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GM CropsGM Crops

Professor Stephen PowlesProfessor Stephen Powles

School of Plant BiologySchool of Plant Biology

University of Western AustraliaUniversity of Western Australia

spowles@plants.uwa.edu.auspowles@plants.uwa.edu.au

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Feeding more people from less crop landFeeding more people from less crop land

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1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2005 2010 2020 2030

Billion people

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Area (billion ha)Population

Crop land

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When you think of “GM crops”, When you think of “GM crops”,

what do you think of ?what do you think of ?

What crops What crops

& &

Which genes?Which genes?

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GM crops GM crops

have a have a gene(sgene(s) inserted ) inserted

from another speciesfrom another species

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Global GM crops 1996 to 2006 (million ha)

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40

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1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006

million ha

Clive James 2006

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GlyphosateGlyphosate--resistant cropsresistant crops (Roundup Ready)(Roundup Ready)

Nearly all worldwide GM crops Nearly all worldwide GM crops

have a bacterial gene have a bacterial gene

endowing endowing glyphosateglyphosate resistance. resistance. GlyphosateGlyphosate controls weeds. controls weeds.

Enables early seeding & noEnables early seeding & no--tillage cropping.tillage cropping.

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GM Bt cropsGM Bt crops

��A bacterial gene from A bacterial gene from

Bacillus Bacillus thuringiensisthuringiensis (Bt). (Bt).

The crop produces a toxin The crop produces a toxin lethal to caterpillar stage of insect pestslethal to caterpillar stage of insect pests

��Bt plants produce their own insecticide, Bt plants produce their own insecticide,

reducing the need for insecticide spraysreducing the need for insecticide sprays

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1996 to now:1996 to now:

GlyphosateGlyphosate resistant and Btresistant and Bt

account for account for

nearly ALL GM crops grown worldwidenearly ALL GM crops grown worldwide

e.g. 60% of global soybean production e.g. 60% of global soybean production

is is glyphosateglyphosate resistantresistant

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Global GM crops: by trait (million ha)

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1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006

Glyphosate resistant

Bt

GR + Bt

Clive James 2006

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Global GM crops: by crop (million ha)

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1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006

SoybeanMaizeCottonCanola

Clive James 2006

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Countries producing GM crops Countries producing GM crops

dominate world markets in these grainsdominate world markets in these grains

In 2006In 2006

�� 80% 80% globally traded soybeans globally traded soybeans GMGM

�� 60% 60% globally traded canola globally traded canola GMGM

““GM crops: The first ten years GM crops: The first ten years –– global socioglobal socio--economic and environmental economic and environmental impactsimpacts””

Graham Brookes and Peter Graham Brookes and Peter BarfootBarfootPG Economics Ltd., UKPG Economics Ltd., UK

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GMGM

maize,soybeanmaize,soybean,,

cotton Beltcotton Belt

USA 2007 crop areaUSA 2007 crop area

Maize Maize 3636 m ham ha (55% (55% glyphosateglyphosate resistant)resistant)

Soybean Soybean 2727 m ha m ha (~95% (~95% glyphosateglyphosate resistant)resistant)

Cotton Cotton 55 m ham ha (~95% (~95% glyphosateglyphosate resistant)resistant)

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US GM cropsUS GM crops

-- 31,68231,6822.02.03.83.8505020052005

Pesticide Pesticide

useuse ↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓(tonnes)(tonnes)

Net Net

incomeincome↑↑↑↑↑↑↑↑(Billion $US)(Billion $US)

Yield Yield ↑↑↑↑↑↑↑↑(million (million tonnes)tonnes)

HaHa(million)(million)

National Center for Food and Agricultural Policy Nov 2006

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Argentina-Brazil – Agricultural powerhousesBrazil & Argentina

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ArgentinaArgentina –– all of the 17 million ha soybean area all of the 17 million ha soybean area

is GM is GM glyphosateglyphosate resistantresistant

1996 1996 –– 2006:2006:

�� GM soybean gave large productivity gainsGM soybean gave large productivity gains

�� US$20 Billion in direct value to ArgentinaUS$20 Billion in direct value to Argentina

�� GM soybeans greatly helped GM soybeans greatly helped economic resurgence in Argentinaeconomic resurgence in Argentina

“Ten years of GM crops in Argentine agriculture” EJ “Ten years of GM crops in Argentine agriculture” EJ TrigoTrigo & EJ Cap& EJ Cap

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�� NoNo--till farming increased from till farming increased from

0.1 million ha in 1991 to 0.1 million ha in 1991 to 2020 million ha in 2006million ha in 2006

�� GM soybeans a principal factor in GM soybeans a principal factor in the growth of nothe growth of no--till farming in Argentina.till farming in Argentina.

�� NoNo--till farming till farming minimisingminimising soil erosion in the soil erosion in the

PampasPampas

“Ten years of GM crops in Argentine agriculture” EJ “Ten years of GM crops in Argentine agriculture” EJ TrigoTrigo & EJ Cap& EJ Cap

Environmental benefit: Argentina Environmental benefit: Argentina GM soybean enabled rapid adoption of GM soybean enabled rapid adoption of

environmentally sustainable, noenvironmentally sustainable, no--till farming till farming

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Argentine GM soybeans v No-till farming

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GM Soybeans (m ha)

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No-till Farm

ing (m ha)GM Soybeans

No-till farming

Trigo J & Cap J

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GM Agriculture areas in Canada

CanolaCorn/Soy

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1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005

Canolaarea (%)

Year

Canada Canada -- GM canola adoptionGM canola adoption

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Canada: Trade Markets & GM Canola

� There is no segregation of non-GM & GM canola in Canada

� Canada:biggest global exporter of canola

ABARE

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EuropeEurope-- GM Bt maize GM Bt maize

�� 2006 Bt maize, 65,000 hectares2006 Bt maize, 65,000 hectares

�� 7 countries out of 25:7 countries out of 25:

Spain, France, Germany, Portugal, Spain, France, Germany, Portugal,

Poland, Czech Republic, SlovakiaPoland, Czech Republic, SlovakiaPG Economics, UKPG Economics, UK

�� 20072007

France will plant 50,000 ha GM Bt maize France will plant 50,000 ha GM Bt maize

(5,200 ha in 2006) (5,200 ha in 2006) USDAUSDA

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Europe : Europe : €€ €€ & environmental benefits from & environmental benefits from

GM insectGM insect--resistant (Bt) maizeresistant (Bt) maize

�� Higher yields: Higher yields: Av. Yields Av. Yields ≥≥ 10%10%

�� Higher income: Higher income: users of Bt earned users of Bt earned

additional income of additional income of €€65 65 -- €€141 per ha. 141 per ha. Improved profitability of 12 to 21%Improved profitability of 12 to 21%

�� Environmental gains: Environmental gains:

less insecticide use and less insecticide use and

reduced fuel usereduced fuel useGraham Brookes 2007Graham Brookes 2007

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AsiaAsia

�� Widespread adoption of GM Bt cotton by Widespread adoption of GM Bt cotton by

millions of Indian and Chinese farmersmillions of Indian and Chinese farmers

�� India & China India & China ––

Bt cotton hybrids Bt cotton hybrids ⇒⇒ 34% yield increase 34% yield increase over nonover non--GM hybridsGM hybrids

CropBiotechCropBiotech Update July06/March07Update July06/March07

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GM crops in AustraliaGM crops in Australiacurrent situation:current situation:

�� CottonCotton -- 90% of Australian cotton is GM90% of Australian cotton is GM

�� CarnationCarnation (blue)(blue)

�� CanolaCanola –– OGTR (Federal approval) OGTR (Federal approval) but under State Govt moratoria but under State Govt moratoria

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To protectTo protect

thethe health and safety of peoplehealth and safety of peopleand theand the environmentenvironment::

�� By By identifying risksidentifying risks posed by, posed by,

or as a result of, gene technology or as a result of, gene technology

�� By By managingmanaging those risks through those risks through

regulating certain dealings with regulating certain dealings with GMOsGMOs

OGTR OGTR

Gene Technology Act, 2000Gene Technology Act, 2000

Dr Sue Meek Dr Sue Meek –– Gene Technology RegulatorGene Technology Regulator

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What is RegulatedWhat is Regulated

�� Live & viable genetically modified organisms Live & viable genetically modified organisms

�� ‘Dealings’ ‘Dealings’ –– research, manufacture, research, manufacture, production, breeding, import, storageproduction, breeding, import, storage

What is NOT RegulatedWhat is NOT Regulated

�� Comparisons with alternative technologiesComparisons with alternative technologies

�� Cost/benefit considerationsCost/benefit considerations

�� Marketing & trade impactsMarketing & trade impacts

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OGTROGTRLIVE & LIVE &

VIABLE GMOsVIABLE GMOs

APVMA APVMA AGRICULTURALAGRICULTURAL

CHEMICALS CHEMICALS

& VETERINARY & VETERINARY

MEDICINESMEDICINES

NICNASNICNASINDUSTRIALINDUSTRIAL

CHEMICALSCHEMICALS

NHMRCNHMRCGENEGENE

THERAPY THERAPY

& embryo & embryo

researchresearch

FSANZ FSANZ FOOD FOOD

STANDARDS STANDARDS

& LABELLING& LABELLING

TGATGAHUMAN HUMAN

THERAPEUTICSTHERAPEUTICS

INTEGRATED REGULATIONINTEGRATED REGULATION

• Prescribed agencies

• State & territory governments

• Local councils

• Technical Advisory Committee (GTTAC)

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Conventional

GM

Australian cotton 2006Australian cotton 2006--0707

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Australian cotton Australian cotton -- Trait adoptionTrait adoption

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Sow year

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Conv

Bt

RR

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Environment benefits of Environment benefits of

GM GM glyphosateglyphosate resistant resistant

& Bt cotton in Australia& Bt cotton in Australia

��Bt cotton has Bt cotton has

reduced insecticide use reduced insecticide use

in cotton by 60% in cotton by 60% (ABARE)(ABARE)

��Reduction in herbicide useReduction in herbicide use

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GM Canola - OGTR approved But State Govt. moratoria

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Canola in AustraliaCanola in Australia

�� Canola is an important rotational cropCanola is an important rotational crop

��TT canola most commonly grown (WA 95%)TT canola most commonly grown (WA 95%)

�� TT canola is ONLY grown in Australia TT canola is ONLY grown in Australia

because there is a weed penaltybecause there is a weed penalty

��GM canola has higher yield than TT canolaGM canola has higher yield than TT canola

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GM GM --vv-- TT Canola for WATT Canola for WA

�� Potential one million hectares Potential one million hectares

�� TT canola TT canola avav WA yield = 1.5 t/haWA yield = 1.5 t/ha

⇒⇒1.5 m. 1.5 m. tonnestonnes

�� GM canola WA yield = 2.0 t/haGM canola WA yield = 2.0 t/ha

⇒⇒ 2.0 m. 2.0 m. tonnestonnes

�� ∴∴ adoption of GM canola adoption of GM canola

⇒⇒ extra production of 0.5 m. t / anextra production of 0.5 m. t / an

�� 0.5 m t @ $400/t = 0.5 m t @ $400/t = $200 million/an$200 million/an

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Future for GM cropsFuture for GM crops

�� Major agric producers (Major agric producers (USA, Brazil, USA, Brazil,

Argentina, Canada) and China/India Argentina, Canada) and China/India

etc, will steam ahead with GM cropsetc, will steam ahead with GM crops

��EuropeEurope gradually introducing GM cropsgradually introducing GM crops

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Future for GM cropsFuture for GM crops

��First GM crops have been input traits (GR, Bt). First GM crops have been input traits (GR, Bt). The second wave of GM crops will have The second wave of GM crops will have consumer health and other benefits.consumer health and other benefits.

��Small and large biotech companies Small and large biotech companies pursuing many gene traits. pursuing many gene traits. Universities & other research agencies.Universities & other research agencies.

��Delivery of GM traits and Delivery of GM traits and consumer acceptance in some markets consumer acceptance in some markets remains an issue.remains an issue.

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New OpportunitiesNew Opportunities

�� Molecular “Molecular “pharmingpharming”” ––

plantplant--made pharmaceuticals made pharmaceuticals

e.g. smallpox vaccine in plantse.g. smallpox vaccine in plants

insulin produced by plantsinsulin produced by plants

�� High carotenoid tomatoesHigh carotenoid tomatoes

�� High omegaHigh omega--3 oil in canola & soybean 3 oil in canola & soybean (polyunsaturated fatty acid)(polyunsaturated fatty acid)

�� High oleic acid/low linoleic acid soybean & canolaHigh oleic acid/low linoleic acid soybean & canola

�� More & better soybean proteinMore & better soybean protein

�� Nitrogen Use Efficient (NUE) canolaNitrogen Use Efficient (NUE) canola

�� Drought resistant crops Drought resistant crops

�� Low caffeine coffee Low caffeine coffee

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GM future in AustraliaGM future in Australia

�� GM Cotton will continue to dominateGM Cotton will continue to dominate

�� GM Canola GM Canola –– already approved by OGTR already approved by OGTR

and held up by state and held up by state govtgovt moratoriamoratoria

��GM wheat GM wheat –– various OGTR field trials various OGTR field trials

underway (CSIRO, Universities, underway (CSIRO, Universities, CRCsCRCs, ,

Biotech companies, multiBiotech companies, multi--nationals)nationals)

(Salt stress, water stress, better starch (Salt stress, water stress, better starch

making properties, high making properties, high amyloseamylose ))

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The Future: Feeding the world while conserving natural ecosystems is a HUGE challenge – Needs brains & a

range of technologies, including GM!