The Opportunities Presented by Modern Biotechnology to Enhance Plant Breeding:
What’s in the Pipeline? World Seed Conference September 8, 2009 Bill Niebur DuPont Vice President Crop Genetics Research & Development
What will Define the Future?
Enhancing Plant Breeding through Biotech: What’s Next?
• Modern biotechnology provides powerful tools Expand breeding programs Accelerate rate of genetic gain Fully exploit native genes Bring new attributes to crop species
• Development and deployment of technology to enhance plant breeding on global basis to increase productivity Future pipeline Breaking down barriers
Strong Productivity Gains Achieved through Plant Breeding (MT/HA) Single-cross hybrids with biotech traits
Corn, Rice and Soybean 10
US Corn
Single-cross hybrids
8
China Rice 6
China Corn
Indica hybrids Double-cross hybrids
4
Open pollinated varieties
India Rice Semi-dwarfs
US Soybean
2
China Soybean
Sources: USDA, IRRI, FAO
2010
2005
2000
1995
1990
1985
1980
1975
1970
1965
1960
1955
1950
1945
1940
1935
1930
1925
1920
1915
1910
1905
1900
1895
1890
0
Corn Yield Trends in Global Context
Corn
180
Single-Cross Hybrids with Biotech Traits
Bushels per Acre
150
IA, IL, MN, NE, IN 160 +
MO, KS, OH, MI
Single-Cross 137 + Hybrids TX, SD, ND
120
NC, SC, FL, AL 92 +
90 Double-Cross Hybrids
60
Open Pollinated Varieties
30
127 +
China 85
Brazil South Africa 58 India 31
40
1890 1895 1900 1905 1910 1915 1920 1925 1930 1935 1940 1945 1950 1955 1960 1965 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010
0
Source: USDA, IRRI and FAO
The Tools of Modern Plant Breeding Objective: Maximizing Breeding Program and Native Traits
New Varieties Yield Trials Product Testing
Objective: Introducing or Enhancing Attributes
Germplasm Development
Transgenic Plant Development
Molecular Breeding Doubled Haploids Winter Nurseries
Plant Tissue Culture Gene Expression
ENABLING TECHNOLOGY PLATFORMS Genetic Variation Gene Discovery Phenotypic Measurement Genetic Associations Pedigree Analysis
HTP Functional Screens Positional Cloning Gene Shuffling
Genetic Knowledge Product Opportunity Trait, Crop
Germplasm Development
Molecular Markers Laser Assisted Seed Selection Doubled Haploids Winter Nurseries
Genetic Variation
Maize Germplasm Evolution – Research Library
Maize Pedigree 1990 - 2000
Exploiting Native Genes Soybeans
Corn
Southern Rust
Gray Leaf Spot
Northern Leaf Blight
Fusarium Ear Mold
Brittle Snap
Stalk Rots
Charcoal Rot
Chinese Soybean Aphid
Asian Soybean Rust
Soybean Cyst Nematode
Iron-Deficiency Chlorosis Sudden Death Syndrome
The Tools of Modern Plant Breeding Objective: Maximizing Breeding Program and Native Traits
New Varieties Yield Trials Product Testing
Objective: Introducing or Enhancing Attributes
Germplasm Development
Transgenic Plant Development
Molecular Breeding Doubled Haploids Winter Nurseries
Plant Tissue Culture Gene Expression
ENABLING TECHNOLOGY PLATFORMS Genetic Variation Gene Discovery Phenotypic Measurement Genetic Associations Pedigree Analysis
HTP Functional Screens Positional Cloning Gene Shuffling
Genetic Knowledge Product Opportunity Trait, Crop
Enhancing Productivity • • • • • •
Insect protection on more acres Multiple modes of glyphosate tol. Pollen fertility control, hybrid prod. Improved fuel, food & feed value Drought tol. – native & transgenic Carbon sequestration
• • • • • •
Nutrient use efficiency Disease resistance Transgenic yield enhancement Salinity tolerance Plant density, plant architecture Cold & frost tolerance
Next Generation Insect Control – Reduced Refuge, Multiple Modes of Action Today’s Refuge
• Refuge reduction, increased productivity, higher farm yields • Multiple modes of action • New concepts that leverage both existing and new modes of Optimum AcreMax System Concept action • Integrated refuge for grower convenience – promotes IRM compliance • Trait durability
Optimum® and AcreMax™ are trademarks of Pioneer Hi-Bred. Optimum® AcreMax™ insect protection is not yet available for sale or use. Products, benefits and concepts described are subject to full regulatory approval and field testing. Herculex® XTRA Insect Protection technology by Dow AgroSciences and Pioneer Hi-Bred. ® Herculex and the HX logo are registered trademarks of Dow AgroSciences LLC
Multiple Modes of Glyphosate Tolerance & GlyphosateTolerant Weed Control • • • •
Improved crop performance / Water-use efficiency / Nutrients Combinational technology approach Additional modes of action Platform for future innovation Optimum® GAT® Soybeans Yield Advantage
Percent of Pioneer checks
Optimum® GAT® Soybean 2008 Research Trials, Champaign, IL
*Comparisons between Optimum GAT/RR experimental lines and Pioneer RR varieties summarized over 21 different multi-replication experiments from 27 locations and between Pioneer RR and Competitor RR lines derived from 9,475 comparisons in 2008 on-farm strip trials. Optimum® and GAT® are registered trademarks of Pioneer Hi-Bred. Optimum® GAT® products are not yet available for sale or use. Products, benefits and concepts described are subject to full regulatory approval. Roundup Ready is a registered trademark used under license from Monsanto Company.
106 105 104 103 102 101 100 99 98 97 96
+ 6%
CompetitivePioneer Elite Optimum® Checks - Varieties - GAT® PreRR1 RR1 Commercial Varieties
Improving Yields in Water-Limited Environments • Drought Tolerance I:
Without Transgene
With Transgene
2008 Keosauqua, Iowa Research Trials
2008 Keosauqua, Iowa Research Trials
140 bu/acre yield
170 bu/acre yield
Native solution leveraging Accelerated Yield Technology (AYT™ system) and germplasm
• Drought Tolerance II: Transgenic and native combination approach with lead events demonstrating up to 16% yield advantage
• No yield penalty under optimal conditions
Source: 2008 Pioneer research data Products, benefits and concepts described above are subject to full regulatory approval.
Using Nutrients More Efficiently
State-of-the-Art Managed Testing Environments
Focus on • Uptake of nitrogen, phosphorous, potassium • Storage and remobilization • Root architecture • Water quality • Energy balance Without Trait FAST Corn/Greenhouse Screening
With Trait
Next Generation Biotech Traits Increasing cold and frost tolerance
Changing plant architecture to increase yield/expand geography Without transgene
Without transgene
With transgene
Increasing the number of floral units per hectare Greater productivity per unit of input/land area Without transgene
With transgene
With transgene
Improved Nutrition & Industrial Use Oils High Oleic Example • Excellent yield performance • Improved nutritional profile • Enhanced frying performance • Industrial applications • Renewable resource • Ready for U.S. launch* • Measured ramp up planned to allow for food industry testing and evaluation
Pioneer 2008 research data – 14 locations *High oleic products are not yet available for sale or use. Products, benefits and concepts described are subject to full regulatory approval and field testing. *Pioneer® brand varieties with transgenic traits will not be offered for sale or distribution until completion of field testing and approval by regulatory authorities.
Soybean Oil Comparison
High Oleic Low Lin Commodity 0%
Linolenic Linoleic Oleic
Sats 100%
Deploying Tools on a Global Basis: Breaking Down Barriers Regulatory • A transparent and science-based regulatory environment has been critical in achieving current yield increases Biotech Acceptance • Must remain a global effort Intellectual Property • Enables those who hold it to make it commercially available, benefitting society as a whole Education and Training • Breeders must be trained in new technologies; able to integrate molecular information, field test results and large computer data sets
Enhancing Plant Breeding through Biotech Modern biotechnology provides plant breeders with powerful tools to increase productivity for the world’s farmers on a truly global scale.
