Use of Biotechnology to Increase Food Production and Nutritional Value

The term biotechnology is often used synonymously with genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in agriculture to produce plants and animals that will either increase the efficiency of food production or increase the nutritional content. Biotechnology uses a number of different genetic tools, beyond modification, including the use of antisense technology, and the exogenous synthesis of important enzymes. This chapter describes the use of biotechnology by the food industry with its main focus towards genetic modification, although other forms of biotechnology will also be described.