Genetically Modified Crops and the

Third WorldAllison Miller

“Worrying about starving future generations won’t feed the world. Food biotechnology will.” --Monsanto advertising campaign, 1998

Genetic Modification vs. Traditional Plant Breeding

Genetic Modification (rDNA Methods)◦Can use genes from any living organism◦Can modify one gene or several genes

Traditional Plant Breeding◦Can only cross with closely related species◦Many genes are modified at once

Source: Lemaux 2008

Need for GM crops and BiotechnologyFood and Agricultural Organization of the

United Nations (FAO) estimates that:◦842 million worldwide are underfed◦798 million live in developing nations◦World population is expected to reach 9 billion

by 2050

Source: Sairam and Prakash 2010

“The affluent nations can afford to adopt elitist positions and pay more for food produced by the so called natural methods; the 1 billion chronically poor and hungry people of this world cannot. New technology will be their salvation, freeing them from obsolete, low-yielding, and more costly production technology.”--Norman Borlaug

Source: Borlaug 2000

“To feed a world of 9 billion people in 2050…Africa has to increase its food production by 300%, Latin America by 80%, and Asia by 70%. Even North America would have to increase food production by 30% to feed its own projected population of 348 million people. Without an increase in farm productivity, an additional 1.6 billion hectares of arable land will be needed by 2050”-- R.V. Sairam and C.S. PrakashSource: Sairam and Prakash 2010

Examples of GM CropsHerbicide tolerant (HT)

◦Soybean◦Corn/Maize◦Cotton◦Canola◦Alfalfa

Pest resistant (Bt)◦Cotton◦Corn/Maize◦Potatoes

Other traits◦ Increased nutrient content◦Virus resistance◦Drought toleranceSource: James 2009, Lemaux 2008

Global Area of GM Crops By Crop

Source: James 2009

Source: James 2009

Contribution to Sustainable Development in Developing Nations1) Food security2) Conservation of biodiversity3) Alleviation of poverty and hunger4) Prevention of disease and malnutrition5) Reduction of agriculture’s environmental

footprint6) Economic benefits

Source: James 2009

Food Security

Increases productivity◦Increases yields◦Lowers food prices

Decreases production cost◦Fewer inputs◦Less labor

Source: James 2009

Conservation of Biodiversity

Decreases land required◦Helps maintain plant biodiversity◦Reduces environmental degradation

Deforestation

Reduces amount of pesticide used◦Helps maintain insect biodiversity

Sources: James 2009, Lemaux 2009

Alleviation of Poverty and Hunger

Increases income for farmers◦Means to purchase food

Increases availability of food◦Reduces absolute hunger

Source: James 2009

Prevention of Disease and MalnutritionReduces exposure to harmful chemicals

◦Pesticides

Increases nutrient content of food◦Decreases micronutrient malnutrition

Disease◦Vitamin A Deficiency

◦Golden Rice

Source: James 2009, Lemaux 2008

Reduction of Agriculture’s Environmental FootprintFewer inputs

◦Pesticides◦Water

Reduces/eliminates plowing◦Reduces CO2 emissions◦Prevents degradation of soil

Source: James 2009

Economic Benefits

Global net economic benefits◦Developing nations earned $22 billion from

1996 to 2007

Source: James 2009

Case Studies

Insect Resistant Cotton (Bt)◦China

Yields increased by 10% Pesticide usage decreased by 67% Net profit increased by $500/hectare

◦India Yields increased by 40% Pesticide usage decreased by 50% Net profit increased from $75/hectare to $200/hectare

Source: James 2009

The Future of GM Crops

Pest resistance◦Fungus resistant potatoes

Agronomic performance◦Rice with higher photosynthetic capacity

Abiotic stress tolerance◦Tomatoes with tolerance to high salt content

Improvements in food quality◦Potatoes with increased calcium levels◦Tomatoes with increased folate levels

Medical applications◦Potato-based Hep B vaccineSource: James 2009

ReferencesBorlaug, Norman. “Ending World Hunger: The Promise of Biotechnology and

the Threat of Antiscience Zealotry.” Plant Physiology. 124.2 (2000): 487-490.

James, Clive. “2009 ISAAA Report on Global Status of Biotech/GM Crops”. ISAAA Briefs No. 41. 1-9.

James, Clive. “Global Status of Commercialized Biotech/GM Crops: 2008.” ISAAA Briefs No. 39 (2008): 1-275.

Lemaux, Peggy G. “Genetically Engineered Plants and Foods: A Scientist's Analysis of the Issues (Part I).” Annual Review of Plant Biology. 59. (2008): 771-812.

Lemaux, Peggy G. “Genetically Engineered Plants and Foods: A Scientist's Analysis of the Issues (Part II).” Annual Review of Plant Biology. 60. (2009): 511-559.

Sairam, R. V. and C. S. Prakash. “OBPC Symposium: Maize 2004 & Beyond: Can Agricultural Biotechnology Contribute to Global Food Security?”. In Vitro Cellular & Developmental Biology - Plant. 41.4 (2005): 424-430.