GM: Inevitable or Contemptible?

♯footprintforum Sustainable Responsible Business

GM: CONTEMPTIBLE OR INEVITABLE? 28th FEBRUARY 2013


Barbara J. Stephenson Deputy Chief of Mission


Jim Neel Economic Officer, U.S. State Department


Nick Fenwicke-Clennell CEO


Jack A. Bobo Senior Advisor for Biotechnology


AGRICULTURE

before it DESTROYS it?

save the planet…

Can

Jack A. Bobo | Senior Advisor for Biotechnology | U.S. Department of State

The size of South America and Africa

More than 40% of earth’s land has been cleared for agriculture


70 percent of fresh water used in agriculture


Virtual Water Trade

70% of fresh water used for agriculture


Aral Sea 1973

Aral Sea Today

Like the Colorado River, which no longer flows to

the ocean


Rivers and lakes are running dry


Agriculture and deforestation together generate about 30% of greenhouse gas emissions

Agriculture is among the biggest contributors to climate change


Together, these represent more emissions than from nearly any other industry


2050 9 billion

Global Population Growth 5 1990

7 billion 2010

2030 8 billion

That’s

About the number of people in Germany

75 million more people each year


We all need to eat


And yet almost1 billion don’t have enough food today


And yet almost1 billion don’t have enough food today


http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs310/en/index.html

60% more food by 2050, using…

Less land

Less water

Less fertilizer

Fewer pesticides


According to the UN Food and Agriculture OrganizaDon


How is the challenge ?

the world needs to produce more food between 2000 and 2050

10,000 years than was produced during the previous

big

Can organic agriculture get us where we need to be?


15-20% growth

35 million hectares

today

Global Agricultural Land Global Organic Land

0.9 % of total agricultural

land

Organic Average

Conventional Average

Source: Nature, 2012


Can organic agriculture get us where we need to be?

34 % lower yields under

most conditions

Organic production

66% conventional

yield

Competing World Views

Slow Food Fast Food


Different Voices


Different Choices


Brazil 2019


What the future looks like


Global Trade

Source: Washington Post



Europe’s Food Footprint An Area the Size

of Germany

We Need Technology

Source: USDA/ERS


Wheat Production Plateaus


Sustainably Applied


What do they have in common?



Right to Save Seed?


Farmers choose seedless and hybrid varieties over

saved seed when it makes economic sense

How do you get a seedless watermelon?


Two sets of chromosomes

Treat seeds with toxic chemical

(colchicine)

Four sets of chromosomes

Three sets of chromosomes

X =

Sterile seedless

melon

Mutagenesis


According to the FAO/IAEA Mutant Variety Database, there are 3218 varieties released officially or commercially around the world.

Risk Spectrum


Source: National Academy of Sciences



None of these products would be

approved today if held to the same standard as biotechnology


Global Status of GE Crops



Why are farmers adopting biotech crops?


Why are farmers adopting biotech crops?

Improved Yields

Fewer Pesticides

Reduced Greenhouse Gases

Improved Nutrition

Less Soil Erosion

Less Water

5% Increase in corn yields – U.S. 24% Increase – Philippines

10% Increase in cotton yields – U.S. 55% Increase – India

19.3 billion kg of carbon dioxide savings in 2010

443 million kg of active ingredients since 1996 (9% reduction)

Reduced tillage saves top soil

Low till and no till reduces evaporation

Drought tolerance


“Only when the best technology is combined with the best agricultural practices will we

achieve truly sustainable agriculture.”


Jack A. Bobo, JD, MS Chief, Biotechnology and Tex4le Trade Policy Division

Senior Advisor for Biotechnology 202-‐647-‐1647

[email protected]


Professor Ian Crute CBE Chief Scientist



the panel..

Charles Bourns Farmer, Member of the National Farmer's Union Poultry Board and President of the EU Commission's Egg and Poultry Advisory Group

Dr Sandy Lawrie Head of Novel Foods, Food Standards Agency

Andy Milner Procurement and Supply Chain Director, Westbury Street Holdings

Nicole Patterson Principal Analyst, Leatherhead Food Research

Paul Rooke Head of Policy, External Relations, Agriculture Industries Confederation

Moderator: Adam Taub




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GM: Inevitable or Contemptible?