Biotechnology for Sustainable Agriculture

Future Directions and Issues

Biotechnology for Sustainable Agriculture

Future Directions and Issues

K.K. Sharma(k.sharma@cgiar.org)

K.K. SharmaK.K. Sharma(k.sharma@cgiar.org)(k.sharma@cgiar.org)

International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics

This presentationThis presentation

1. Biotechnology for crop improvement

2. Current status of transgenic crops• Global• ICRISAT

3. Commercialization of transgenic crops

4. Partnerships for biotechnology R&D

5. Conclusions

• Health:• 2.4 billion people are without access to basic

sanitation• 11 million children under five dye annually from

preventable causes.

• Poverty:• 2.8 billion people live on less than US$ 2 a day.• 1.2 billion people live on less than US$1 a day.

• Starvation:• 840 million people are undernourished.• 10% infant mortality in sub-Saharan Africa.• 17% under-five mortality in sub-Saharan Africa.

Human development in developing countries

Human development in developing countries

The number of people suffering from malnutrition has increased by 25 million!

(from 815 to 840 million)-WFP

Global magnitude of malnutrition

Global magnitude of malnutrition

Agriculture and global food security by 2025Agriculture and global food security by 2025

• Food requirements will double with a global population of 8 billion

• Malnourished people will be over 1 billion

• 85% of global population will be in developing countries

• 60% of population in developing countries will live in cities

• Increased pressure to protect the environment and biodiversity, and conserve natural resources

Asia-Pacific Region

Population – 3.5 billion (55%)

Agriculture Population – 57%

Farming Households – 70%

Agricultural Land – 32%

Poverty – 40%

Important Regional Issues

Poverty, Hunger and Food Security

Population growth and Rural Migration

Livelihood Security

Agricultural Intensification

Diversification of Agriculture

Natural Resource Management

Globalization

Decline in ARD Investment

Constraints to crop Constraints to crop productivityproductivity

• Resource-poor farmers carry out 60% of global agriculture, but produce only 15-20% of world’s food.

• Farm lands are in fragile environments that are low in fertility and productivity.

• Crops face major challenges from biotic and abiotic stresses.

• Limited access to external inputs like pesticides, fertilizers, irrigation.

• Agriculture means growing marginal crops on marginal lands with marginal resources.

• Low productivity tends to perpetuate rural poverty in the developing countries.

Constraints to crop improvement

Constraints to crop improvement

1. Available germplasm may lack genes for major disease and pest resistance

2. Limited variability in available germplasm

3. Future breakthroughs will depend on creating additional variability and inflow of desirable genes from related or unrelated species

Role of biotechnologyRole of biotechnology

1. Provides modern ideas and techniques to complement agricultural research.

2. Uses molecular biology to develop commercial processes and products.

3. Transforms agriculture from a resource-based to a science-based industry.

4. Generate social, economic and environmental benefits if specifically targeted at specific needs of resource-poor farmers.

What is modern biotechnology?What is modern biotechnology?

• Biotechnology employs the tools of modern genetics to enhance beneficial traits of plants, animals and micro-organisms for food production

• It involves adding or removing selected genes to achieve desired traits

Food for the poorFood for the poorOpportunities for biotechnologyOpportunities for biotechnology

• Tissue culture, based primarily on advances in plant cellular biology.

• Marker-aided selection, based on ability to analyze plant and pathogen DNA.

• Comparative and functional genomics, to identify DNA-based useful traits and novel genes.

• Genetic engineering, based on recombinant-DNA technology is inevitable wave of the future.

• Deploy novel genes by both conventional, molecular and transgenic breeding.

ICRISAT’s approachICRISAT’s approach

•Conserve and characterize genetic resources

•Identify traits and new genes•Access to enabling technologies•Use new genes by:

• Conventional, molecular, and transgenic breeding

ICRISAT Global Theme

Target-based Projects

Drought Tolerance

Pest Resistance

Disease Resistance

Agronomic Traits

Agrobiodiversity

Biotechnology-assisted Agro-biodiversity Enhancement

Agri-Science Park

Agri-Business Incubator

Physiology Bioinformatics

Entomology Transgenics

Harnessing Biotechnology for the Poor

Supporting Technologies

Supporting Technologies

Genomics Biometrics

Diagnostics

Intellectual Property

Management Office

Biosafety Support and Awareness

Office

Pathology

Global Themes Global Themes

ICRISAT Global ThemeICRISAT Global ThemeHarnessing Biotechnology for the PoorHarnessing Biotechnology for the Poor

• Applied Genomics

•Marker development•Linkage mapping•Breeding systems•Technology transfer

•Gene Manipulation

•Gene isolation•Genetic transformation•Biosafety issues•Technology transfer

•Wide hybridization

•Cytological studies•Tissue culture & Embryo rescue

•Screening for traits

• Bioinformatics

•Consensus mapping•Comparative mapping•Marker development•Gene discovery by annotation

•Phylogenetic studies •Insect rearing & bioassays

•Artificial rearing of insects•Bioassay of transgenics & gene products

•Phenotyping of RILs

•Diagnostics

•Detection of viruses•Detection of toxins

BottlenecksBottlenecks

• Lack of efficient protocols for transformation and genomics.

• Availability of novel genes and effective promoters (IP issues).

• Lack of scientists trained in the use of biotechnology.

• Lack of good research facilities.

• Lack of proper biosafety regulations in most developing countries of Asia and Africa.

• Commercialization limitations may become serious barriers in extending biotechnology to resource poor farmers.

GlobalGlobal

7 million farmers in 18 countries

G lo b a l a re a o f t ra n s g e n ic c ro p s in 2 0 0 2 a n d 2 0 0 3 : b y c ro p ( m ill io n h e c ta re s )

2 0 0 2 2 0 0 3 G a in /L o s s C ro p

A re a % A re a % + /- %

S o y b e a n 3 6 .5 6 2 4 1 .4 6 1 + 4 .9 + 1 3

M a iz e 1 2 .4 2 1 1 5 .5 2 3 + 3 .1 + 2 5

C o tto n 6 .8 1 2 7 .2 1 1 + 0 .4 + 6

C a n o la 3 .0 5 3 .6 5 + 0 .6 + 2 0

S q u a s h < 0 .1 < 1 < 0 .1 < 1 - - - -

P a p a y a < 0 .1 < 1 < 0 .1 < 1 - - - -

T o ta l 5 8 .7 1 0 0 6 7 .1 1 0 0 + 9 .0 + 1 5 S o u r c e : C l iv e J a m e s, 2 0 0 3

@ ICRISAT@ ICRISAT

ICRISAT mandate cropsICRISAT mandate crops

Application of molecular markersApplication of molecular markers

• Assessing the genetic variation within a crop

• Selection of favourable genotypes for crossing

• Mapping genes and/or QTLs in breeding material

• Introgression of genes of genomic regions into breeding material

• Assessing distinctness, uniformity and stability of crop varieties

Application of molecular markersApplication of molecular markers

Large scale application of molecular markers can only be successful when:

• Reliable (highly reproducible)• Cheap• Technically simple• Amenable to High Throughput

Potential Proof of Concept ProjectsPotential Proof of Concept ProjectsNonNon--transgenic Biotransgenic Bio--technologiestechnologies

• Tissue culture micropropagation• Banana• Cassava

• Marker-assisted selection• Cassava (virus resistance, drought tolerance)• Maize (Striga, streak virus and blight resistance)• Rice (virus resistance)• Vegetables (disease and pest resistance)• Sorghum (Striga resistance, food, feed and fodder

quality, stay-green, insect resistance)

• Germplasm characterization

• Hybrid technology

Potentials of transgenic crops

Potentials of transgenic crops

Gene(s) for desirable traits from any organism can be functionally introduced into the crop of interest

Gene dosage can be precisely controlled

Tissue-specific expression of the transgene can be regulated

Genes in the wild species can be cloned and introduced into desired cultivars

ICRISAT’s activities on transgenic crops

ICRISAT’s activities on transgenic crops

1. Developing efficient protocols for mandate crops

2. Development, characterization and testing3. Collaborating with ARIs, NARS & private

sector in the development and utilization of transgenics

4. Capacity building on transgenic technologies

5. Ensuring the development and deployment of transgenics to be carried out under host country regulations

Transgenics @ ICRISAT

Efficient routine methods available for all mandate crops

• Transgenics are now being tested for biotic and abiotic constraints

• New transgenics on drought tolerance and nutritional enhancement are being developed

GN CP PP SO

Priority transgenic traits at ICRISATPriority transgenic traits at ICRISAT

Pigeonpea: Pod borer[for Asia & Africa]

Groundnut: Groundnut rosette disease

[For sub-Saharan Africa]

Chickpea: Pod borerChickpea: Pod borer[for Asia][for Asia]

Biosafety IssuesBiosafety Issues1. Effects on non-target organisms2. Food and feed safety3. Gene-flow to non-target crops4. Policy guidelines for development and deployment aspects5. Public awareness and socioeconomic issues

ICRISAT’s and world’s first transgenic groundnut field tested in 2002 for Indian

peanut clump virus

ICRISAT’s and world’s first transgenic groundnut field tested in 2002 for Indian

peanut clump virus

ICRISAT’s and world’s first transgenic pigeonpea field tested in 2003 for pod

borer

ICRISAT’s and world’s first transgenic pigeonpea field tested in 2003 for pod

borer

CommercializationCommercialization

Why commercialize?Why commercialize?1. In the past, there was free access to non-

propriety conventional technologies from public sector(Dwarfing genes for wheat and rice that led to Green Revolution)

2. At present, agri-biotechnologies are increasingly proprietary and owned mainly by private sector

3. Public sector institutes in developed countries are protecting biotechnology with patents

4. Sharing biotechnologies from North to South is essential for helping the poor

CommercializationPotential Bottlenecks!!

1. Public research investments

2. Effective public/private/NGO partnerships

3. Intellectual Property Rights

4. Biosafety

5. Trade

6. Food Safety and Consumer Choice

Commercialization@ ICRISAT

Commercialization@ ICRISAT

ICRISAT is a public sector institute dedicated to:

Developing international public goods in orphan but nutritious crops for the poor

Developing in-house technologies under public domain

Facilitating the public use of third-party technologies

Initiating effective public/private/farmer/NGO partnerships

Emphasizing biosafety through a non-profit approach

PartnershipsPartnerships• Public sector

– Advanced Research Institutes

– National Agricultural Research Systems

• Private sector– Multinational biotechnology

companies

– Small and medium seed companies

• Civil society organizations

• Public sector– Advanced Research

Institutes

– National Agricultural Research Systems

• Private sector– Multinational biotechnology

companies

– Small and medium seed companies

• Civil society organizations

A convergence of agricultural partnerships, innovations and products for the poor

A convergence of agricultural partnerships, innovations and products for the poor

• Agri-Biotech Park• Agri-Business Incubator• Hybrid Seed Consortium

Agri-Biotech ParkAgri-Biotech Park

• An opportunity to tap into ICRISAT’s upstream research expertise

• Use of its world-class infrastructure

• Brings together expertise of ICRISAT, the State Government and renowned private sector companies

Agri-Business IncubatorAgri-Business Incubator

• A collaborative project between ICRISAT and the Department of Science and Technology, GoI

• The ABI facilitates:Development of entrepreneurs

Technology consultancy

Business facilitation

Training

Hybrid seeds consortiumHybrid seeds consortium

Initiated in 2000 with 14 private sector companies for sorghum and pearl millet

Currently composed of 3 consortia for sorghum, pearl millet and pigeonpea with 26 members

Other seed companies are most welcome to join

Similar initiative for bio-pesticides, mycotoxin-free and transgenic crops under negotiation

Promotes commercialization of hybrid seed technologies of ICRISAT

Enhances mutual benefit

ICRISATICRISAT--Private sector Private sector consortium on transgenic Crops consortium on transgenic Crops

??????

• Opportunities for sharing knowledge• Reduced capital investment• Facility, recruitment, and equipment cost-

sharing• Risk reduction• Sharing the common goal of success and ideas• Encouraging scientific competitiveness• Faster technology development• Exploitation of partners’ accumulated learning

to leapfrog competitors• Sharing tax money in the interest of society

APCoABAsia-Pacific Consortium on Agricultural

BiotechnologyNeed Assessment

Collaboration and establishment of partnerships

Private sector involvement

Capacity building

Proper policy support by the Government, both for research and development

Specific support to the least developing countries

Counter misinformation by enhanced public awareness

Genesis of APCoAB

FAO-APAARI Expert Consultation on the Status of Biotechnology in Agriculture in Asia and the Pacific held

at FAO-RAP, Bangkok21-23 March 2002

Participation: 50 Regional NARS, CGIAR/IARCs, FAO, Private sector, NGOs, and Regional ARD Fora

“To enhance the benefits of biotechnologies for the sustainable agricultural

development in the Asia-Pacific region, through

greater stakeholder partnerships, improved

policy environment, enhanced capacity building

and greater public awareness”

APCoABGoal:

APCoABMANAGEMENT STUCTURE

FAOCGIARGFARNARSCSOs

Steering Committee

Policy Advocacyand

Public Awareness

(Govts., NARS, CSOs)

SecretariatAPCoAB Coordinator/Facilitator

APAARIFoundations

Private SectorODA/Banks

Support Group Collaborators

StrengtheningPartnerships

(Public – Private)

Human Resource

Development(All stakeholders)

Neutral Forum Function

Capacity Building

Institutional Framework( Scientific, Biosafety,

Legal)

Other initiativesOther initiatives

• ABSPII: Agricultural biotechnology support Programme II [USAID-Cornell University] International consortium working on the development of Product commercialization Packages around each product in partnership.

• PBS: Programme on Biosafety Systems [USAID-IFPRI] International consortium working on policy, environmental studies, regulatory information, capacity and outreach for and with developing country partners.

• Others……….

OutlookOutlook• Sustainable food production in the fragile lands requires new

tools for genetic enhancement (agrochemicals are frequently

inaccessible to farmers).

• Biotechnology can allow breaking old barriers to productivity for food crops of the people living in the developing countries.

• The gains in genetic enhancement will help in sustainable food security, poverty reduction, and environmental protection in the developing countries.

Ref: Sharma, K.K. and Ortiz, R. (2000). Program for the application of genetic transformation for crop improvement in the semi-arid tropics. In Vitro Cell. Dev. Biol.- Plant, 36: 83-92.

ConclusionConclusion

Biotechnology can help:Biotechnology can help:

Contribute to global food, feed and fiber security

Improve health and nutrition

Use less external inputs for a more sustainable agriculture and environment

Conserve biodiversity

Help improve economic, social status and alleviate poverty in poor countries

Our callOur call

Biotechnology is a valuable tool in eliminating global hunger, poverty and malnutrition!

Biotechnology is a strategic weapon in winning the next Green Revolution!

Let us harness biotechnology with due regard for consumer and environmental safety!

Thank You!Thank You!