Imagine a world where crops resist devastating pests without chemical pesticides, where plants efficiently convert sunlight into abundant food, and where biodegradable plastics are grown from microbes rather than drilled from fossil fuels.
This isn't science fiction—it's the promising reality of green biotechnology, a global market projected to exceed $137 billion by 2034 8 . Yet in Bosnia and Herzegovina (B&H), this promise remains largely unfulfilled, creating a puzzling paradox.
Green biotechnology applies biotechnological techniques to agricultural processes and crops 5 , encompassing far more than controversial GMOs.
Over 60% of new crop varieties in 2025 developed using advanced gene-editing biotechnology like CRISPR 4 8 .
Biotechnology has helped reduce pesticide use in agriculture by approximately 40% compared to 2020 levels 4 .
| Application Area | Key Innovations | Real-World Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Crop Improvement | CRISPR gene editing, Metabolic engineering | Disease-resistant wheat, Drought-tolerant maize |
| Sustainable Inputs | Biofertilizers, Biopesticides | Nitrogen-fixing bacteria, Targeted bioinsecticides |
| Environmental Protection | Phytoremediation, Biodegradable materials | Plants that absorb heavy metals, Bioplastics from corn starch |
| Food Security | Nutritional biofortification | Vitamin-enhanced crops, Healthier vegetable oils |
Perhaps the most significant barrier facing green biotechnology in B&H is the stark funding disparity. While modern laboratories for plant in vitro culture oriented toward gene expression and metabolic engineering cost around 1 million euros to establish, governmental supported projects in B&H are typically around 10,000 euros 1 .
| Challenge Category | Specific Issues in B&H | Impact on Career Development |
|---|---|---|
| Funding & Infrastructure | Minimal government funding, High equipment costs | Researchers cannot access modern tools |
| Priority & Perception | Perceived as less important than biomedical engineering | Reduced student interest, Limited institutional support |
| International Collaboration | Difficulties accessing EU funding programs | Isolation from scientific advancements |
| Educational Pipeline | Gaps in contemporary biotech training | Students unprepared for modern research |
A groundbreaking 2025 study published on wheat senescence sought to identify genetic factors behind the "stay-green" trait—a delayed senescence characteristic that allows plants to maintain photosynthesis longer during maturation, resulting in higher crop yields .
This research exemplifies the multidisciplinary nature of modern green biotechnology, combining genetics, remote sensing, and data science to solve agricultural challenges.
221 wheat cultivars from different global sources
Plants grown under three different nitrogen levels
UAVs with multispectral sensors to measure senescence
Analyzed relationships between genetic markers and traits
| Haplotype | Prevalence | Impact | Potential Application |
|---|---|---|---|
| Major Allele 1 | Present in 95% of stay-green cultivars | Significantly enhances stay-green performance and grain yield | Improve yields across various nitrogen conditions |
| Major Allele 2 | Present in 95% of stay-green cultivars | Works synergistically with Major Allele 1 to enhance traits | Breeding programs for general yield improvement |
| Minor Allele | Less common variant | Specifically associated with stay-green under low nitrogen availability | Develop cultivars for low-input agricultural systems |
The study identified a favorable minor allele haplotype specifically associated with stay-green under low nitrogen availability . This finding is crucial for developing crops that require less fertilizer.
| Tool Category | Specific Examples | Applications in Green Biotechnology |
|---|---|---|
| Gene Editing Technologies | CRISPR-Cas9, Other advanced gene editing tools | Targeted DNA modification without introducing foreign genes 4 |
| Molecular Biology Tools | ClosTron-targeted mutagenesis, Transposon mutagenesis | Altering microbial and plant metabolism for desired traits 7 |
| Phenotyping Technologies | UAV-based multispectral imaging, RGB and hyperspectral sensors | Non-destructive measurement of plant traits |
| Bioinformatics Resources | Genome assembly tools, GWAS analysis software | Identifying marker-trait associations and candidate genes |
Develop contemporary biotechnology curricula incorporating gene editing, bioinformatics, and precision agriculture.
Pursue targeted collaboration with countries and institutions having relevant expertise.
Start with specialized equipment clusters at existing institutions rather than complete new laboratories.
"By stimulating students to pursue career in green biotechnology we are investing in our future, in new medicines, in new food products and crop resistant to pests" 1 .
For Bosnia and Herzegovina, embracing this potential means not just keeping pace with global trends, but actively participating in creating a more sustainable and food-secure future—one discovery at a time.