One of the most important environmental challenges facing the developing world is how to meet current food needs without undermining the ability of future generations to meet theirs.
Viewpoints vary on the role of technology in the transition towards sustainable agriculture.
One approach starts with the premise that technological development is the source of many of the world's environmental problems. This view has led to proposals that seek to curb the use of modern technologies, especially those derived from advances in molecular biology. An alternative view accepts the negative role that certain technologies have played but argues that transition towards sustainable development will require greater use of innovative technologies, not less. Advances in molecular biology have made it possible to combine traditional and modern techniques in sustainable agriculture. The field of genomics, for example, has opened new avenues for increasing agricultural productivity while enhancing environmental conservation.