NZ Pastoral Industry Conundrum

Low cost grazing systems historically our competitive advantage, but these systems:o Need inputs - water, nutrientso Are affected by climate extremes (drought,

high temperatures)o Contribute to greenhouse gas emissions

(methane, nitrous oxide)o Do not have 1000s of years of breeding to

improve performance (unlike food crops)

Pastoral Genomics Inc.

Formed in 2002 Industry-good research consortium

between Meat & Wool New Zealand, DairyNZ, Fonterra, AgResearch, DEEResearch and matched funding from FRST

Looking specifically at pasture improvements using biotechnology techniques applied to ryegrass and clover

AgResearch Ltd

Largest Crown Research Institute Mission is to apply the depth of

experience and expertise it has in every aspect of pastoral farming and also in biotechnology to continue to build substantial competitive advantage throughout the value chain.

APPLIED DISCOVERY AND DEVELOPMENT by PG

Improved drought tolerance

Increased year-round forage biomass

Increased quality of forages (high sugars)

APPLIED DISCOVERY forthcoming from PG

Nitrogen use efficiency

Water use efficiency

Phosphorus use efficiency

Commercialize Develop Discover

GM forages could reduce agriculture’s environmental footprint while enhancing productivity

FORAGE IMPROVEMENT THROUGH BIOTECHNOLOGY from AgResearch

High energy forage (increased lipids)

High digestibility forage (reduced lignin)

Tailored forage composition (high sugars)

More weight and milkHigh Sugar Grasses

More energy to rumenMore protein to mammal

Less protein breakdown

Less nitrogen in urine

Less greenhouse gas

Raising Energy levels in forage may improve quality and reduce GHGs

Why?• Energy levels in NZ cultivars are too low, affected by

environmental & management factorsGM approach:• “Master switch” for biosynthesis (target 5-7 fold

increase)

Why?• Drought has severe economic and animal

health effects• 4 weeks additional growth in NZ dry periods

would extend peak animal production• May also reduce irrigation costs

GM approach:• Dormant ryegrass gene now

switched on by drought

Drought tolerance could increase productivity

Unimproved

Drought tolerant cisgenic® ryegrass in the Biotron

Contains our cisgene®

Contains our cisgene®

Unimproved

Pastoral Genomics Economic Benefit estimate- Input / Output Model

Ranges depending on cultivar and adoption rate

GDP increase between $75M and $1.5B

Household income increase between $25M and $500M

Employment increase 500-8000 FTE

First field evaluation: drought-tolerant cisgenic® ryegrass

Containedproof-of-concept Field evaluation and cultivar development

Y7 Y8 Y9 Y10 Y11 Y12 Y13 Y14 Y15 Y162008/0

92009/1

02010/1

12011/1

22012/1

32013/1

42014/1

52015/1

62016/1

72017/1

8

Earliest commercializati

on