Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
Part one
dnA and Protein Genetic Purity Tests
Changes are rapidly occurring in agriculture, many of these at the level of the seed industry. The ability to
develop new varieties that differ in a single or several genes places an even greater burden on varietal purity
determinations (McDonald, 1998a). There are presently three principal areas of biotechnology research.
These include: (1) seeds with “input traits” such as insect resistance, herbicide resistance, increased yield,
etc., which will ultimately cause a shift in farmer spending from the agricultural chemical industry, where
pesticides and chemicals were frequently provided, to the emerging seed/agricultural biotechnology indus-
try; (2) seeds with “output traits” such as healthier oil content, improved nutritional value, etc., which will
open new venture opportunities in food and feed markets not previously available; and (3) new biotechnol-
ogy products that will extend eventually into pharmaceutical, nutraceutical, and industrial applications such
as oils and polyesters. Such products will touch every aspect of a person's normal life.
It seems certain that varieties developed from biotechnology will become increasingly common
because they provide substantial beneits. For example, farmers obtain higher crop yields through improved
insect, weed, and disease control. Because these controls can be obtained without chemical use, less con-
cern will exist about environmental pollution. Farmers should also beneit from lower input costs for pest/
weed control and can often obtain price premiums for crops with specialty output traits. Seed companies
should also beneit from increased biotechnology seed premiums that enhance seed margins and should be
able to enjoy a market share advantage from being the irst to offer these new products. Finally, seed compa-
nies as gene providers should be able to obtain additional income from per-acre gene technology fees and,
in some cases, increased herbicide market share for selling seed of herbicide resistant varieties.
Table 9.1 illustrates the success that genetically modiied corn, cotton and soybean varieties have
already had in the seed marketplace. Although genetically modiied varieties have encountered some resis-
tance, most observers believe that technology will prevail and that growth in development will continue.
In 1998, the estimated total value of seed sold worldwide was $15 billion (Furman Selz, 1998). By 2005,
Table 9.1. Adoption of genetically engineered crops in the United States from 2000 to 2010; planted
area of genetically engineered corn, upland cotton and soybeans as percent of the total planted area
for each crop.
Product
2000
2002
2004
2006
2008
2010
% of total planted area
in the Unit
e
d States
Genetically Engineered Corn
Insect-resistant (Bt)
18
22
27
25
17
16
Herbicide-tolerant
6
9
14
21
23
23
Stacked gene varieties
1
2
6
13
40
47
Total
25
33
47
61
80
86
Genetically Engineered Upland Cotton
Insect-resistant (Bt)
15
13
16
18
18
15
Herbicide-tolerant
26
36
30
26
23
20
Stacked gene varieties
20
22
30
39
45
58
Total
61
71
76
83
86
93
Genetically Engineered Soybeans
Herbicide-tolerant Total
54
75
85
89
92
93
Source: USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), 2010.
