The ever-increasing environmental degradation can be attributed to various causes. But human or anthropogenic activities are the biggest culprits. Yet it is science and technology developed by man which alone can restore the environment. And good agriculture practices and use of biotechnology can play a very big role in this direction.

Agriculture activities like excessive use of pesticides, fertilizers, illegal cleaning of forests besides pollution and degradation of soil, water and air , not only degrade environment but also have reduced the biodiversity. We should look into certain solutions for restoration of environment through minimizing the use of pesticides and fertilizers, preventing soil erosion, phyto-remediation of contaminated soil, conversion of agri-waste into valued added products, development of new technologies to mitigate climate change and green house gases.

Biotechnology also can help mitigate environment pollution. Diseases and drought-resistant varieties, use of biotechnology in conservation of biodiversity, improving soil fertility through nitrogen fixing, bacteria use of genetic engineering and manipulations are some of the biotechnological methods of minimizing environment degradation. Biotechnology could also be used for reclamation of toxic waste sites.

Thus ,It is science and technology developed by man which alone can restore the environment. And good agriculture practices and use of biotechnology can play a very big role in this direction.

Source : The extracts from  ?Ashok Juwarkar memorial lecture ? organized by National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (Neeri).  The talk titled "Biotechnology and environmental reclamation: The agriculture factor"