What s in the Pipeline?

Transcription

1 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?

2 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

3 Strong Productivity Gains Achieved through Plant Breeding (MT/HA) 10 Corn, Rice and Soybean Single-cross hybrids with biotech traits US Corn 8 Single-cross hybrids China Rice 6 Indica hybrids China Corn 4 2 Open pollinated varieties Double-cross hybrids Semi-dwarfs India Rice US Soybean China Soybean 0 Sources: USDA, IRRI, FAO

4 Bushels per Acre Corn Yield Trends in Global Context Open Pollinated Varieties Double-Cross Hybrids India 31 Single-Cross Hybrids with Biotech Traits Brazil 58 South Africa 40 Single-Cross Hybrids China 85 MO, KS, OH, MI TX, SD, ND NC, SC, FL, AL 92 + IA, IL, MN, NE, IN Corn 0 Source: USDA, IRRI and FAO

5 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 Molecular Breeding Doubled Haploids Winter Nurseries Genetic Variation Phenotypic Measurement Genetic Associations Pedigree Analysis Transgenic Plant Development Plant Tissue Culture Gene Expression ENABLING TECHNOLOGY PLATFORMS Gene Discovery HTP Functional Screens Positional Cloning Gene Shuffling Genetic Knowledge Product Opportunity Trait, Crop

6 Germplasm Development Molecular Markers Laser Assisted Seed Selection Doubled Haploids Winter Nurseries

7 Genetic Variation Maize Germplasm Evolution Research Library Maize Pedigree

8 Exploiting Native Genes Corn Soybeans Southern Rust Fusarium Ear Mold Charcoal Rot Chinese Soybean Aphid Gray Leaf Spot Brittle Snap Asian Soybean Rust Soybean Cyst Nematode Northern Leaf Blight Stalk Rots Iron-Deficiency Chlorosis Sudden Death Syndrome

9 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 Molecular Breeding Doubled Haploids Winter Nurseries Genetic Variation Phenotypic Measurement Genetic Associations Pedigree Analysis Transgenic Plant Development Plant Tissue Culture Gene Expression ENABLING TECHNOLOGY PLATFORMS Gene Discovery HTP Functional Screens Positional Cloning Gene Shuffling Genetic Knowledge Product Opportunity Trait, Crop

10 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

11 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 action Integrated refuge for grower convenience promotes IRM compliance Trait durability Optimum AcreMax System Concept 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

12 Percent of Pioneer checks Multiple Modes of Glyphosate Tolerance & Glyphosate- Tolerant Weed Control Improved crop performance / Water-use efficiency / Nutrients Combinational technology approach Additional modes of action Platform for future innovation Optimum GAT Soybean 2008 Research Trials, Champaign, IL Optimum GAT Soybeans Yield Advantage + 6% *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 CompetitivePioneer Elite Optimum Checks - RR1 Varieties - RR1 GAT Pre- Commercial Varieties

13 Improving Yields in Water-Limited Environments Drought Tolerance I: 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 Without Transgene 2008 Keosauqua, Iowa Research Trials 140 bu/acre yield With Transgene 2008 Keosauqua, Iowa Research Trials 170 bu/acre yield Source: 2008 Pioneer research data Products, benefits and concepts described above are subject to full regulatory approval.

14 Using Nutrients More Efficiently Focus on Uptake of nitrogen, phosphorous, potassium Storage and remobilization Root architecture Water quality Energy balance FAST Corn/Greenhouse Screening Without Trait State-of-the-Art Managed Testing Environments With Trait

15 Next Generation Biotech Traits Increasing cold and frost tolerance Changing plant architecture to increase yield/expand geography Without transgene With 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

16 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 High Oleic Low Lin Commodity Soybean Oil Comparison 0% Linolenic Linoleic Oleic Sats 100% 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.

17 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

18 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.