A U.S. Perspective on Plant Biotechnology

1
Biotechnology Textile Trade Division
Senior Advisor for Agricultural Biotechnology
A U.S. Perspective on Plant Biotechnology The
Future is Now
Madelyn Spirnak Senior Advisor for Agricultural
Biotechnology Brussels, December 8, 2005
2
Senior Advisor for Agricultural Biotechnology
Regulatory Policy Overview

• Promote science-based decision-making
• Coordinated interagency approach
• Achieve trade and economic development goals
• Ensure biotech foods are safe for humans and
  animals to eat.
• Ensure biotech products do not have a detrimental
  effect on the environment.
• Result Public confidence in safety of foods on
  grocers shelves

3
Senior Advisor for Agricultural Biotechnology
Trade and Development Goals

• Promote transparent, efficient, and safe trade
• Increase agricultural productivity and reduce
  poverty in food insecure countries
• Increase access to information, technology and
  training

4
Commercialization of Transgenic Plant Varieties
in the United States
Senior Advisor for Agricultural Biotechnology

• Since 1987, over 11,000 field trials authorized
  at 50,000 sites over 100 species of plants and
  microorganisms field-tested
• As of December 2005, Sixty-six (66) products have
  completed U.S. regulatory review
• Deregulated products can be used in food, feed,
  and in breeding programs in the same way as their
  conventional counterparts.
• Commercialization is determined by market demand.

5
Senior Advisor for Agricultural Biotechnology

• US EXPERIENCE
• Farmers have been growing commercial GM crops
  since 1996

6
Senior Advisor for Agricultural Biotechnology

• Food Labeling Policy

• Approved biotech products are co-mingled with
  conventional products for domestic and export use
  unless specified by contractual agreement
• U.S. does not require labeling to show method of
  production
• Labeling is required to show change in product
  that could affect safety
• Composition, nutritional value, intended use
• Voluntary labeling based on market demand
• Label must be truthful and not misleading

7
Senior Advisor for Agricultural Biotechnology
Products Deregulated

• Papaya - VR
• Rice - HT
• Rapeseed - HT, AP, PQ
• Sugar beet - HT
• Flax - HT
• Chicorium - AP
• Tobacco - PQ

• Corn - HT, IR, AP
• Soybean - HT, PQ
• Cotton - HT, IR
• Potato - IR, VR
• Tomato - PQ
• Squash - VR

Not on market
8
Senior Advisor for Agricultural Biotechnology

• In the United States, approximately 105.7
  million acres of transgenic crops such as corn,
  cotton, soybeans, canola, squash and papaya are
  grown.

9
Biotech Crops in Large-Scale Production
Senior Advisor for Agricultural Biotechnology

• Soybeans
• herbicide tolerant (Roundup Ready)
• Corn
• insect resistant (Bt)
• herbicide tolerant
• Cotton
• insect resistant (Bt)
• herbicide tolerant
• Canola
• herbicide tolerant

10
Senior Advisor for Agricultural Biotechnology
USDA/NASS 2004 forecast. For more information
see ww.usda.gov/nass.
11
Why are U.S. farmers growing biotech crops?
Senior Advisor for Agricultural Biotechnology

• Simplification of farming practices and
  environmental benefits
• Reduced tillage
• Reduced pesticide application
• Increased profits
• Greater flexibility in planting

12
Senior Advisor for Agricultural Biotechnology
Farm Level Income Impact HT Soybeans 1996-2004
Source Graham Brookes and Peter Barfoot
13
Senior Advisor for Agricultural Biotechnology
Coexistence

• Myth Biotech crops are not compatible with
  organic agriculture.
• Fact The United States is both the worlds
  largest producer of biotech crops and the worlds
  largest retail market for organically produced
  foods. This diversity is possible because
  farmers can respond to consumer demand and
  because there is a functioning, science-based,
  system of rules.

14
Biotechnology Textile Trade Division
Biotechnology Textile Trade Division
Senior Advisor for Agricultural Biotechnology
Global BiotechOutlook
15
Countries Growing Biotech Crops 2004
Senior Advisor for Agricultural Biotechnology

• 1.United States
• 2. Argentina
• 3. Canada
• 4. Brazil
• 5. China
• 6. Paraguay
• 7. India
• 8. South Africa
• 9. Uruguay

• 10. Australia
• 11. Romania
• 12. Mexico
• 13. Spain
• 14. Philippines
• 15. Columbia
• 16. Honduras
• 17. Germany

16
Senior Advisor for Agricultural Biotechnology

• In 2005, one billionth acre of biotech crops
  was harvested.
• In 2004 alone, an estimated 8.25 million
  farmers in 17 countries throughout the world
  planted about 200 million acres or 81 million
  hectares of biotech crops
• Ninth consecutive year of crop growth
• 20 percent growth over 2003
• Represents 5 percent of global arable croplands.

17
(No Transcript)
18
Senior Advisor For Agricultural Biotechnology

• New Growers in 2005
• Portugal
• Czech Republic
• France

19
Senior Advisor for Agricultural Biotechnology
63 countries are conducting plant biotech
research across 57 different crops
Source Runge 2004
20
Senior Advisor for Agricultural Biotechnology

• Global Benefits 1996-2004
• Decrease in pesticide applications
  172,000 metric tons
• Greenhouse gas emissions eliminated
• by reducing tillage
  10 million metric tons
• Diesel fuel saved by reduced tillage or plowing
  1.8 billion liters
• Increase in net income for farmers
  27 billion
• Estimated number of meals consumed
• with biotech ingredients
  1 trillion
• The planting of biotech crops has reduced the
  environmental footprint of cotton, corn, soy
  and canola by 14 percent, as calculated using an
  established environmental index quotient (EIQ)
  that compares the potential impacts of pesticides
  used in a conventional field to a field planted
  with a biotech crop.
• No reports of harm to human or animal
  safety

21
Senior Advisor for Agricultural Biotechnology
Impacts of Plant Biotechnology By Crop Trait

Source Brookes, 2005
22
Senior Advisor for Agricultural Biotechnology

• Soybeans with healthier oil
• High oleic soybean oil contains 33 percent less
  saturated fat than olive oil and traditional
  vegetable oils.
• More than 80 percent monounsaturated fat the
  "good" fat even higher than olive oil.
• In liquid applications, eliminates the need for
  oil hydrogenation thus, no trans fatty acids in
  foods.
• Superior cooking stability.
• Extends shelf life or "freshness" of
  oil-containing foods.
• Improves flavor and digestibility
• Better feed for livestock that reduces
  environmental impact
• Corn with improved nutritional digestibility for
  farm animals.
• Reduces threat to water quality by decreasing the
  amount of phosphorus in livestock manure.

23
Senior Advisor for Agricultural Biotechnology

• ..and
• Improved insect resistance
• Next generation European corn borer protection
  that includes protection against black cutworm.
• Protection from the corn rootworm a costly pest
  thus, reducing need for soil-applied
  insecticide treatments.
• Higher quality grain
• Corn that neutralizes a naturally occurring toxin
  that sometimes develops in dry environments.
• More efficient corn processing
• Corn with higher levels of oil makes the process
  of extracting the widely used ingredients from
  the grain more efficient.
• Higher value grain for farmers to grow.
• Favorable fat quality and nutritional composition
  of meat products.
• Bio-based clothes and plastics
• New processes that make fully recyclable fibers,
  clothes, and plastics from renewable resources
  such as corn.
• Biofuels

24
Senior Advisor for Agricultural Biotechnology

• Future
• Food quality improvements
• Corn that allows for increased absorption of
  iron, thereby reducing the need for iron
  supplements. Could be of particular value in
  developing countries where corn is the primary
  diet staple.
• Soybean oils with even more cooking stability and
  health value.
• Better tasting soybean protein that performs
  better as an ingredient - making it easier for
  food manufacturers to use soy protein in their
  products with resulting positive health impact
  (reduced cholesterol, hormonal cancers, etc).
• Soybeans with higher levels of isoflavones, which
  in combination with soy protein have been shown
  to reduce some cancer risks, decrease heart
  disease, as well as enhance bone density and
  diminish hot flashes.
• Reduced allergenicity in soybeans.

25
Senior Advisor for Agricultural Biotechnology

• . and fuel
• Analysts predict that there will be a doubling
  of ethanol use by 2010. There are 81 ethanol
  plants now in the U.S. and 14 under construction.
  Industry is now screening corn germplasm for
  high extractable starch for ethanol production.

26
Biotechnology Textile Trade Division
Biotechnology Textile Trade Division
Senior Advisor for Agricultural Biotechnology
Biotech and Developing Countries
27
Biotechnology Textile Trade Division
Biotechnology Textile Trade Division
Senior Advisor for Agricultural Biotechnology
Agricultural Biotechnology is an important
development tool

• More than one-third of the 2004 biotech crops
  planted were planted in developing countries.
• 90 Percent of the 8.25 million farmers growing
  biotech crops today are in resource-poor
  developing countries.

Source Clive James, ISAAA
28
Senior Advisor for Agricultural Biotechnology

• Economists predict full adoption of biotech
  crops globally would result in income gains of
  210 billion per year within the next decade,
  with the largest potential gains occurring in
  developing countries at a rate of 2.1 percent
  gross national product per year.

29
Senior Advisor for Agricultural Biotechnology

• Ghanas Minister of Environment, in her
  remarks at the 2005 West African Biotech
  Ministerial
• the green revolution passed us by we cannot be
  passed by again.

30
Senior Advisor for Agricultural Biotechnology

• GLOBAL CHALLENGES

31
Senior Advisor for Agricultural Biotechnology
PRESENT AND FUTURE CHALLENGES

• Perceptions versus scientific evaluation
• Lack of transparent, predictable approval process
  in EU region (and others)
• EU attitudes and regulatory requirements inhibit
  developing country adoption
• Use of unregistered/unlicensed technology
• Regulatory policy keeping up with new
  technologies
• Lack of consensus on international agreements

32
Senior Advisor for Agricultural Biotechnology

• Solutions?
• Science-based, transparent and predictable
  decision making process requires
• Increased flow of accurate information for policy
  makers, media and general public
• Governments need to correct mis-information
• Answer concerns instead of dismissing
• Listen to answers instead of dismissing

33
Senior Advisor for Agricultural Biotechnology
For More Information

• Integrated U.S. Government Regulatory Website
• http//usbiotechreg.nbii.gov/
• USDA, FDA and EPA Websites
• www.aphis.usda.gov/brs
• www.cfsan.fda.gov/biotechm.html
• www.epa.gov/pesticides/biopesticides

34
Senior Advisor for Agricultural Biotechnology
For More Information

• Madelyn E. Spirnak
• Senior Advisor For Agricultural Biotechnology
• U.S. Department of State
• spirnakme_at_state.gov

35
Senior Advisor for Agricultural Biotechnology

• HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!

P.S. Santa drinks milk from cows that have eaten
GM feed and eats cookies made from GM soybean
ingredients.