What Concerns
Consumers?
“Which of the following food safety issues are you
most concerned about?”
Pesticide residues
Food additives
Food poisoning
Antibiotics
Hormones
No answer
48.7 %
19.8 %
18.5 %
3.8 %
3.6 %
5.6 %
1990 survey of KY residents
What Do
Consumers
Prefer?
Which method of pest control
would you
most prefer that food producers
use?”
Spray pesticides when necessary
30.5 %
Use genetically modified crops
to reduce pesticide use
42.2 %
Use of post-harvest irradiation
11.9 %
Organic methods (volunteered)*
10.5 %
No response
* 1999 survey of KY residents
4.9 %
Know Before You Grow!
US Approval
Japan
EU
Agrisure CB
Yes
Yes
Yes
Agrisure Viptera 3110
Yes
No
No
Agrisure Viptera 3111
Yes
No
No
Herculex 1
Yes
Yes
Yes
YieldGard CB
Yes
Yes
Yes
YieldGard RW
Yes
Yes
Yes
YieldGard Plus
Yes
Yes
Yes
Herculex RW
Yes
Yes
Yes
Herculex Xtra
Yes
Yes
Yes
YieldGard VT RW
Yes
Yes
Yes
YieldGard VT Triple
Yes
Yes
Yes
Agrisure RW
Yes
No
No
Agrisure 3000GT
Yes
No
No
YieldGard VT 2 Pro
Yes
Yes
Yes
YieldGard VT 3 Pro
Yes
Yes
Yes
SmartStax
Yes
No
No
Where is Biotech Going?
Gene
silencing
Yield
Rx
Pest
protection
Nutrition
Modifying
gene
expression
Industrial
products
Heartier
plants
Transgenic Introductions
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
1994
1995
1995
1996
1996
1996
1997
1997
1998
2000
2000
2001
- Calgene’s Flavr-savr tomato
- Newleaf potato
- Virus-resistant squash
- Roundup Ready soybeans
- Bt corn
- Bt cotton
- Liberty Link Corn
- Roundup Ready Corn
- Bt sweet corn
– Bt potato discontinued
– Liberty link corn discontinued
– Nicotine-free tobacco
Biotech Tools in Agriculture
FlavrSavr Tomato
Freedom II Squash *
Laurical Canola
UH Papaya *
Liberty Link Corn
New Leaf Potato *
New Leaf Plus Potato *
Attribute Sweet Corn *
Bollgard Cotton *
Bollgard II Cotton *
Roundup Ready Soybean
Roundup Ready Cotton
Roundup Ready Canola
Roundup Ready Corn
Roundup Ready Alfalfa
BXN Cotton
Liberty Link Cotton
Liberty Link Rice
Widestrike Cotton *
VIP Cotton *
Bt Tomato *
YieldGard Corn *
YieldGard Rootworm Corn *
YieldGard Plus *
Herculex Corn *
Vector Tobacco *
Viptera Corn *
StarLink Corn *
Knockout Corn *
NatureGard Corn *
Bt-xtra Corn *
* Affects insect management
GM Corn Worldwide
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
United States
Canada
Argentina
South Africa
Brazil
Spain
Phillipines
China ?
85% GM
84% GM
83% GM
57% GM
36% GM
20% GM
19% GM
Source: Genetically modified plants: Global Cultivation Area Maize GMO Compass, March 29, 2010,
Yield Benefit by Planting Date
7-Year Average (1998-2004)
Planting Date
Non-Bt
Tunneling
(in)
Yield, non-Bt
(bu)
Early – Mid April
3.2
189.7
Yield,
Diff.
(bu)
3.2
Late April
4.0
198.8
2.7
Early –Mid May
4.1
182.3
6.2 *
Late May
5.2
160.2
9.2 *
Early – Mid June
6.3
112.3
21.1 *
 Bessin, Johnson, and Herbek, UKREC Princeton.
The Logic of Pest Management
• It takes a critical level of a pest(s) before
controls are initiated
• Factors that must be considered
– Value of the crop
– Cost of control
– Potential losses
– Level of the pest
– Alternatives
Economic Thresholds
vs
Economic Injury level
EIL
Number
Of
Pests
ET
Time
Apply control
Pest Management Changes
• Higher input costs/grain prices
– Effect of Economic thresholds?
• Preventive Controls
– Bt crops
– Seed treatments
• All seed treated
– More stacked Bts
Bt corn- the early years
• Mycogen “NatureGard”
Ciba “KnockOut”
AgrEvo “StarLink”
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Syngenta “Agrisure CB”
Monsanto “YieldGard CB”
Dow/Pioneer “Herculex 1”
Monsanto “YieldGard RW”
Dow/Pioneer “Herculex RW”
Syngenta “Agrisure RW”
Monsanto “YieldGard VT RW”
Monsanto “YieldGard VT Pro”
How Bt Kills Some Insects
• 1. Insect eats Bt crystals and spores.
• 2. The toxin binds to specific receptors
in the gut and the insects stops eating.
• 3. The crystals cause the gut wall to
break down, allowing spores and
normal gut bacteria to enter the body.
• 4. The insect dies as spores and gut
bacteria proliferate in the body.
Bt Types for Corn Pests
Corn Borer BT
Rootworm BT
CB+RW BT
YieldGard CB (20%)
Herculex 1 (20%)
Agrisure CB (20%)
YieldGard VT2 Pro (5%)
Agrisure Viptera 3110 (20%)
Optimum Intrasect (5%)
Optimun AcreMax (5% RIB)
YieldGard RW (20%)
Herculex RW (20%)
Agrisure RW (20%)
YieldGard VT RW (20%)
AcreMax RW (10% RIB)
YieldGard Plus (20%)
Herculex Xtra (20%)
Agrisure 3000 GT (20%)
YieldGard VT3 (20%)
YieldGard VT3 Pro (20%)
SmartStax (5%)
AcreMax 1 (10% RIB)
Agrisure Viptera 3111 (20%)
Optimum Intrasect Xtra (20%)
Optimum AcreMax Xtra (10% RIB)
External refuge
within 0.5 mile
Within or
adjacent to field
Structured refuge, within
or adjacent to field
© Bessin 2011
Insects Controlled by Bt Corn
CB’s
CEW
BCW
FAW
CRW
YieldGard CB
+++
+
-
+
-
YieldGard RW
-
-
-
-
++
YieldGard Plus
+++
+
-
+
++
Herculex
+++
+
++
+
-
Herculex RW
-
-
-
-
++
Herculex Xtra
+++
+
++
+
++
Agrisure CB
+++
+
-
+
-
Agrisure RW
-
-
-
-
++
+++
+
-
+
++
Agrisure Viptera 3111
-
+++
++
+++
-
YieldGard VT RW
-
-
-
-
++
YieldGard VT Triple
+++
+
-
+
++
YieldGard VT2 Pro
+++
++
+
++
-
YieldGard VT3 Pro
+++
++
+
++
++
SmartStax
+++
++
++
++
++
Agrisure 3000 GT
Refuge in the Bag
(Integrated refuge)
CB BT
CB+RW BT
CB+RW BT
Optimum AcreMax
95% (Hx1+YGCB) + 5%
non-Bt seed
AcreMax RW
90% (HxXtra) +
10% non-Bt seed
AcreMax 1 (still need CB
refuge)
90% (HxXtra+YGCB) +
10% (HxCB+YGCB)
Optimum AcreMax Xtra
90% (HxXtra+YGCB) +
10% non-Bt seed
© Bessin 2009
Transformation Events for Corn Pests
Product
Active Ingredients
YieldGard Corn Borer
Cry1Ab
YieldGard Rootworm
Cry3Bb1
YieldGard Plus
Cry1Ab+Cry3Bb1
Herculex
Cry1F
Herculex RW
Cry34Ab1+Cry35Ab1
Herculex Xtra
Cry1F+Cry34Ab1+Cry35Ab1
Agrisure CB
Cry1Ab
Agrisure RW
mCry3A
Agrisure CB/RW
Cry1AB+mCry3A
YieldGard VT RW
Cry3Bb1
YieldGard VT 3
Cry1Ab+Cry3Bb1
YieldGard VT 2 Pro
Cry1A.105+Cry2Ab2
YieldGard VT 3 Pro
Cry1A.105+Cry2Ab2+Cry3Bb1
SmartStax
Cry1F+Cry34Ab1+Cry35Ab1+Cry1A.105+Cry2Ab2+Cry3Bb1
Op. AcreMax 1
90% Cry1F+Cry1Ab+Cry34Ab1+Cry35Ab1 with 10% Cry1F+Cry1Ab
Optimum AcreMax RW
90% Cry34Ab1+Cry35Ab1
Optimum Intrasect
Cry1F+Cry1Ab
Optimum Intrasect Xtra
Cry1F+Cry1Ab+Cry34Ab1+Cry35Ab1
Agrisure Viptera
Cry1Ab+Vip3A+ mCry3A
Optimum AcreMax
90% Cry1F+Cry1Ab
Optimum AcreMax Xtra
90% Cry1F+Cry1Ab+Cry34Ab1+Cry35Ab1
MONSANTO, DOW AGREEMENT PAVES THE WAY FOR INDUSTRY’S
FIRST-EVER, EIGHT-GENE STACKED OFFERING IN CORN
Stacked product combines Dow AgroSciences’ and Monsanto’s insect-protection
and weed control trait technologies; product set to deliver greater performance,
value and options for farmers
INDIANAPOLIS and ST. LOUIS (Sept. 14, 2007) – Monsanto (NYSE: MON) and
Dow AgroSciences LLC, a subsidiary of The Dow Chemical Company (NYSE:
DOW), have reached a cross-licensing agreement aimed at launching SmartStax™,
the industry’s first-ever eight-gene stacked combination in corn. The agreement is
expected to create a new competitive standard for stacked-trait offerings and
present an expanded growth opportunity for both companies’ seed brands and traits
businesses by the end of the decade.
Cry1F + Cry34Ab1 + Cry35Ab1 + Cry3Bb1 + Cry1A.105 + Cry2Ab2
Roundup Ready 2 + Liberty Link
DeKalb 63-74,YieldGard Plus, July
26, 2007: Mike Gray, Univ of IL
HxXTRA Mycogen 2T787, Urbana, IL, July 9, 2007: Mike
Gray, Univ. of IL
Resistance Management
• High-dose refuge strategy
– Goal  500 : 1 ratio of susceptible to resistant
• KEY ASSUMPTIONS
– Random mating
– High dose event at correct time/tissue in plant
– Frequency of resistance initially low
• No more than 80% Bt corn
– Refuge within ½ mile for CB Bt’s
– Refuge immediately adjacent for RW and CB/RW Bt
lines
– Refuge within the field
What is the size your “B.t.” corn
refuge?
Early Bird Meetings
Turning Point Data
90 respondents
2008
50
45
40
35
30
25
20
15
10
5
0
0%
1-19%
20-40 %
41-60 %
> 60 %
What is the size your “B.t.” corn
refuge?
2010 Earlybird Mtg
56 respondents
50
45
40
35
30
0% refuge
25
1-19% refuge
20
20 to 40% refuge
15
40 to 60% refuge
10
> 60%
5
0
0% refuge
1-19%
refuge
20 to 40% 40 to 60%
refuge
refuge
> 60%
Are you worried about resistance
to “B.t.” traits ?
70
60
50
40
Early Bird Meetings
Turning Point Data
101 respondents
2008
30
20
10
0
Yes
No
Bt Corn Technology
• 1st generation Bt corns (since 1996)
– Single toxin to control pests
– Stacked toxins to control additional pests
– Traditional minimum 20% structured refuge
YieldGard CB
Yieldgard plus
Herculex 1
Herculex Xtra
Agrisure RW
Yieldgard RW
Yieldgard VT3
Herculex RW
Agrisure CB
Agrisure 3000GT
Bt Corn Technology
• 2nd generation Bt corns (since 2009)
– Stacked toxins to control a pest (dual mode of action!)
– More difficult for pests to develop resistance
– Some have EPA approved 5% structured refuge
YieldGard VT2 Pro (5%)
Optimum Intrasect (5%)
Optimum Intrasect Xtra (20%)
SmartStax (5%)
Agrisure Viptera 3110 (20%)
Corn Earworm Damaged Kernels – cm2
(8/17/10) per ear
a
b
b
a
b
b
c
N=20
Single toxin
Pyramided toxins
KY: Bessin
Pyramiding Genes
• Impart resistance to a single pest through
independent host pathways
Refuge adults
Adults from 1 gene Bt
# individuals
emerging
Adults from pyramiding
Gene Bt
Bt Corn Technology
• 3rd generation Bt corn (since 2010)
– Refuge in the Bag, “one bag solution”
– Refuge corn seed mixed into Bt seed
– Not as effective, but ensures compliance
– More convenience for growers
AcreMax RW
AcreMax 1
AcreMax
AcreMax Xtra
Awaiting EPA approval
SmartStax Refuge Advanced
Agrisure EZ Refuge
SmartStax RIB Complete
YieldGard VT2 Pro RIB Complete
Kernel damage for HX1xYGCB
pure stand vs. refuge blend
(UK Spindletop 2010)
Fall Armyworm
Kernel damage cm2
25
20
15
10
5
0
)
t
r
or eck
re uge lan oor oo
o
u
b
p
(p
Ch
ef
hb ghb igh
e
R
g
g
ei nei
CB ed
fu
ne
n
G
e
d
t
d
d
R
x Y le n
3r
es 2n
1
s
B
o
Hx
Cl
E. And SW. Corn borers
11
10
9
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
0
Future Directions for
Bt Corn
• Resistance Management
– Redundant Bt genes
• SmartStax
– Refuge in the Bag
• AcresMax, EZ Refuge
• Broader-spectrum
– More genes
• YieldGard VT Pro
What are the Issues
with GM Crops ?
Volunteer Corn in Soybeans
Impact on corn rootworm management
– Food for larval development
– Food for adults and egg laying
– Segregating Bt traits
What are the Issues
with GM crops ?
Herbicide resistance:
May create “super weeds”
Canola
Squashes
Sorghum
Corn
Cotton
Soybeans
Potato
Tomato
What are the Issues
with GM crops ?
Impact on Non-targets:
Monarch butterfly
Impact on Non-targets:
Argument:
• Monarch populations are threatened by Bt-corn
• Cornell and Iowa State Universities published articles
that demonstrated the potential problem
• Bt-corn pollen drifting onto milkweed is eaten by
monarch caterpillars
• Milkweeds within 1 to 3 yards of the Bt-corn may be
contaminated
Response:
• These studies conducted in the lab were worst case
scenarios (high dose, no choice)
• Factors not considered include:
Rainfall
Time of pollen shed
Bt pollen avoidance
Insecticide reduction
Distribution of weeds
• EPA concluded that Bt corn does not threaten
monarchs and it may even have a positive effect
(GM crops more selective and less damaging)
What are the Issues
with GM crops ?
Resistance Management
ECB
CRW
Compatibility with multiple pests?
CEW, FAW, BAW, WBCW, SCB, SWCB
Compatibility with multiple GM crops?
Corn, Soy, Cotton, Wheat
What are the Issues
with GM crops ?
Marker Genes:
Antibiotic resistance may move
to harmful microbes
Argument:
• Antibiotic resistance may move to harmful microbes
• Microbes do exchange genes, but not understood
• Limited number of clinical antibiotics
• Other types of markers available
Response:
• Exchange of genetic material is rare
• Type of antibiotic resistance is common in nature
What are the Issues
with GM crops ?
Allergenicity
Brasil nut proteins in soy beans.
Potential allergens: Milk, peanuts, tree nuts,
sesame seeds,eggs, fish, shellfish, etc.
Taco Bell shells and StarLink
StarLink Controversy:
• Found in Taco Bell taco shells, 300+ products recalled
in late 2000 and early 2001
• Japan and Korea reduced US corn purchases
• Maybe 0.14% US grain contained StarLink
• StarLink may be a food allergen…may not
Concern: it breakdowns slowly
No method to know if it is an allergen
• Experts (CDC) feel there is no immediate risk and no
one has gotten sick
StarLink Controversy:
• Aventis stopped sale of StarLink seed
• Aventis bought back StarLink grain
• Avetnis seeked approval for human food use, but
was denied
• Points to problems with current grain handling and
channeling in US
•May be another year or more before it is completely
out of the system (2003?)
What are the Issues
with GM crops ?
Traits from GM crops will get into
wild corn populations
If traits do get into wild
populations, what is
the harm?
Traits from GM crops will get into wild corn
populations
Argument:
• GM crops will interbreed with wild relatives
• This will reduce the genetic diversity of these wild
populations
• Oaxaca and Puebla, Mexico have GM traits in wild
corns
Response:
• So far , not found in the wild races maintained at
CIMMYT
What are the Benefits
with GM crops ?
Reduced pesticide usage
1997 - 20% corn insecticide reduction with Bt corn
1999 - 90% insecticide reduction with Bt sweet corn
Chemical Insecticide Use, Major States (1996)
Lepidopteran Control
Fresh market sweet corn:
Processing sweet corn:
Field Corn:
All Insect Pests
Cotton:
Lbs.
A.I./Acre/Yr.
2.90
0.32
0.02
1.77
What are the Benefits
with GM crops ?
Plant pesticides impact
non-targets less:
Black swallowtail butterfly
What are the Benefits
with GM crops ?
Plant pesticides
crops compliment
biological control (?)
Reducing reliance on pesticides
What are the Benefits
with GM crops ?
Increased yields:
Reducing need to expand acreage
China has corn acreage equal to that in US but yield, is 1/2
Asian C-4 Rice, 35% yield increase
What are the Benefits
with Biotechnology ?
Reducing Monoculture
(of 35 primary crops)
Assist new crop introduction
Preservation of genetic material
What are the Benefits
with Bt Corn ?
Increasing grain quality
reducing ear damage
reducing ear rots (Fusarium spp.)
What are the Benefits
with Bt Corn ?
Improved Nutrition of Foods:
Yellow Rice
High Iron Rice
High Oleic Acid Soybean Oil
High Isoflavone Soybeans
What are the Benefits
with Bt Corn ?
Reduced Animal Waste
Low phytate corn and Soybeans
What are the Benefits
with Bt Corn ?
Herbicide-Resistant
Crops
Promote No-till
Agriculture
1930’s Dust Bowl