1. Present and Future of U.S. Agricultural Biotechnology Paul Spencer Senior Agricultural Attaché American Embassy, Tokyo

2. Crops and Traits Widespread application in major crops –Soybeans –Corn –Cotton –Expense somewhat limits development of minor crops Current traits –Insect Resistance (“Bt”) –Herbicide Tolerance (glyphosate, glufosinate) –Virus resistance Future Traits (near term) –Drought resistance, heart healthy oils, fruits, etc. –Trait/crops of importance to developing world (e.g., cassava, sorghum, banana)

3. U.S. Biotech Use Increasing

4. Crops With Non-Regulated Status Corn - HT, IR, AP Soybean - HT, PQ Cotton - HT, IR Canola - HT, AP, PQ Papaya – VR Squash – VR Tobacco – PQ  Tomato - PQ  Chicory – AP  Potato - IR, VR  Rice – HT  Sugar beet – HT  Flax – HT  Plum - VR HT – herbicide tolerance IR – insect resistance AP – agronomic properties VR – virus resistance PQ – product quality large scale production  not in commercial production

5. Bt/RR2Y (Monsanto) Low Sat (Monsanto) Omega-3 (Monsanto; Steandonic Acid) High Stearate (Monsanto; DuPont) High Beta- Conglycinin (Monsanto; DuPont) Industry Soybean Portfolio* A Steady Pipeline of New Biotech Events Nearly Every Year Processing: High Oil Soy (Monsanto) High Oleic (DuPont) Liberty Link (Bayer) □ Agronomic □ Quality/Food RR2Y (Monsanto) 201X 2009 Modified 7S Protein FF (Dupont) High Oleic, Stearate (DuPont) Low Lin (Syngenta) Glyphosate & isoxazole tol. (Bayer)* Low- Phytate (DuPont) Dicamba Tolerant (Monsanto) Omega-3 (EPA/DHA) DuPont Feed: High Protein Soybean (Monsanto; DuPont) Yield (Monsanto; Pioneer) Rust (Monsanto; Pioneer Antibody - containing (against E. coli 0157:H) Herbicide tol.: 2,4-D (Dow) and aryloxyphenoxy propionate herbicides Disease (Monsanto; Pioneer) Soybean Cyst Nematode Monsanto; Pioneer GAT/Glyphosate-ALS (Pioneer) *Estimated pipeline of soybean biotech events prepared by the American Soybean Association, November 2007.

6. Why Are U.S. Farmers Planting Biotech Crops? Yield increases. Lower costs (fuel savings, don’t need as many chemicals) Environmental benefits (fewer chemicals, facilitates ‘no-till’ farming) In the future, new products (nutritionally enhanced foods)

7. Many New Products Will Be Reviewed by the Japanese Govt. U.S. Embassy Survey of Tech. Companies –Results for JFY 2008 and JFY 2009 51 new products 7 traits that are new

8. U.S. Regulatory System First genetically engineered (GE) plants - 1983 1986 - Coordinated Framework for the Regulation of Biotechnology Described how existing agencies and laws could be used to regulate products of biotechnology

9. U.S. Regulatory System The risks of GE organisms are not fundamentally different from risks posed by non-GE organisms with similar traits. Regulation should be science-based and conducted on a case-by-case basis.

10. U.S. Regulatory System FDA Safe for use in food and feed USDA Safe for agriculture and the environment EPA Safe for use as pesticide

11. U.S. Regulatory System New Trait/CropAgencyReview Insect resistance in food crop (Bt corn) USDA EPA FDA Agricultural and environmental safety Environmental, food/feed safety of pesticide Food/feed safety Herbicide tolerance in food crop (Roundup Ready soybeans) USDA EPA FDA Agricultural and environmental safety New herbicide use Food/feed safety Herbicide tolerance in ornamental crop USDA EPA Agricultural and environmental safety New herbicide use Modified oil in food crop (high oleic acid soybeans) USDA FDA Agricultural and environmental safety Food/feed safety Modified flower color (blue roses) USDAAgricultural and environmental safety

12. U.S. Japan Relationship The United States is the largest supplier of food to Japan. Japan is an important part of the U.S. farm economy. U.S. technology companies and producers have agreed not to commercially grow biotech crops unless they are approved in Japan.

13. Key Embassy PR Messages Biotechnology critical for U.S. farmers. –We want Japanese to understand why we are growing these crops. Biotechnology is an important part of global food security. Americans eat these same biotech foods that we export to Japan.

14. For More Information U.S. regulatory agencies http://usbiotechreg.nbii.gov U.S. Embassy Agricultural Office 日本語 http://www.usdajapan.org/jp/index.html http://www.usdajapan.org/jp/index.html Informaion on U.S. Food 日本語 http://www.myfood.jp http://www.myfood.jp U.S. Embassy Report on Agricultural Biotechnology In Japan http://www.fas.usda.gov/gainfiles/200807/146295225.pdf