Genetically modified pasture dairy s opportunity? Paula Fitzgerald

Genetically modified pasture dairy s opportunity? Paula Fitzgerald

Global GM statistics 2013 cultivation 18 years old 175.2 million hectares of GM crops were planted 27 countries grew GM crops 19 developing countries and 8 industrial Stacked traits accounted for 27% of the total area grown or 47.1 million hectares 18 million farmers grew GM crops. Over 90% of these, or 16.5+ million farmers, are in resource-poor countries including 7.5 million farmers in China, 7.3 million in India Five EU countries (Spain, Portugal, Czechia, Slovakia and Romania) planted GM insect resistant corn. The first GM drought tolerant corn was planted in the US by 2000 farmers

Global GM situation - 2013 Country Area* Crops 1 USA 70.1 Corn, soybean, cotton, canola, sugar beet, alfalfa (lucerne), papaya, squash 2 Brazil 40.3 Soybean, corn, cotton 3 Argentina 24.4 Soybean, corn, cotton 4 India 11.0 Cotton 5 Canada 10.8 Canola, corn, soybean, sugar beet 6 China 4.2 Cotton, papaya, poplar, tomato, sweet pepper 7 Paraguay 3.6 Soybean, corn, cotton 8 South Africa 2.9 Corn, soybean, cotton 9 Pakistan 2.8 Cotton 10 Uruguay 1.5 Soybean, corn 11 Bolivia 1.0 Soybean 12 Philippines 0.8 Corn 13 Australia 0.6 Cotton, canola (and carnations) * Million hectares

GM crops under development in Australia Most commodities in Australia have GM investments. The OGTR has granted licences for field trials of GM: Banana Barley Canola Cotton Lupins Pineapple Safflower Sugarcane Ryegrass Wheat White clover GM vaccine to protect chickens against pathogenic Escherichia coli currently being assessed for commercial release

Most advanced Australian R&D Entity Licence Crop Details Vic DPI DIR 89 (2008) Vic DPI DIR 82 (2007) Vic DPI DIR 47 (2003) White clover Ryegrass & tall fescue White clover AMV resistant Improved forage qualities AMV resistant Entity Licence Crop Details BSES DIR 96 (2009) BSES DIR 95 (2009) UQ DIR 78 (2008) BSES DIR 70 (2007) UQ DIR 51 (2005) Sugarcane Sugarcane Sugarcane Sugarcane Sugarcane Herbicide tolerance Altered plant growth, enhanced drought tolerance, enhanced nitrogen use efficiency, altered sucrose accumulation, and improved cellulosic ethanol production from sugarcane biomass Altered sugar production Altered plant architecture, enhanced water or improved nitrogen use efficiency Expressing sucrose isomerase

Most advanced Australian R&D Entity Licence Crop Details Vic DEPI DIR 122 (2013) Wheat Abiotic stress tolerance, yield CSIRO DIR 117 (2012) Wheat & barley Wheat - altered grain composition, enhanced nutrient utilisation efficiency Barley - enhanced nutrient utilisation efficiency CSIRO DIR 112 (2012) Wheat & barley Altered grain composition and nutrient utilisation efficiency CSIRO DIR 111 (2012) Wheat & barley Altered grain composition, nutrient utilisation efficiency, disease resistance or stress tolerance Adelaide University DIR 102 (2010) Wheat & barley Enhanced nutrient utilization & abiotic stress tolerance CSIRO DIR 99 (2010) Wheat & barley Growth & yield characteristics CSIRO DIR 94 (2009) Wheat & barley Enhanced nutrient efficiency CSIRO DIR 93 (2009) Wheat & barley Altered starch CSIRO DIR 92 (2009) Wheat Altered grain Vic DPI DIR 80 (2008) Wheat Modified for drought tolerance Adelaide University DIR 77 (2008) Wheat & barley Enhanced tolerance to environmental stress or increased dietary fibre

GM ryegrass? What? High energy (high fructan) ryegrass How? Two additional ryegrass genes have been added storage of sugar in the leaf and the stem It is different to other high sugar grasses as it has a higher energy content without any yield penalties. Should allow for a reduction in other energy sources (wheat, barley) So what? Modelling suggests $300 per hectare per year equating to at peak use (of 70%) $196 million annual benefit

Office of the Gene Technology Regulator (OGTR) Aussie regulators...

OGTR Regulates for: Human health and safety and environmental safety The GM canola example: The introduced genes, method of transfer, stability of modification Human health and safety: allergenicity, toxicity Environmental safety toxicity to other organisms: mammals and wildlife (including birds and fish), invertebrates (including insects), microbes and soil biota Environmental safety weediness Environmental safety transfer of genes to other organisms: canola plants, other plants, microorganisms and animals Herbicide resistance and herbicide use RARMP - http://www.ogtr.gov.au//internet/ogtr/publishing.nsf/content/dir020-2002

FSANZ FSANZ GM food safety assessments: Are carried out on a case-by-case basis (because the safety concerns depend on the type of food and the nature of the genetic modification) Fully consider the safety of each new component in a GM food (that is, any new DNA and protein) separately Consider both the intended effects of the genetic modification (for example, the presence of a new protein) and the unintended effects (for example, changes to the levels of toxins or allergens)

A national approach? The Federal Regulator the Office of the Gene Technology Regulator (OGTR) oversees human health and safety, and safety of the environment in relation to GM products, while State Governments make decisions on market and trade grounds. NT: OGTR legislation only WA: Moratorium on all GM crops. GM cotton (in the Ord) & canola grown by exemption QLD: OGTR legislation only. GM cotton grown NSW: Moratorium on commercial cultivation of GM food crops. System for agriculture minister to grant approval. GM cotton & canola grown SA: Moratorium on commercial cultivation of GM food crops until 2019 ACT: Moratorium on commercial cultivation of all GM crops until 2006+ Vic: OGTR legislation only. GM canola grown Tas: Moratorium on commercial cultivation of all GM crops until 2014 (extended indefinitely )

What do our consumers think? Males, younger people and those who live in capital cities are more likely to accept GM foods. People are more supportive of GM foods that have health outcomes or are cheaper, and find lasting longer or tasting better only a minor benefit. Support for GM foods and crops has remained fairly consistent over the past few years, with about 60 per cent of the population willing to eat most GM foods and about 25 per cent not willing. However this figure changes depending on the type of food being modified, whether there are benefits to the consumer and perception of effective regulation. Australian concerns about GM foods are not top of mind.

Aussie kids - 2000 What kids know about agriculture: 1. 58% of city children didn t know that cotton comes from a plant 2. Almost half the children surveyed didn t know that pasta comes from wheat 3. 81% of children didn t know that leather products come from cattle 4. 50% of city kids think farmers never use computers or fax machines 5. Almost one in every three city children are completely unsure about why farmers use pesticides Source: Kondinin Group

Aussie kids 2011 Understanding of agriculture: 1. 75% of year 6 students thought cotton socks were an animal product 2. 45% could not identify that everyday lunchbox items originated from a farm bananas, bread and cheese 3. 40% of year 10 students believe farming damages the environment 4. 28% of year 10 students thought natural fibres only came from plants 5. Only 57% of students linked scientific research to farming 6. Only 45% of students linked innovation to farming Source: Primary Industries Education Foundation

GM opponents celebrities, costumes, chaos!

Farmer support GM wheat

Supply chain support GM canola Grains Council of Australia Flour Millers Council of Australia

GM debate moving to a focus on coexistence Agriculture happens in nature commodity standards (insects, foreign seeds, snail shells, sand) Definition: Coexistence is the concurrent cultivation of conventional, organic, IP (identity preserved) and GM crops consistent with supply chain preferences Based around thresholds

The GM DAIRY story PLANT CELL DNA carrying new gene with plant chromosome REWARDED FARMER PLANT WITH NEW TRAIT More sugar/ higher energy MORE MILK Milk is milk! REGULATORY SCRUTINY AND APPROVALS HAPPY COW EATS HIGH ENERGY PASTURE MILK ON SHELVES

Further information Paula Fitzgerald Manager Biotechnology & Strategic Initiatives Dairy Australia Tel: 03 9694 3775 Email: pfitzgerald@dairyaustralia.com.au

Market choice (GM canola model) 29 supply chain organisations endorsed GM canola commercialisation as a result of the following: Step Action Status 1 Australian regulatory approval gained for GM varieties 2 Market requirements identified -Need for segregation to meet the various requirements of domestic and international consumers 3 Threshold levels established -Australian AP thresholds established for the presence of GM traits in canola at 0.5% for seed(australian Seed Federation) and 0.9% for grain (NACMA CSO1 Canola standard) -AP thresholds established in key trading partners, such as Japan (5%) and Europe (0.9%), for contractual or labelling purposes 4 Importing market approvals in place -GM varieties have approvals in key importing countries 5 Supply chain processes to meet market requirements -Protocols available to segregate throughout the supply chain