Just 150 years ago, 90 percent of U.S. energy was supplied by renewable sources. Today, renewables constitute a mere six percent of energy consumption in a U.S. economy that is heavily dependent on a finite supply of fossil fuels. To address this unsustainable situation, science and society are challenged to develop a long-term strategy to return to renewable sources of energy. Such a strategy should also address fuel price instability and contribute to containing climate change.
Biotechnology offers new opportunities for productivity growth that can delay the onset of decreasing marginal returns.
According to the author, the growth of agricultural biotechnology would be constrained by regulation and bans that may be politically motivated and these constraints reduce productivity and diminish opportunities to develop technology. There is evidence that these barriers slow the growth of agricultural biotechnology relative to its potential. They constrain agriculture’s ability to address climate change and energy shortages.

By: S. E. Sexton, L. A. Martin, D. Zilberman (University of California)

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