biotechnology for food, nutritional security and rural growth · biotechnology for food,...
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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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QuickTime™ and a(Uncompressed) decompressore needed to see this picture.
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.