BEAN OR GENE ISSUES ASSOCIATED WITH THE PRODUCTION OF THE GLYPHOSATE RESISTANT SOYBEAN Power Point created by Shayla Kisling Georgia Agriculture Education Curriculum Office November 2005

ISSUES Producers/Farmers Producers/Farmers Consumers Consumers --Economics --Decrease Inputs --Increase Outputs -- Environmental Effects -- Human Health Effects -- Food Safety

GENETICALLY MODIFIED ORGANISIMS CROPS CROPS -Bt Corn -Bt Cotton -Glyphosate Resistant Soybean

Genetically Modified Organisms 1999 Share of GM by country in% Source: European Agricultural Commission

Genetically Modified Organisms

Genetically Modified Organisms 1999 Share of GM Crops in% Source: European Agricultural Commission

Genetically Modified Organisms Geographic breakdown of GM soybean area in 1999 Source: European Agricultural Commission

Genetically Modified Organisms

Glyphosate Resistant Soybeans What is a glyphosate resistant soybean? What is a glyphosate resistant soybean? Who is effected by the production of the glyphosate resistant soybean? Who is effected by the production of the glyphosate resistant soybean?

What is a Glyphosate Resistant Soybean? Transgenetically Produced Transgenetically Produced Glyphosate Resistant Glyphosate Resistant -Roundup® Ready -CP4 EPSP

Why Glyphosate Resistant? Roundup® Roundup® -Non-selective Herbicide

WHO IS INVOLVED? Producers/Farmers Producers/Farmers Consumers Consumers

PRODUCERS VIEW ECONOMICS ECONOMICS$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ Decrease Inputs Decrease Inputs Increase Outputs Increase Outputs

PRODUCERS BENEFITS Fewer Herbicides Used Fewer Herbicides Used Fewer Applications Fewer Applications Time Time Cost Efficient Weed Control

U.S. Soybean Production Costs and Returns 1999 $/Planted Acre (Hectare) Gross value of production Soybeans (439.83) Total, gross value of production (439.83) Operating Costs: Seed 19.25(47.57) Fertilizer 7.96(19.67) Soil Conditioners 0.10(0.25) Manures 0.79(1.95) Chemicals 24.88(61.48) Custom operations 5.86(14.48) Fuel, lube, electricity 5.90(14.58) Repairs 9.79(24.19) Purchased irrigation water 0.05(0.12) Interest on operating capital 1.75(4.32) Total, operating costs 76.33(188.61) Source: USDA (as cited by the United Soybean Board, 2001)

Market Competition = Price Drops Cost Efficient Weed Control

40-50 % Reduction 22% Reduction Source: 1999 Illinois Agricultural Pest Management Handbook, University of Illinois Extension Service.(as cited by Carpenter & Gianessi, 2000 April)

GR Planters saved GR Planters saved $220 Million (Includes $6/ac technology fee) $34.80  $27.14 $34.80  $27.14 Cost Efficient Weed Control

Increased Outputs ????? Yield Studies and Reports Yield Studies and Reports  Monsanto  USDA  Universities  Extension

Monsanto Monsanto  ”as good as, or better than, yields from conventional soybeans”  4.5 bushel per acre increase  4.5 bushel per acre increase Increased Outputs Yield Reports

University Studies University Studies Increased Outputs Yield Reports  8,700 trials 6.7% yield drag = 6.7% yield drag = 4.7 bushel per acre loss 4.7 bushel per acre loss  University of Wisconsin 12 of the top producing states 12 of the top producing states 4% yield drag 4% yield drag

Extension Extension Increased Outputs Yield Reports  Iowa extension specialists Duffy and Smith 2000 GR soybeans= bu./ac Traditional soybeans = bu./ac = 1.62 bu./ac difference

Increased Outputs Yield Reports  Most researchers conclude that the GR soybeans yields are near that of conventional soybeans

PRODUCERS VIEW Increase Outputs = Decrease Inputs

Why not 100% GR soybean? PRODUCERS VIEW Tradition Skepticism Consumer Issues All of the above

Trouble??? Market Firms European Union Japan --Gerber --Heinz Consumers

Regulations driving prices? Regulations driving prices? Market HIGHER COSTS

Environmental Effects Environmental Effects Human Health Human Health Food Safety Food Safety CONSUMER CONCERNS

GOVERNMENT POLICY  Coordinated Framework for Regulation of Biotechnology  United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)  Food and Drug Administration (FDA)  Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

Environmental Safety Concerns “Superweed” “Superweed” Excessive Herbicide Use Excessive Herbicide Use

Increase Decrease

ALLERGIES ALLERGIES Human Health Safety Concerns FDA-Label Test Results??

Food Safety Concerns

FDA Tests FDA Tests Found nothing that indicates the GR soybean to be different from the conventional soybean Found nothing that indicates the GR soybean to be different from the conventional soybean Food Safety Concerns University of Kentucky University of Kentucky Compared feed grains of GR soybeans to conventional soybean Compared feed grains of GR soybeans to conventional soybean Measured: Measured: Average daily gain Average daily gain Feed intake Feed intake Feed requirement per gain Feed requirement per gain Backfat Backfat Carcass leanness Carcass leanness

REVIEW THE POINTS Consumer Concerns Consumer Concerns Environment  No Threat Environment  No Threat Human Health  No Threat Human Health  No Threat Food Safety  No Threat Food Safety  No Threat Farmers View Farmers View Decrease Inputs + Decrease Inputs + Increase Outputs Increase Outputs = Saves time and money = Saves time and money

Final Thoughts