Transgenic seeds or genetic traits (also known as genetically modified or “GM”) have been established for some time now, and have become a trend in what is called agricultural biotechnology. But what is GM really all about?
Genetically modified crops (GM crops, or biotech crops) are plants, with DNA that has been modified using genetic engineering techniques, which are then used in agriculture. Plants are also transgenically modified in scientific research; Genetic engineering techniques are much more precise than mutagenesis (mutation breeding), where an organism is exposed to radiation or chemicals to create a non-specific but stable change. Other techniques which humans use to modify food organisms include selective, plant, and animal breeding; and somaclonal variation.
In most cases the goal is to introduce a new trait to the plant which does not exist naturally in that species. Examples include resistance to certain pests, diseases or environmental conditions, and the production of a certain nutrient or pharmaceutical agent. So to state this more clearly, in the spotlight are the markets for genetic traits and the complementary markets for transgenic seed. There are two categories of genetic traits: input and output. Input traits affect the agronomic performance of the plant in order to enhance yield, including tolerance to herbicides (Ht traits) such as glyphosate and resistance to insects (Bt traits). These traits in corn, soybeans, and cotton have been around for a while. However, other input traits (e.g., drought resistance) and output traits are more novel. Output traits affect the characteristics of the plant's output (e.g., high oleic soybeans), and therefore the value of the crop.
BUSINESS OF GM CROPS
The global value of biotech seed alone was US$13.2 billion in 2011; the end product of commercial grain from biotech maize, soybean grain and cotton valued at US$160 billion or more per year.
Players in agriculture business markets include seed companies, agrochemical companies, distributors, farmers, grain elevators, and universities that develop new crops and whose agricultural extensions advise farmers on best practices.
The largest share of the GMO crops planted globally is from seed created by the United States firm, Monsanto. In 2007, Monsanto's trait technologies were planted on 246 million acres (1,000,000 km2) throughout the world, a growth of 13 percent from 2006. However, patents on the first Monsanto products to enter the marketplace will begin to expire in 2014, democratizing Monsanto products. Syngenta, Dupont (especially via its Pioneer Hi-Bred subsidiary, and Bayer CropScience) are also major players in the US and Europe. In addition, a 2007 report from the European Joint Research Commission predicts that by 2015, more than 40 percent of new GM plants entering the global marketplace will have been developed in Asia.
In the corn market, Monsanto's triple-stack corn—which combines Roundup Ready 2-weed control technology with YieldGard (Bt) Corn Borer and YieldGard Rootworm insect control—is the market leader in the United States. U.S. corn farmers planted more than 32 million acres (130,000 km2) of triple-stack corn in 2008, and it is estimated the product could be planted on 56 million acres (230,000 km2) in 2014–2015. In the cotton market, Bollgard II with Roundup Ready Flex was planted on approximately 5 million acres (20,000 km2) of U.S. cotton in 2008.
TREND AND KEEP RAISING
According to the International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-Biotech Applications (ISAAA), in 2010 approximately 15 million farmers grew biotech crops in 29 countries. Over 90% of the farmers were resource-poor in developing countries. 6.5 million farmers in China and 6.3 million small farmers in India grew biotech crops (mostly Bacillus thuringiensis cotton). The Philippines, South Africa and another twelve developing countries also grew biotech crops in 2009 (biotech cotton, maize, and soybeans often grown by subsistence women farmers). 10 million more small and resource-poor farmers may have been secondary beneficiaries of Bt cotton in China.
In recent years there has been rapid growth in the area sown in developing countries. A total of 29 countries worldwide grew GM crops in 2011 by approximately 16.7 million farmers, and 50% of GM crops grown worldwide were grown in developing countries. For example, the largest increase in GM crop area planted in 2011 was in Brazil (303,000 km2 versus 254,000 km2 in 2010). There has also been rapid and continuing expansion of GM cotton varieties in India since 2002 with 106,000 km2 of GM cotton harvested in India in 2011. However the use of GM crops in India has been controversial.
According to the 2011 ISAAA brief, "While 29 countries planted commercialized biotech crops in 2010, an additional 31 countries, totaling 60, have granted regulatory approvals for biotech crops for import for food and feed use, and for release into the environment since 1996.... A total of 1,045 approvals have been granted for 196 events for 25 crops” (an "event" is a specific genetic modification in a specific species). Thus, biotech crops are accepted for import for food and feed use, and for release into the environment in 60 countries, including major food importing countries like Japan, which does not plant biotech crops. Of the 60 countries that have granted approvals for biotech crops, USA tops the list followed by Japan, Canada, Mexico, South Korea, Australia, the Philippines, New Zealand, the European Union, and Taiwan. Maize has the most events approved (65) followed by cotton (39), rapeseed (15), potato and soybean (14 each). The event that has received regulatory approval in most countries is herbicide tolerant soybean— event GTS-40-3-2— with 25 approvals worldwide (EU=27 counted as 1 approval only), followed by insect resistant maize— MON810— with 23, herbicide tolerant maize— NK603— with 22, and insect resistant cotton—MON1445— with 14.
SO, WHAT ABOUT THE CONTROVERSIES?
Critics have objected to GM crops on several grounds, including ecological concerns, and economic concerns raised by the fact these organisms are subject to intellectual property law. GM crops are also involved in controversies over GM food, with respect to the safety of food produced from GM crops, and whether they are needed to address the world's food needs. These controversies have led to litigation, international trade disputes, protests, and restrictive legislation in most countries.
CURRENT CONSENSUS ON GM CROPS
With the recent increase in world food and feed prices, the current status of GM crops has to be assessed. With a strict stance on GM crops and food in the European Union, after a de facto moratorium, there is an ongoing debate as to whether we should wholly adopt GM crops or not. The side against GM crops says they cause unintended harm to other organisms, reduce effectiveness of pesticides, trigger human allergies and other unknown effects, and also create ‘super-weeds’. The side supporting GM crops rebut this by saying GM crops have the same endogenous allergens as traditionally-bred crops, increased integrated pest management through a preventative host, and are an alternative for organic farmers who do not want to use chemicals.
It is generally accepted that in order to secure future food production, GM crops are part of the answer. Currently, the arguments presented against the use of GM crops have all been successfully defeated, or resolved through other studies and smaller-scale testing. Such studies exemplify the benefits to growing GM crops. The previously stated advantages of GM crops far outweigh the disadvantages. GM crops have proven to be a viable and very real solution among many others which can help secure future food production.
TRANSGENIC SEEDS ARE INDEED THE FUTURE OF AGRICULTURE
At the end of the day, the conclusion we must come to is that despite all of the controversies around GM crops, the benefits that farmers see— actual and proposed— are clearly shown in the statistics.
GM crops grown today have been modified with traits intended to provide benefits to farmers, consumers and the industry. These traits include improved shelf life, disease resistance, stress resistance, herbicide resistance, pest resistance, production of useful goods such as biofuel or drugs, and the ability to absorb toxins for use in bioremediation of pollution. Due to high regulatory and research costs, the majority of genetically modified crops in agriculture consist of commodity crops, such as soybean, maize, cotton and rapeseed. Recently, some research and development has been targeted to the enhancement of crops that are locally important in developing countries, such as insect-resistant cowpea for Africa and insect-resistant brinjal (eggplant) for India.