Agricultural Biotechnology International Conference (ABIC) 2006

Vibha DhawanVice Chancellor

TERI School of Advanced Studies9 August 2006

Biotechnology for Food, Nutritional Security and Biotechnology for Food, Nutritional Security and Rural GrowthRural Growth

Food problems have haunted mankind since time immemorial

Expanding the cultivated areaTechnological Breakthroughs

The breeding of improved varieties, combined with the expanded use of fertilizers, other chemical inputs and irrigation, led to dramatic yield increases in Asia and Latin America, beginning in the late 1960s

Social ImpactsIncreased farm income Stimulation of rural non-farm economy Expansion of marketing servicesReal per capita income almost doubled in Asia and poverty declined from nearly three out of every five Asians in 1975 to less than one in three by 1995The absolute number of poor people declined from 1.15 billion in 1975 to 825 million in 1995 despite a 60% increase in population

Problems associated with the Green Revolution

Environmental degradation Increased income inequalityInequitable asset distributionWorsen absolute poverty

Some of the criticisms are valid and still need to be addressed

Green Revolution: Negative ImpactsExcessive and inappropriate use of fertilizers and pesticides has polluted waterways, poisoned agricultural workers and killed beneficial insects and other wildlifeIrrigation practices have led to salt build-up and thus abandonment of faming landsGround water levels are retreating Heavy dependence on few major cereal varieties has led to loss of biodiversity

Green Revolution: Positive Impacts

Often ignored is the positive impact of higher yields that saved huge areas of forests and environmentally fragile lands that would have otherwise be needed for farming

Do we have such large areas available?

Stark Realities…..

800 million people cannot afford two course of meals About 30,000 people, half of them children, die every day due to hunger and malnutritionNearly 1.2 billion people live on less than a dollar a day

“In the next 50 years, mankind will consume as much food as we have consumed since the beginning of agriculture 10,000 years ago - Clive James”

Thus the pace at which we must make changes to ensure

food security needs a push

How biotechnology can help developing countries and resource-poor farmers?

Improve food and nutritional securityEnhance productivityPromote sustainable agricultureReduce environmental impactEmpower the rural sector through income generation & reduce economic inequalityIncrease crop productivity Reduce crop damage & food loss

Placing Genetic Modification in Context

Genetic modification of food is not new.

Virtually all of the food we have ever eaten has been genetically modified.

We have intentionally changed the genetic makeup of all of our crops.

Genetic engineering is the next step in a continuum of genetic modification technologies.

History of Genetic Modification

Selective breeding within species

1st fertile between speciesbetween species cross

mid-1700’s

8000 BC

Mutagenesis breeding

1860’s

Darwin and Mendelscience-based selective breeding

1940’s1st fertile intergenericintergeneric cross

1st transgenic plant created1983

1920’s

Countries, which enjoy surplus and relatively inexpensive food are adopting the new technologies while developing countries where people can’t afford two course of meals & many more still dying of malnutrition are debating on the probable risks

Transgenic research in India

• Bose Institute, Kolkata• Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore• Delhi University, South Campus• IARI, New Delhi• Central Potato Research Institute, Shimla• M/s Proagro PGS (India) Ltd., New Delhi• M/s MAHYCO, Mumbai• Central Tobacco Research Institute

Transgenic research in India

• Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi• Indo American Hybrid Seeds, Bangalore• International Crops Research Institute for Semi-

Arid Tropics (ICRISAT)• Monsanto• Syngenta• ICGEB, New Delhi• M/s Rallis India Ltd., Bangalore• TERI, New Delhi

Target crops for transgenic research in India

• Grain legumes (Chick pea, Mungbean)• Oilseeds (Mustard, Ground nut)• Vegetables (Brinjal, Tomato, Potato,

Chilli, Cabbage)• Fruits (Papaya)• Medicinal plants (Brahmi)• Others (Cotton, Coffee)• Cereals (Rice, Wheat)

The Chronology of Bt cotton Development• 1994: Formation of IBSC• 1995: Permit received from DBT for import of GM seed• 1996: Green-house trials initiated• 1997-98: Multilocation field trials• 1998: Toxicological & Allergenicity Studies• 1999: Multicentric research trials to assess efficacy of

Bt gene in Indian germplasm • 2000-02 (a) Large scale field trial

(b) Hybrid seed production(c) Biosafety studies(d) ICAR trials

• April 2002: Approval for commercial cultivation in six states

Bt Cotton Planting Area in India (Hectares)Hybrids 2002/03 2003/04 2004/05

Area %a Area %a Area %a

MECH-12

292 0.01 80,000 1.66 80,000 1.66

MECH-162

25,274 0.52 160,000 3.33 160,000 3.33

MECH-184

12,472 0.25 28,000 0.58 40,000 0.83

New hybridsb

— — 40,000 0.83 280,000 5.83

Total 38,038 0.78 92,000 6.40 560,000 11.65

Target traits

• Disease resistance• Improving the quantity of the protein• Increasing vitamin content• Stress tolerance• Herbicide resistance• Edible vaccine• Delayed ripening

Daffodils

Erwinia bacteria

Genes Plasmids Agrobacteria

Kernel Hull

Embryo

Provitamin Aproducing rice

embryo

12 3 4

Locallyimportant varieties

SYSTEM OF TRANSGENICSRELEASE

QUARANTINE

DBT

NBPGR ICAR

FOOD SAFETY

ENVIRON-MENT

SAFETY

IBSC -- RCGM -- GEAC

REGULATED FIELD TRIALS

DATA ANALYSIS, LOCATION TRIALS

CHECKS AND COUNTER CHECKS

SEED REGISTRATIONSEED REGISTRATION

LABELLINGLABELLING

Stages in Research Development and Commercialization of Transgenic Plants

Period yrs Stages Committees/acts/nodal agencies 3-5 Trait

Gene Tissue culture Gene Delivery Transgenics

Molecular analysis Seed set and lab testing

Green house testiing

Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBSCs) 170

2-3 Limited field trials Toxicity, allergenicity

and environmental impact

Review Committee for Genetic modification ( RCGM),Monitoring and Evaluation Committee( MEC), DBT, GOI

1-2 Large scale field trials With All India Coordination ICAR/SAUs

Genetic Engineering Approval Committee ( GEAC) , MOEF

1-2 Variety release Breeders-foundation- certification of seeds

Seed act for notification or certification, and Plant Variety Protection Min. Agriculture, GOI

<1 Farmer Labeling, Consumer forum 7-10 Consumer Labeling, Consumer forum

Safety concerns with regard to GM crops

(i) Environmental Safety• Gene transfer (out crossing) to wild relatives• Genetic pollution by seed dispersal• Threat to Biodiversity

- Invasiveness/weediness- Soil microflora- Susceptibility of non-target organisms- Generation of new viruses by

recombination

Safety concerns with regard to GM crops

(ii) Human and animal health• Allergenic reaction• Resistance of pathogen to drugs

(antibiotic resistance)(iii) Ethical issues• Implications of inserting animal/bacterial genes into

plants(iv) Public awareness and acceptance• Technological constraints• Lack of technical skills, infrastructure and facilities• Need for significant financial investment• Availability of suitable gene constructs and license

to use specific technologies

WHAT ARE PUBLIC CONCERNS?

The term genetically engineered/manipulated/modified is uncomfortable

The technology is new and unfamiliar

The technology is difficult to understand

Whether GMOs are safe

- to environment

- to Consumption

What are the benefits from this change

NEGATIVE CAMPAIGNS

• Are not being seriously confronted.

• Communication between less informed to ignorant perpetuates aberrant meanings.

• Propagandists communicate better than proponents.

• Media encourages sensational negative views.

Gatekeepers v/s Exorcists

There is no zero risk!• We consume 10,000 natural toxins

daily!- Roasted Coffee has 1,000

chemicals. Of 27 tested, 19 were carcinogens!

- Potato, Celery, Kidney Beans, Peach Seeds, Cassava, peanut, wheat

- Comfort with Old and Natural- Anxiety with New and Synthetic

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Everything we eat is a poison, it is the dosage that makes it poisonous!

-Paracelsus

All Biotechnologies does not mean Genetic

Engineering/Transgenic; Traditional Biotechnologies offers no resistance, yet not

commercialised in developing countries.

Traditional Ag-Biotechnologies

Technologies Cloning of superior genotypesUse of biofertilizers/biopestcides….

Impact Sustainable Agriculture

Crop nursery from the sugarcane setts of Tissue Cultured plants

IPM Chemical

Control

Sugarcane with various treatments for pest management

Mycorrhizal Application

Technology/process application for abatement of pollution for industrial solid/ liquid wastes and for agriculture using mycorrhiza.

Is Biotechnology the Sole Answer to Global Food Problems?

No single solution is a panacea or ‘cure-all’One tool in a toolboxWorld hunger - myriad reasonsCan only work with other traditional approachesWe must weigh all options. Choose the most effective solution

How Can We Move Ahead?Honest Open CommunicationTransparencyStrong Regulatory OversightBuilding Trust in RegulationEducation of Issues

• Insist on the facts• Informational, not advocacy• Work through credible alliances• Communicate benefits and

safety• Build trust in the technology• Address questions/concerns

The world demands an increasing supply of healthy and nutritious food, accessible and

at affordable prices….

……..which is produced in an environmentally friendly and sustainable

way …….

.. We all have a responsibility in making sure that this goal is met

Acknowledgement

Financial assistance by Australia India Council is gratefully

acknowledged.