What Role Will Biotechnology Play In the Produce Sector? Steve Savage May 18, 2016
In Twenty Years of Commercial GMO Crops only a few have been fruit or vegetables Flavr Savr Tomato NewLeaf Beetle Resistant Potato Virus Resistant Squash Bt Sweet Corn Virus Resistant Papaya
There Were Many Barriers Organized Opposition Patent Uncertainties Regulatory Complexity ($, time, uncertainty, regional differences) Brand Protectionism
We Also Live in the Dark Ages 2.0 information obscures knowledge Fear and superstition increase
We are in a Period of Transition New GM crops are entering the market Innate Potatoes Arctic Apple Some novel solutions are on the table
A Period of Transition: New Challenges Abound Asian Citrus Psyllid Lygus Bug Xylella, Olives in Italy Glassy Winged Sharpshooter Panama Disease, Banana
A Period of Transition Game changing, technical advances Low cost DNA sequencing Genome editing Important political balls in the air CRISPr-CAS9 It s a good time to take stock of the situation and prospects
What is a GMO Anyway? GMOs ain t a thing, GM is a verb It is a set of methods or tools that can be used in different ways to do different things
We ve Been Using Various Tools to do Genetic Modification for a Very Long Time Selection
Tools of Genetic Modification Do you think all cloned fruit should be labeled? One key human innovation was finding a way to put the brakes on genetic modifications Cloning Another key innovation: mix genetics in the same plant using rootstocks Triploids
Tools of Genetic Modification Intentional breeding (Mendel 1866) Hybrids Mutagenesis breeding Wide crosses Triploids Polyploids Cloning
Modern Tools For Genetic Modification Tools Plant Transformation Marker Assisted Breeding RNAi (RNA Interference) Genome Editing Crop Possibilities Transgenic plants, Cisgenic Plants Enhanced knowledge for traditional breeding Plants with genes turned off Plant with precise changes to its own DNA
My Accidental Tourist Window on Biotech
Learning How to Engineer DNA (~1968-72) Enzymes to cut and paste DNA Plasmids to move DNA 1968-1972: Stanley Cohen, Herb Boyer First recombinant DNA 1972 1972: Paul Berg Caution from the beginning. Asilomar conference 1975
Taking Biotechnology To Plants early 1980s What genes to transfer? Bt for insect resistance Glyphosate tolerance? Michael Adang, Fred Perlak How to control the gene? How to get the genes into the crops? Luca Comai Noel Keen
Plant Transformation: How Is That Actually Done? Not like this!
How Genes Really Get Into Plants The Gene Gun Taming Nature s Genetic Engineer Agrobacterium Disarmed plasmid Marc van Montague, Mary Dell Chilton, Robert Fraley
Getting From Cells to Elite Cultivars Finding the modified cells (Selectable Markers) Regeneration from tissue culture to a whole plants Sorting the Events Maud Hinghee, Soybean regeneration Introgression breeding to move the trait into elite seed lines
How to Regulate Biotech Crops? Development of the Coordinated Framework for the regulation of plant biotechnology Open, broad stakeholder participation No new food has ever been so scrutinized, regulated or tested
What is New? Marker Assisted Breeding/ Selection Genome mapping and DNA sequencing have become dramatically less costly Allows breeders to see traits they couldn t easily track before Makes it possible to track complex traits involving many genes Bacterial spot resistance genes for peppers Many pepper breeding companies have licensed for MAB
What is New? Bacterial Leafspot Resistant Tomatoes Developed by 2Blades Transgenic, with gene from a close relative Excellent performance in Univ. FL trials Reduces need for copper fungicides No commercial adoption to date Tomato with BS2 Pepper Gene for Bacterial Resistance
What is New? Non-browning Apples Developed by Okanagan Specialty Fruit RNAi to turn of browning genes Approved US and Canada Acquired by Intrexon Arctic Apple Ramping up acreage for vertically integrated sliced apple business at retail
What is New? Low Bruising, Low Acrylamide, Disease Resistant Potatoes Cisgenic no foreign genes RNAi to turn specific genes down/off Late blight resistance from wild potatoes Working with 2Blades and Sainsbury Lab (UK) on more resistance genes Sustainability, reduced food waste advantages Being marketed at retail as White Russet - 1,500 stores, 20 states Also food service demand Identity preservation system
What is New? Genome Editing Genome editing can be used to Remove some DNA Change the spelling in DNA Insert other DNA at a specific site There are several tools for editing DNA RTDS system Cibus Genetics Zinc Finger - EXZACT Precision Technology Dow AgroSciences Meganucleases TALENs 2Blades CRISPR-Cas
Several Questions Are On The Table How will crop technology be regulated in the future? By tools or outcomes? Is there any hope of global harmonization? Regulation? What will happen with regard to labeling? Mandatory Labeling?
Several Questions Are On The Table Who should decide which GM tools are available to the produce industry? Dedicated anti-technology groups? Brand-sensitive players? Export customers? Marketers? Consumers? What will happen as new biotech products reach the market? Consumer traits Smaller companies Different stories Alternative channels
What Role Will Biotechnology Play In the Produce Sector? Some of the answers will continue to be driven by forces outside of this industry However, it is logical for this industry to actively engage in this important conversation Thank you! Questions/Comments?!