Genes and Our Food Past, present and future

Science is used to improve our food supply “And he gave it for his opinion, that whoever could make two ears of corn, or two blades of grass, to grow upon a spot of ground where only one grew before, would deserve better of mankind, and do more essential service to his country, than the whole race of politicians put together. “ Jonathan Swift in Gulliver’s Travels

Science is used to improve our food supply All food comes from living organisms Genetics can be used to improve the plants and animals we eat Many people are not aware of these facts “Ordinary Tomatoes Do Not Contain Genes, while Genetically Modified Ones Do”

We have genetically modified food for thousands of years The earliest farmers and gardeners saved seeds of the very best plants to start the next growing season By doing this, they unknowingly selected plants with the more desirable genes Assyrian mural from 870 BC showing palm pollination

Domestication of corn TeosinteCorn 9000 Years Ago

Domestication of lettuce Leaf Lettuce Prickly lettuce 4,500 Years Ago

Domestication of carrot 1,100 to 300 Years Ago Queen Anne’s Lace Orange carrots appeared in Holland in the 1700s

Brassica oleracea Wild cabbage Kohlrabi Germany, 100 AD Kale, 500 BC Cabbage, 100AD Cauliflower 1400’s Broccoli Italy, 1500’s Brussel sprouts Belgium, 1700’s Ornamental kale Late 1900’s

Some crops never existed in nature Wheat, Triticum aestivum Triticum urartu X Aegilops speltoides 2n=142n=14 Triticum turgidum X Aegilops tauschii 2n=282n=14 Triticum aestivum 2n=42

BiotechnologyInAgriculture

Major uses of biotechnology Making maps of plant and animal chromosomes using technology developed for the Human Genome Project Using our knowledge to add new genetic information to plants and animals

How is this information obtained? Set of techniques that allow us to "read" genes Set of techniques that allow us to "read" genes

Old and New Approaches to Plant Improvement

Current Crops with Biotech Traits Herbicide Tolerance- Lower grower cost (corn, soy, cotton, canola) - Reduced herbicide residues - Enables no-till - Simplicity / flexibility Insect/Corn Borer Resistance- Lower grower costs (corn, cotton, potato) - Reduced pesticide usage - Decreased molds - Higher yields - Simplicity Commercial Products Benefits to Growers / Consumers

Current Crops with Biotech Traits Virus Resistance- Lower cost (potato, papaya)- Higher quality foods - Less acres used Delayed Ripening- Higher quality food products- Longer shelf-life Commercial Products Benefits to Growers / Consumers

Biotech Benefits and Risks Decreasing reliance on pesticides Insect resistance management Gene flow and outcrossing Non-target organisms Human, wildlife and environmental health Preserving genetic diversity in plants and animals Economic

Potential of crop biotechnology Agronomic traits Potential products Quality traits Pharmaceuticals Specialty chemicals

Genetically Enhanced Plants The Next Generation CropCustomer Focus on improved farming "" "Thinking in crops" Focus on improved processing " "Thinking in applications" Functionality of crops or components Customer needs Source: The Boston Consulting Group; modified Situation So FarFuture Trend

Biotech Foods and Health Enhanced protein and essential nutrients prevent disease Vitamin A to prevent childhood blindness Increased calories and nutrients to prevent malnutrition Increasing food availability by reducing spoilage golden rice

Healthier Foods Added Nutrients wheat rice Reducing Natural Food Toxins

Fighting Hunger Improving yields of food staples Controlling insects Controlling crop diseases bananas cassava sweet potato virus Greater salt tolerance

Food Security Increasing crop productivity to meet growing global food needs Increasing crop productivity of staple foods rich in protein and calories Increasing access to a healthy, diverse diet

What will the future bring?

Foods as Medicine Delivery System Vaccines human veterinary

Foods as Medicine Delivery System Benefits of food as a Drug Delivery System reduced expense low tech – easy to deliver reduced spoilage - no refrigeration Vaccines Enhanced protein and essential nutrients prevent disease

Other uses of biotech Over 100 drugs on the market developed with biotech Bioremediation Industrial biotech Improved enzymes in chemical, textile, pharmaceutical, metal, and energy industries Starch and grain processing Sweeteners Ethanol

Other uses of biotech Coffee is decaffeinated by solvent extraction Concern about safety and flavor Engineer to be decaffeinated Also can make uniform ripening

Other uses of biotech Nicotine-free tobacco Low lignin spruce trees for paper production

Industrial uses Cleaning industry Detergent proteases Textile industry Finishing cloth Better cotton fibers Paper and pulp industry Processing with biotech, environmentally friendly chemicals