Duvick, D.N. 1995. Duvick, D.N. 1995.
Biotechnology is compatible with sustainable agriculture.
This article explores the question of whether or not biotechnology is a useful tool for achieving sustainability in agriculture. Duvick considers the desirable effects that biotechnology could have. He believes biotechnology can yield moderate benefits to agriculture's sustainability in the medium term, and can be a highly effective tool in the long term. Biotechnology would make crop diversification easier because alternative crops could be introduced and adapted to new areas. As gene maps improve over an extended period of working with biotechnology, they will become an important aid to crop breeders' ability to create disease and pest resistant varieties, as well as varieties that are adapted to poor soil and climate conditions.