ANS/PLSS 433: Agbiotech Industry

INTRODUCTION TO AGRICULTURAL MOLECULAR BIOTECHNOLOGY

Agricultural Biotechnology Definition 
  - The application of technology to agriculture

Agricultural Molecular Biotechnology Definition
  - The application of recombinant DNA techniques in agriculture.


Key words - Application - technology transfer
          - rDNA techniques - multidisciplinary scientific effort
          - Agriculture - profit motive, environmental release.

    The primary goal of the AgBiotech Industry is to make a profit in the 
	short term (<15 yr). The process proceeds as follows.

a, A marketable, improved product is envisioned. MARKET RESEARCH
b, R&D monies are spent to prove feasibility. RESEARCH
c, A patent application is filed to protect the idea. LAW
d, More R&D monies are spent on pilot scale production. BREEDING
e, Regulatory approval for use/release is sought.LAW, POLITICS
f, New product is marketed and profit accumulates. ECONOMICS
g, The patent expires, other interested companies compete for market share 
	and so reduce profitability. ECONOMICS

Agbiotech is clearly multidisciplinary. AgBiotech research is 
multidisciplinary, genetics, tissue culture, biochemistry, plant biology, 
plant breeding and molecular biology all play a part.

It is the application of recombinant DNA techniques in agriculture

AGRICULTURAL BIOTECHNOLOGY -  Examples and Issues.
The first wave - Already in field or tests, 0-10 years to release.
Molecular Diagnostics - Already a profitable business, IPM.
RFLP accelerated crop breeding - improving proven profit maker.
Virus free seed - proven profit but high cost.
Virus resistant crops - moderate value, economically driven.
Altered flower color - no human consumption.
Herbicide resistant crops - high value, EPA driven.
Insect resistant crops - moderate value, EPA driven.
Modified storage qualities of soft fruits - improved product.

The second wave - Ideas being laboratory tested by collaborations.
Modified amino acid composition - improved nutrition
Modified carbohydrate composition - for ethanol
Modified oil content - soydiesel or reduced imports.
Fungal resistance genes.

The third wave - Ideas being developed by universities.
Developmental Engineering for biomass production.
Environmental stress resistant crops
Molecular Pharming.


2. AgBiotech and yield improvement.
a, Crop breeders have increased grain yields by variety selection 
	continually since 1930 and show no signs of levelling off.
b, 60% 0f the improvement is due to genetic improvements.
   20% due to increased nitogen fertilizer use and response.
   20% due to better weed control. 
c, Genetic improvements are generally in defensive traits, pest-resistance, 
	standability and environmental stress. Inheritance is gentically 
	complex and not well understood. RFLP technology promises to make 
	significant impacts reducing the time required for new variety 
	development. rDNA approaches can provide novel resistance genes 
	across wide species barriers, but only simply inherirted traits.
d, Nitrogen fertilizer use is already near optimal, only by breeding 
	varieties with improved responses will gains be made. Environmental 
	concerns are applying pressure to reduce nitrogen use, Agbiotech 
	may enable this without yield loss.
e, Weed control is already near optimal. AgChemical companies are competing 
	for market share. AgBiotech and the production of crops resistant 
	to broad spectrum herbicides can gain market share and reduce the 
	use of persistant herbicides.