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GM Foods: From the point of view of... MonsantoMonsanto is a life sciences company committed to finding solutions to the global needs of food and health by sharing common forms of science and technology among agriculture, nutrition and health. Monsanto make and market high-value agricultural products, pharmaceuticals and food ingredients. We do not grow, harvest or sell soya! Agricultural biotechnology and MonsantoWith world population conservatively estimated to reach around 10 billion by the year 2050, making available cropland as productive as possible and avoiding further environmental destruction for agricultural purposes is essential. We believe that our biotechnology crops can partially fulfil this objective as the opportunities for crop development through biotechnology exceed those available through traditional practices. What has come to be called 'biotechnology' and the genetic alteration of agricultural products is nothing new. Indeed, it may be one of the oldest human activities. For thousands of years, from the time human communities began to settle in one place, cultivate crops and farm the land, humans have manipulated the genetic nature of the crops and animals they raise. Crops have been bred to improve yields, enhance taste and extend the growing season. Today, biotechnology holds promise for consumers seeking quality, safety and taste in their food choices; for farmers seeking new methods to improve their productivity and sustainability and, most importantly, the environment, through sustainable agricultural practice, preserving biodiversity. Unlike traditional plant breeding, which involves the crossing of hundreds or thousands of genes, plant biotechnology allows for the transfer of only one or a few desirable genes. This more precise science allows plant breeders to develop crops with specific beneficial traits and without undesirable traits. Many of these beneficial traits in new plant varieties help protect plants against pests, insects, disease and weeds that can be devastating to crops. Others provide quality improvements, such as tastier fruits and vegetables; processing advantages, such as tomatoes with higher solids content; and nutrition enhancements, such as oil seeds that produce oils with lower saturated fat content. Genetically modified herbicide-tolerant plants dictate a change in production practices including the adoption of reduced/conservation-tillage in conjunction with reduced levels of herbicide application. Independent studies of Monsanto's herbicide resistant soya, during the 1996 and 1997 growing seasons show mean reductions in herbicide applications of approximately 22%. The combination of reduced tillage and less herbicide leads to various knock-on benefits including reduced soil erosion, increased soil moisture retention, reduced fuel costs and emissions and increased carbon retention in the soil, all culminating in an improved production and wildlife habitat in and around the crop. Our bio-insecticide incorporated crops offer an alternative method of protecting crops instead of external applications of chemicals. Built-in biological insecticides protect the plant from insect infestation. This technology has now been incorporated into various cultivars and has led to an 85% reduction in insecticide applications to 2.5 million acres of cotton in America in 1997. Although no genetically modified crops are commercially grown in the UK, crops such as Roundup Ready (herbicide-tolerant) sugar beet will lead to significant economic and environmental benefits for farmers choosing to utilise this option. Whilst production and environmental benefits are the main attributes of our current biotechnology products, health and nutritional considerations will be the primary objective of many of our future products. As always, we will remain strongly committed to ensuring that all our products meet the highest safety standards. Our first wave offers agronomic 'input' traits that have created value for farmers by incorporating traits that increase production and benefit the environment through the reduced need for herbicides, pesticides and other environmentally degrading agronomic practices. Our second wave, quality traits, already well developed, will offer more value for consumers by enhancing the quality of the food and fibre produced by the plants. Ultimately these crops could also offer specific nutritional traits to meet the health needs of consumers with special requirements. Some examples of value added traits in the research and development stages are:
Our proposed third wave of developments will include 'biofactories', plants that are environmentally-friendly production facilities with potentially, plants designed to produce biodegradable plastic polymers. These biofactories will make products that today require non-renewable resources. The benefits of agricultural biotechnology make it imperative that
we continue. It is important that the benefits to humanity and the environment
of all three waves are considered carefully before decisions are made
regarding the acceptability of current genetically modified products.
Should society turn its back on biotechnology, progress could be hindered
and we may not be able to meet our own future needs. |