**Genetic Improvement of Oilseed Crops Using Modern Biotechnology Biotechnology**

**Genetic Improvement of Oilseed Crops Using Modern** 

DOI: 10.5772/intechopen.70743

Diego Villanueva-Mejia and Javier Correa Alvarez Diego Villanueva-Mejia and Javier Correa Alvarez Additional information is available at the end of the chapter

Additional information is available at the end of the chapter

http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.70743

#### **Abstract**

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In 2009, big challenges facing the agricultural sector in the twenty-first century were presented to the world. Human population growth, increased life expectancy, loss of biodiversity, climate change and accelerated land degradation are the main factors contributing to rethink agriculture system production. In that scenery, modern biotechnology has set a stage for the advancement of agricultural practices and it is clearly an important ally to apply a broad array of technologies and innovative systems where they are most needed, such as enhancing crop productivity, increasing yields, and ultimately ensuring food security. One of the biggest challenges is related to technify production systems, but with no doubt, developing genetic improvement toward getting an efficient and sustainable agriculture, generating new seed qualities (new traits), such as, among others, to upset fatty acids content in oilseed crops have been growing up significantly due to industry interest. In this study, a review about the main advances in genetic improvement of some oilseed crops, starting with omics to understand metabolic routes and to find out key genes in seed oil production, and also, getting in use of modern biotechnology to alter the production of fatty acids, and to face biotic challenges in oilseed crops is presented.

**Keywords:** seed oil, oilseed crops, fatty acids, genetic improvement, genetic engineering, modern biotechnology
