study with quizzes, in-depth explanations, and helpful hints. Boost your confidence and knowledge to excel in your exam journey!

Agricultural biotechnology plays a crucial role in disease management, especially through the genetic modification of crops to enhance their resistance to various pathogens. By incorporating specific traits that allow plants to withstand diseases caused by bacteria, viruses, and fungi, biotechnology enables farmers to cultivate healthier crops. This approach often results in reduced losses and improved yields, as the genetically modified plants can better survive and thrive even in the presence of disease.

This method of directly altering the genetic makeup of crops provides a targeted solution that can effectively counter specific pathogens, thereby ensuring food security and promoting sustainable agriculture. Moreover, increased resistance to diseases can lead to lower reliance on chemical treatments, contributing to an overall reduction in agricultural inputs and environmental impacts.

While minimizing the need for pesticides is a beneficial outcome of biotechnology, it is the genetic modification that directly improves disease resistance, making it the primary method in this context. Other options, such as relying solely on crop rotation or solely implementing organic practices, may provide some level of disease management but do not leverage the advanced capabilities of biotechnology as effectively as genetic modification.

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