Food from sunflower!
The AP news item from USA on the matter was published by a local English daily on 23 January. It is exiting news, for the growing world population, acing food and fuel resource shortages, if not today, then in the years hence!
It is reported that scientists are exploring the frontier of genetic DNA research to try to crossbreed and modify the sunflower DNA to make it a potential source of food from the flower seeds and fuel (ethanol) from the flower stalk! The plant stem will be modified genetically to produce usable timber also for house building!
Scientists hope to have a breeding programme for such hybrid sunflower plants in the next few years! This has been possible through understanding of the plant's genes, and its modification.
All this bodes well for the world, already facing shortage of food and fuel in various countries. Researchers plan to map the genes of the sunflower family of plants to develop wood producing modified sunflower plants, with increase in complex sugars in the stalk to have a viable feedstock for ethanol production.
Most of the ethanol mow comes from corn, an important food source. Conversion of food to fuel is now being criticised for taking away food from the needy and to convert it to fuel for the rich person's car!
These scientists are doing a commendable work for humanity, and are among the famous "unknown and unsung heroes"; of whom we know not!
They all deserve our acknowledgement and heartfelt thanks, for this great
Humanitarian work for the needy.
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