Transcript here - The Farm Hub

Welcome to Hong Kong
Jane Dever
Associate Professor – Cotton Breeder
Member, USDA National Genetic
Resources Advisory Council
Purpose: Eliminate Barriers
to Growth
Objective: Collaborate and
Grow
Challenge: Meeting Supply
and Demand
Solution: Working Together
Facilitate expansion strategies
Improve access to non-GM seed
Address GM contamination
Organic and sustainable
Improve business models
It starts with the seed

Good farming practices that produce raw material for
business expansion and strategy depend on access to good
quality seed with native genetic improvement
◉ 1. “GM” cannot be separated from the importance of native
traits and availability of genetic improvements to all farmers
◉ 2. Contamination: distraction or threat?
◉ 3. Breeding for the long haul, not the short delivery
◉ 4. Good news and other news
◉ 5. Policy: Hindsight versus tunnel vision

Have a wonderful and high-yielding round table discussion!
Your seed is “something” before it is ‘GM’

Returning to Texas A&M, I was stunned to be asked, “How
can a traditional breeder be relevant in a GM world?”
◉ To capture native genetic resources that are not targets of
biotechnology research
◉ To ensure genetic resources are available for adaptation to
changing environments
◉ To protect consumer choices; the freedom to farm your way
Seed has to be “something” before is it ‘GM’.
DNA is a strand of
genes. Traditional
plant
breeding
combines
many
genes at once.
Desired
gene
Desired
gene(s)
=
X
Yield, fiber quality,
disease resistance,
drought tolerance, salt
tolerance, environmental
adaptation
(crosses)
Traditional Donor
Commercial Variety
New Variety
(many genes transferred)
Plant Biotechnology
Using
plant
biotechnology, a
single gene is
added to the
strand with a very
specific purpose.
GM trait
=
(backcross)
Desired Gene
Commercial Variety
‘Old’ Variety
Contamination is a distraction and a threat

Organic farmers should not be penalized for unintentional
adventitious presence of GM
◉ Planting seed purity begin with the purity of the foundation seed
◉ Seed quality is as important as seed purity
◉ Good production practices minimize contamination

Presence of GM is a threat to traditional breeding
◉ 1% allowable contamination in non-GM seed sources can
multiply in the breeding process if the GM trait cannot be
economically and practically detected
◉ Selection bias exacerbates GM contamination in the breeding
process and farmer-caught seed sources
Maintaining purity
GM seed contamination is a concern for traditional breeding programs. Sources of contamination can
come from out crossing, volunteers, seed handling, and adventitious presence. It can be minimized,
but detection of GM traits is expensive for traditional breeders without access to technology profits.
Adventitious presence
Volunteer in a field
Outcrossing in a field
Harvester mixing
Mechanical
Seed contamination
Possible sources of contamination
It takes 10 to 15 years to develop a line; if contamination is not controlled early the cost is multiplied.
Seed security in a minority environment should include prevention and
maintenance relief for traditional breeders and organic farmers who do not
financially benefit from biotechnology traits, but feel the burden of the costs.
Germplasm enhancement and screening
at Texas A&M AgriLife in Lubbock




Broaden the genetic base of cotton
Improve fiber quality
Identify new sources of resistance
incorporate native traits into agronomically
acceptable germplasm
G. darwinii
5
G. barbadense
6
Thrips
Resistance
717
9
Primary germplasm pool
26
24
G. herbaceum
5
G. turberi
Sources
identified for
drought and
salt tolerance
G. turneri
G. anomalum
G. klotzchianum
1
1
1
G. harknessi
2
2
2
3
3
3
G. nelsonii
G stocksii
1
1
1
G. robinsonii
G. somalense
3
3
3
4
4
tertiary germplasm pool
1
kirkii
0
Improved
Fiber
Quality
Secondary germplasm pool
10
Gossypoides spp.
20
30
40
Good news and other news

Cotton varieties available to organic farmers in US increased
from ~2 in 2010/2011 to 7 in 2012
 Transgenic acreage in US cotton increased to 99%
U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Agricultural Marketing Service - Cotton
Program
Memphis, Tennessee
September 5, 2012
mp_cn833
Bayer CropScience FM 958 and AFD 2485
were the predominate varieties planted by
Organic cotton producers.
Other varieties planted by organic producers
include All-Tex 7A21, All-Tex LA122, All-Tex
A102, Bayer
CropScience FM 989, and Seed Source
Genetics CT 210.B15
Tunnel vision and hindsight

Current biotechnology efforts are very specific
◉ Short term ‘benefits’ fundamentally change farming practices
with few contingency plans to handle new problems that arise
◉ Regulation during the GM approval phase relax after
deregulation w/o adequate stewardship for contamination issue

Genetic resources should be protected beyond GM traits
◉ There is a “gap” in germplasm collections for crops with
approved GM because final varieties are not deposited (IP)
◉ Contamination issues in development of new, traditional
varieties far exceed planting seed contamination issues
◉
Crossing with sources that have 1% AP and selection bias can lead
to contamination beyond expected amounts
A brighter future


Seed breeders ask, “how can we help organic farmers?”
Experience (hindsight) tells me a thriving organic farming
community helps protect our vital genetic resources
◉ Consumer demand and adherence to principles of organic
farming encourages true genetic improvement and diversity in
an environment dominated by short-term policies
◉ In countries with GM being introduced, urge policies that help
protect the development and production of traditional varieties
◉ Discovery of new genetic improvements from native sources
improves agriculture production and policy for everyone and
contributes biodiversity when short-term solutions fall short
◉ Do not let GM IP issues restrict access to natural genetic
resources
Thank you and Enjoy the Conference
Jane Dever
Associate Professor – Cotton Breeder
Member, USDA National Genetic
Resources Advisory Council