Biotech to Bakery - Impacts of Transgenic Crops on Your Industry

Biotech to BakeryImpacts of transgenic crop technology on

your industry

Kevin M. FoltaProfessor and Chairman

Horticultural Sciences Department

kfolta.blogspot.com@kevinfolta

[email protected]

Biotechnology Relevant to IBA

•What this technology is, and how it affects products in our industry

•Why there is resistance to good technology?

•The future of biotech crops

•Your role as a food-based industry

Transgenic crop technology (familiar “GMO”) is a precise extension of conventional plant breeding.

“The techniques used pose no more risk (actually less risk) than conventional breeding.” (NAS, AAAS, AMA, EFSA many others)

In 18 years there has not been one case of illness or death related to these products

There are several traits used in only eight commercial crops

These are the most well studied and extensively tested plant products in history.

Take Home Messages

Protests and Opinions Grab Headlines

“92% of Americans demand to know what is in their food”

The Science is Remarkably Clear

Rel

ativ

e nu

mbe

r in

pop

ulat

ion

Relative scientific understanding

Nonexperts

Farmers, scientists,

Etc.

MOST PEOPLE!!!!

FEAR FACTS

Manufactured Risk!

What Plant Genetic Improvement Is

More varieties

Grow better under given conditions

Improved yields

Safer products

Improved nutrtion

What Plant Genetic Improvement Is

People t hink

Improved yields

Humans have always manipulated crop genetics

Ways to Create New Traits

We know that traits are based on information in ‘genes’

Genes can be thought of as packets of information found in DNA

To get variation for a trait, we need either new DNA, or altered DNA

INFORMATION STORAGE

INFORMATION IN TRANSIT

DOES STUFF•Structures•Enzymes

•Etc.


Traditional Breeding


From Genetic Literacy Project, 2013

What are our priorities?

Farmers

The Needy

Environment

Consumers

• Improved performance grains• More variety for consumers• Healthier ingredients/final products• Fortified ingredients (oils)• Affordable ingredients• Allergy-free ingredients (nuts/wheat)

What typical ingredients might come What typical ingredients might come from transgenic plants?from transgenic plants?

Soybean oilCanola oilCorn oilSugarCorn syrupCorn starchCornmealOthers?

GM Crops Available Now

This is not how its done!

How do the traits work?

Two main traits– Bt and glyphosate resistance

GMO Crops Make Pesticides

Bt is one of many natural anti-insect proteins

Bt is one of many natural anti-insect proteins

How Bt Works

bt

Advantages

Decrease in broad-spectrum insecticide use on corn and cotton

Lower fuel and labor costs for farmers

Solid dividends in the developing world

No effect on beneficials

Limitations

Need to plant refugia to slow resistance

Pockets of resistance are seen and require use of insecticides

Requires careful scouting

Glyphosate-Resistant (Roundup Ready) Products

A gene is inserted that allows plants to survive in the presence of the herbicide. Farmers can spray to kill non-transgenic plants.

Used in soy, corn, sugar beet and canola

What is Glyphosate?

Simple herbicide that attacks a plant-specific pathway

Sprayed at 750 ml active ingredient per acre (that’s 88 mg/m-2)

No effects on animals when used as directed

Sprayed early in plant development, not persistent in environment

Why Do Farmers Use Glyphosate?

Can spray plants and weeds when young; crops get a head start

The chemical is safe

Cuts labor, fuel, other costs

Avoids weed control by tilling; saves topsoil

How Herbicide Resistance Works

A B CAminoacids

proteins

epsps

glyphosate

XPlants


A B CAminoacids

proteins

epsps

glyphosate

X

A B CAminoacids

proteins

epsps

Plants

Bacteria

glyphosate


A B CAminoacids

proteins

epsps

epsps

Plants

X

glyphosate

A B CAminoacids

proteinsBacteria

glyphosate


A B CAminoacids

proteins

epsps

Plants

glyphosate

Resistance!

Advantages

Switch to a low-toxicity herbicide, cheap and effective

Lower fuel and labor costs for farmers

Decreased tilling, saved topsoil

Limitations

Weeds can evolve resistance, requiring increased labor, lower yields, and new control strategies. New chemistries.


Soybean oilCanola oilCorn oilSugarCorn syrupCorn starchCornmealOthers?


Soybean oilCanola oilCorn oil


Soybean oilCanola oilCorn oil

Proteins, DNA,carbohydrates, oil

Oil

Everything else


Sugar from sugar beets

Proteins, DNA,carbohydrates, oil

Carbohydrates

Everything else Sucrose(table sugar)

The plants have a single gene that adds a The plants have a single gene that adds a helpful protein that helps cut farm costs, helpful protein that helps cut farm costs, risks and inputs.risks and inputs.

The added DNA and proteins are not part The added DNA and proteins are not part of the final productof the final product

Why Is There Resistance to Good Technology?

Profits from Manufactured Risk

Oz Smith Shiva Adams Mercola Food Babe

Reports that get headlines, science that can’t be trusted.

Technology Exists NOW

Research has been published demonstrating that transgenic techniques can:

Help farmers save labor, fuel, water, fertilizer, other inputs.

Biofortify foods with vitamins, minerals, phytonutrients

Grow plants in marginal areas

Grow plants with fewer inputs Efficient use of fertilizersInsect resistanceDisease resistance

Golden Riceexample of biofortification

X

Farmers

Consumers

Environment

Needy

Opposition to golden rice cost $2 billion to farmers in developing countries and 1.4 million human years – Wesseler et al., 2014

Allergy-Free Peanuts

Peanut – RNAi suppression Ara h2

X

Farmers

Consumers

Environment

Needy

Non Browning ApplesSilencing a gene that leads to discoloration

X

X

Farmers

Consumers

Environment

Needy

Small Business!X

Healthier Oils• Lasts longer in applications• Lower off-flavors with time

Transgenic Wheat

• Never commercialized• Not amenable to export • Use of non-GM lines

Allergy Free Wheat Allergy Free Wheat Using RNAi to repress gliadin and glutenin levelsUsing RNAi to repress gliadin and glutenin levels

There are many more solutions to pressing ag problems, yet few are being developed.

Conclusions

Transgenic technology is safe

Transgenic technology has proven effective

Progress is slowed by manufactured risk

Existing products could bring great benefit to the environment, the needy, the consumer and the farmer, but they are not developed– or people resist their development out of fear

We need to use all technologies available to ensure safe and sustainable food with less environmental impact.

Where do I get good information?

Warm welcome Cold facts

[email protected]

GMOanswers.com

Biofortified.org geneticliteracyproject.com

GMOLOL On Facebook

Thank you

kfolta.blogspot.com@kevinfolta

[email protected]

"There is a path to truth and sincerity that you must guard and defend“

-- Teruyuki Okazaki It is our mission to stand up for the truth that science gives us.

Dr. Jack PayneSVP UF/IFAS