I. 'The rapid adoption of biotechnology (since 1996) can be attributed to THREE MAIN factors. (quotes from Hillyer article)

1. Cost savings. Herbicide- and insect-resistant crops generally lower pesticide use and require fewer trips across the field. Fewer trips means lower energy costs.

2. Convenience. Most new technology is easy to use. Farmers are also well familiar with a herbicide like Roundup and know what to expect in weed control performance. In addition, broad spectrum control requires less time to scout and manage crops.

3. Environmentally friendly. Less pesticides reduce the odds of potential runoff. And many of the GMOs encourage the use of conservation tillage practices, enhancing efforts to save soil and to protect water quality.'

So...lets see the goods!

II. Ag-Biotech Companies and GM Crops - Who's Who [Monsanto]

So far, most traits AgBiotech companies have put into GM crops are "Input Traits" that appeal specifically to the farmer - the grower - who is on the front lines waging the war against insects, weeds, and other pests, and trying to make a good living based on yield (bushels per acre).

1. Monsanto"Imagine"
Company Profile: Founded in 1902 and headquartered in St Louis MO, (MTC).

AgBiotech Products on the Market:

Bt-crops (Insect protected):

1. YieldGard Insect-protected (Bt) corn

• YieldGard® Corn Borer: (1996) Genetically engineered with the Bt cry gene to resist European Corn Borer (ECB), since 1996, and the Southwestern Corn Borer
  
  
• E.P.A. Approves Monsanto's YieldGard Rootworm Feb 2003: NY Times: "We've been waiting a long time for this," said Fred Yoder, president of the National Corn Growers Association. "Rootworm is the No. 1 pest and the No. 1 yield robber we have in growing corn." Monsanto said it expected YieldGard Rootworm to eventually be used on 12 million to 15 million of the nation's 80 million acres of corn, generating $150 million to $200 million in yearly revenue.
  
  
• YieldGard® Plus Corn (December 2003) The Big Gun: the first GM crop to control both corn borer and corn rootworm pests. Western Corn Rootworms • Northern Corn Rootworms • Mexican Corn Rootworms • European Corn Borers • Southwestern Corn Borers • Black Cutworms • Sugarcane Borers • Fall Armyworms • Stalk Borers • Wireworms • White Grubs • Seed Corn Maggots • Early Flea Beetles • Earworms. wow.
  
  
• Yield Gard TRIPLE/VT: With all these options, why go anywhere else?
  
  
  

2. Bollgard Insect-protected (Bt) cotton seed

• Bollgard Bt Cotton: (January 1996) Protected against cotton bollworm, tobacco budworm
• Bollgard II - (Summer 2003): watch out bugs...cotton with 24 / 7 Bt-control of budworms, bollworms, armyworms and loopers, (and in case that's not enough...'unrivaled protection against saltmarsh caterpillars and cotton leaf perforators'.) PLUS, it's RoundUp Ready: "Unrivaled Worm Control Built Right Into the Boll" Enough to convince me!
  

3. A Tragic story: NatureGard / NewLeaf Insect-Protected (Bt) and Virus-protected potatoes (discontinued)

• Approved by the USDA/EPA in 1995-1998: Genetically engineered Colorado Potato Beetle-protected potatoes; also came with virus-protection options: New Leaf Plus (Bt + resistance to Potato Leaf Roll Virus -PLRV) and New Leaf Y (Bt + resistance to the Potato Virus Y -PVY).
• Tragic death, March 2001: "Monsanto discontinues the "New Leaf" potato line. Just before the potatoes were introduced, a new insecticide was approved that effectively controlled the Colorado Potato Beetle. Most farmers chose the new insecticide. Furthermore, several large potato processors-- including McDonald's, Burger King, Frito-Lay, and Procter & Gamble-- agreed to use only non-GE potato varieties."

RoundUp Ready: Genetically engineered in-plant tolerance to Roundup Herbicide

1.Cotton, Soybeans, Canola, Corn...etc

• Each crop plant has been transformed with the mutant EPSP synthase gene from Agro that allows plants to synthesize amino acids in the presence of Roundup, a broad spectrum (non-selective) herbicide.
• Allows growers to apply Roundup herbicide directly "over the top" usually ~twice - at the beginning of the season and the middle of the season.
• Corn: "...can increase corn yields as much as 12 bushels an acre. That turns into $36.50 an acre of gross return."
  • Disclaimer: While the U.S. regulatory agencies have given full approval to Roundup Ready® corn for commerce in the U.S. for marketing and consumption as food, food ingredients and feed for livestock, certain regulatory approvals are pending in certain export markets.
• Canola: "...creates a clean slate for increased yield potential."
• Soybean: "..high grower satisfaction, consistent yield advantage, averaging $23.00/acre profit opportunity."
• A rather large selection of options: Can be combined with Bt and other traits

II. B. Ag-Biotech Companies and GM Crops - Who's Who [Others] (see Table for examples of AgBiotech companies owned by AgChemical Companies...) This is a semi-complete list; no need to remember who makes what (will NOT be on the test) - just look to see the scope of the products

• DeKalb/Asgro: (Monsanto's seed company) YieldGard Insect resistance (Bt), RR crops
• Dupont and its seed company Pioneer HiBred:
• DowAgrosciences and it's seed company Mycogen Seeds : NatureGard Insect resistance (Bt), SuperCede Nutritionally Enhanced Corn (1999) [for cows, not us...], Herculex (cool signage...) lots more!!!
• Syngenta (a giant conglomerate of 3 old companies, plus a bunch of small companies!): Ciba (1884), Geigy (1758) and Sandoz (1876). Sandoz + Ciba became Novartis (1996), Novartis is merged with AstraZeneca in 2000 to form Syngenta, "the first global group focusing exclusively on agribusiness"   Northrup King" Maximizer Insect resistance (Bt)
• Aventis/Hoechst (oops, now Sanofi-Aventis) and its seed company AgrEvo LibertyLink - Liberty (Glufosinate = Basta!) tolerance

III. What about the bottom line: "Global data on Bt crops provided by ISAAA chairman Dr Clive James indicate:

• Increases in crop yields from 5-10% percent in China, 10 percent or more in the US, and 25 percent in South Africa*
• Decreased production costs,
• A reduction of at least 50 % in insecticide applications,
• (*Note: Great increases in yield even though increased yield was not the main goal!)

IV. Output Traits:

The Next Wave of AgBio GM crops will focus on "Output Traits" that are meaningful to the PROCESSORS: Archer Daniels Midland / (Wiki) , etc., and FOOD INGREDIENT COMPANIES (Kraft, General Mills, etc)

1. VISTIVE /RR Low-Linolenic Soybeans: A Trans-Fat Solution for the Food Industry and Premium Opportunity for Soybean Growers More than 10 years in the works!!! Soybeans with less linolenic acid reduce or virtually eliminate the need for partial hydrogenation thus trans fats in processed soybean oil can be reduced or eliminated in fried foods, baked goods, snack products and other processed foods.

• >3% linolenic acid, compared to 8% for traditional soybeans
• more stable soybean oil
• less need for hydrogenation.
• And how timely: beginning Jan. 1, 2006, all food and dietary supplements regulated by the FDA in the US are now required to list trans-fat content!
• Available for the 2006 growing season
• Producers will grow the soybeans under a premium contract with participating soybean processors, which will crush the grain, refine the oil and market that oil to food companies.

2. Processor-Preferred: "grain with compositional value to processors; unlocking value for growers in new markets. "

• Processor Preferred corn hybrids yield valuable traits that processors want or can mill more economically =
  • High Extractable Starch (HES) and
  • High Fermentable Corn (HFC) (ie: Ethanol - a renewable fuel - see I-85 program! !).
• Processor Preferred soybean varieties contain high protein or oil levels or a combination of higher protein and oil content.

Upcoming output traits: Foods meaningful to the CONSUMERS

1. Can you think of a few traits here? (see Table for examples).
   
   
2. MUST GO HERE!!! Sustaining agbiotechnology through lean times [PDF]Nature Biotechnology 21, 996 - 1002 (2003) (link) Great article but BIG figures!
   
   
3. I don't like this terminology, but this is from one of the readings for tonight: "Functional food. Any modified food or food ingredient that may provide a health benefit beyond the traditional nutrients it contains. Conventional functional foods include foods that have benefits added back in the form of food additives, dietary supplements, probiotics or medical foods. Genetically modified functional foods include whole foods or foods processed from crops that have been genetically engineered to include health benefits.:

Objectives

1. List three factors that led to the rapid adoption of GM crops by US farmers (Article)
2. Distinguish between "Input" and "Output" traits in GM crops
3. Identify and discuss the two commercial types of "Input traits" on the market today (Monsanto) - Yield/Boll Gard and RR.
4. What is the difference between YieldGard® Corn Borer, Yield Gard Rootworm, and Yield Gard PLUS?
5. Make sure you know what you are eating when you are eating GM food!
6. Explain why ag-biotech crops make sense in terms of yield, insecticide applications, and production costs
7. VISTIVE /RR Low-Linolenic Soybeans and the Processor Preferred hybrids.
8. Explain some upcoming output traits / "functional foods"