Jessa Ziekenhuis Symposium Milieu en Gezondheid Research & Ontwikkeling GGOs Carel du Marchie Sarvaas 2012: Green Biotechnology Europe (GBE)

2 EuropaBio: European Association of Biotechnology Industries Three sectors Industrial biotechnology : Industrial processes Healthcare biotechnology : Pharmaceutical products Plant biotechnology : Agriculture/seeds 62 corporate members (Healthcare + Industrial + Agbiotech) 6 associate members and 2 Bioregions 18 national biotech associations = biotech SMEs 9 Green biotech member companies 2

Hunger today

Hunger Tomorrow?

Record speed of GM adoption around the world… 5

6 71 GM products in the EU approval process 22 for cultivation –17 types of maize –2 types of potato –1 type of soybean –1 type of sugarbeet 49 for food, feed, import & processing –16 types of maize –12 types of cotton –11 types of soybean – 6 types of rapeseed – 1 type of potato – 1 type of rice 6

7 Insect-resistant Bt maize Improved crops Increased yields Increased income Cost savings Reduction of energy use Controlled targeting of pests Environment: low-/no-till agriculture reduces erosion, increases soil quality Europe record example: Spanish Farmers yield by 10% Worldwide : Farmer income $78 billion Cumulative economic benefits : developing countries (50%) = Developed 50% Sources: PG Economics 2011; ISAAA 7

8 Environmental gains from GM Preserved biodiversity Higher yields = less conversion of natural land to crop production If no longer access to biotech = 12.4 m ha extra area to offset yield loses Studies indicate GM crops have not decreased crop diversity Reduced soil erosion Biotech crops = little or no-till practices Conserve soil moisture/reduce erosion Lower CO2 emissions In 2009 GM crops facilitated 17.7 billion kg reduction of CO2 emissions = removing 7.8 million cars from the roads for 1 year Reduced input use More targeted or reduced pesticide spraying Sources: Brookes, G. and P. Barfoot Forthcoming ”Impacts of GM crops on biodiversity”, Janet E. Carpenter, Magazine GM Crops. 8

99 R&D: GM crops in development Traits – Tolerance to biotic and abiotic stresses (cold-, drought-, salt-tolerance) – Insect resistance – Herbicide tolerance – Nitrogen use efficiency – Yield increase – Fertility control – Improved grain quality – Modifications in oil, sugar, starch content – Protein quality and amino acid composition – Vitamin content – Nutritional quality – Flavor and postharvest quality – Reduced allergenicity – Grain processing – Amylase for ethanol production 9

10 R&D: Rapid development new products 10

11 Global developments: Rapid development of new products R&D: S oybean Industry Portfolio Quality/Food Agronomic 2020 Modified Protein (Pioneer/DuP ont) High-Oleic, Stearate (Pioneer/DuPont) Source: Pipeline from Industry Sources; prepared by ASA, USSEC, USB. Updated May, 2011 Nematode Resistance (Monsanto; Syngenta; Pioneer/ DuPont) LibertyLin k (LL) (Bayer) Imidazolinone Tolerant Brazil only. (BASF/Embrapa Brazil) RR2Y (Monsanto) Higher Yield I (Monsanto) Omega-3 Stearidonic Acid (Monsanto) Feed: High Protein Soybean (Pioneer/DuPont) GAT/ Glyphosat e - ALS Soybea n (Pioneer/ DuPont) Dicamba Tolerant (Monsanto) High Oleic / Low- Sat (Monsanto) Pipeline of biotech events and novel trait releases Disease Resistance (Syngenta; Pioneer/ DuPont) Low Raff- Stach (Virginia Tech) RVSD Biotech Pipeline V10 Commercialized High-Oleic (Pioneer/DuP ont) Low-Linolenic (Syngenta) Higher Yield II (Monsanto; Pioneer/ DuPont) Rust (Monsanto; Syngenta; Pioneer/DuPont) Aphid Resistance (Monsanto; Pioneer/DuPont) Sclerotinia Resistance (Pioneer/ DuPont) Lepidoptera Resistance (Pioneer/ DuPont) HPPD Tolerant (Syngenta/ Bayer) LibertyLink (LL) (Bayer) Bt/RR2Y Brazil only (Monsanto) Glytol/HPPD (Bayer/MS Technologies) Glytol / HPPD / LL (Bayer/MS Technologies) 2,4-D Tolerant (Dow) 11

12 R&D: Where is GM going? Who are the new developers? Rise of China, India and Brazil (and other emerging nations) New developers: public institutions and PP partnerships Technologically First generation: Insect resistance and herbicide tolerance Next : nutritional value, stress tolerance, disease resistance New crops: emphasis on crops for developing world New traits: climate change mitigation and adaptation New techniques New products Wheat, rice, potato Cassava, cowpea Sugar cane, sugar beet Many vegetable species 12

13 R&D: Three interesting GM crops to cultivate in Europe GM potato resistant to late blight Late blight most important potato diseases (20% losses) Resistance genes transferred from South-American wild potato Reduce pesticide use Status: Field testing, submission in 2011 in EU Drought-tolerant GM maize 1st and 2 nd generation drought-tolerant crops under development Mitigates environmental impact to maximize yield with reduced water Relevant for water poor areas in southern Europe Status: approved in US for commercialisation in 2012 GM HT sugarbeet High potential for European farmers Conventional crop has high weed controls costs Sugar beet is grown in all the EU countries EU farmers would substantially gain from adoption: €194 million Status: Submitted in 2008, cultivated in NA since

14 R&D: Crops with interesting health benefits (I) Golden rice – vitamin A Contains beta-carotene and other carotenoids in the endosperm (edible part of the grain) Carotenoids are converted in the human body into vitamin A when the rice is consumed In 2005 a new variety called Golden Rice 2 was announced which produces up to 23 times more beta-carotene than the original variety of golden rice Neither variety is currently available for human consumption Healthier oils Reduction of unhealthy trans-fatty acids in food through high oleic soybeans Risk reduction of cardiovascular disease Production of healthy omega-3 fatty acids in canola 14

15 Nutrient enhanced bananas Australian scientists have developed genetically modified bananas with higher vitamin levels but are also rich with iron. Project funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation as a way of combating malnutrition in Africa, particularly in Uganda, where bananas are a staple food and very low in nutrients This project was extended by a project with India's department of biotechnology to develop iron-rich bananas. 15 R&D: Crops with interesting health benefits (II)

Future numbers of GM crops worldwide 16

17 Conclusions Biotechnology is improving world agriculture 16+ million farmers globally – more than all EU farmers 8% growth rate - fastest adopted agricultural technology ….accelerating Widely accepted social, economic and environmental benefits “one of the tools” to increase global food, feed, fiber production Positive and unparalleled safety record EU adoption is slower due to heavy EU regulatory burden/consumer fears Increased global investments in agbiotech, both science & technology 1 st generation = agronomic products for farmers 2 nd generation = new consumer products on the horizon