The Impact and Future of Hawaii’s Transgenic Papayas Advanced Biotechnology c(3)(d)(b)

Outline History of the Hawaiian Papaya Industry Development of the Transgenic Papaya Adoption of Transgenic Seed Impact of Transgenic Papayas Challenges Facing Hawaiian Farmers Debate

Learning Objective: Describe the impact biotechnology has on the Hawaiian papaya industry

History of the Hawaii Papaya Industry up to 1994  What is “papaya ringspot virus” (PRSV)?  Industry relocated in the 1960’s to the Puna District after PRSV outbreak on Oahu. The papaya industry prospered on Puna… 95% of 2,500 acres of papaya However, things changed in 1992… Puna

Development of the Transgenic Papaya  Traditional methods of virus prevention were underway in the 1970s.  Not effective enough.  Research began to develop a transgenic papaya for PRSV resistance  1986: cloned coat protein gene of PRSV  1988: transformation of embryogenic cultures  Challenge because no one reported, at the time, successful transformation.  Using the biolistic approach, they obtained 17 independently transformed plants.

Development of Transgenic Papaya 1991: identified single line (55-1) which was resistant to PRSV HA 1992: field trail started with “Sunset” Perfect Timing! In May of 1992, PRSV was discovered in Puna. Massive efforts to stop it. Ineffective! Head start in the development of transgenic Papayas “SunUp” and “Rainbow” Deregulation process completed in 1997, distributed in 1998.

Adoption of Transgenic Papayas 262 Papaya Farmers on the island of Hawaii –171 located on Puna. Farmers Surveyed: –90% obtained transgenic seed, 76% of those planted, 19% were already harvesting. –88% interested in trying new transgenic varieties.

Adoption of Transgenic Papayas Most farmers were not sure that there was no difference, 25% felt there was no cost difference. Small-scale farmers, 95% were growing 1-50 acres of papayas. –Small-scale farmers actually do benefit from biotechnology! Excellent and useful product that performed well for Hawaiian farmers.

Impact of Transgenic Papaya Steady decline in Puna papaya production from 1992.

Impact of Transgenic Papaya Revived an industry that was unstable Hawaii’s eighth most important farm product in a listing of the state’s top 20. Farm-level revenue: –1998: $12.6 million –2001: $14.6 million. Hawaii’s second most important fruit crop, after pineapple.

Impact of Transgenic Papaya Arguably, biotechnology has not only assisted the farmers but the Hawaiian economy as well. Hawaii is the 5 th most impoverished state in the U.S. –Farmland accounts for 27% of total land usage, 1.1 million acres. 7,500 farms. Can Hawaii afford to lose a job and revenue generating industry?

Challenges Facing Hawaiian Farmers Transgenic and Non-Transgenic go hand-in-hand –Japan Trade Barriers The transgenic papaya actually helps producers economically grow non-transgenic papayas for Japanese export. Japanese recently allowed GM papaya, but hostility to biotechnology remains common in Asia, Europe and Africa. What would the impact of banning transgenics have on this practice?

Activity: Debate You will split up into three groups: –Group 1: Papaya Farmers / Scientists You will argue for the GM papayas –Group 2: You are the environmentalists You will argue against GM papayas –Group 3: You are the Hawaiian supreme court. You will hear both sides and decide to ban or allow GM technology.

REFERENCES Gonsalves, D. (2004). Transgenic papaya in Hawaii and beyond. Renwick, T. (2011, January). Geographic adjustments of supplemental poverty measure thresholds: Using the American Community Survey five-year data on housing costs. In Conference Paper prepared for Allied Social Science Associations Annual Meeting–Denver, CO. Gonsalves, D. (1998). Control of papaya ringspot virus in papaya: A case study.Annual Review of Phytopathology, 36, Fermín, G., Tennant, P., Gonsalves, C., Lee, D., & Gonsalves, D. (2004). Comparative development and impact of transgenic papayas in Hawaii, Jamaica, and Venezuela. In Transgenic Plants: Methods and Protocols (pp ). Humana Press.