Technology solutions for global challenges Mike Bushell Brussels 16 th October 2008

What’s Happening in Agriculture? Food price rises and protests worldwide Era of cheap food may be over? Plenty of speculation as to why the prices have risen Reawakening of interest in Agriculture Media, International agencies, Governments, NGO’s Humanitarian responses Policy development for the future Wake up call to the world The real challenge lies in planning now for sustainable systems that will feed 8 billion people before 2025 and >9 billion before 2050

Food price rises and protests worldwide

Era of cheap food may be over?

Plenty of speculation as to why the prices have risen

Reawakening of interest in Agriculture

Media, International agencies, Governments, NGO’s

Humanitarian responses

Policy development for the future

Wake up call to the world

The real challenge lies in planning now for sustainable systems that will feed 8 billion people before 2025 and >9 billion before 2050

The challenge of feeding 9 billion people The world must grow more crops on the currently available land to meet the increasing demand for food, feed and fuel

The world must grow more crops on the currently available land to meet the increasing demand for food, feed and fuel

Yield gains: further increases needed and possible

Higher yields reduce poverty

Technologies for Yield How have we met the increased demand since 1950’s? There are only 4 major technologies Mechanisation including irrigation Synthetic fertilisers (NPK) Crop Protection Chemicals (HIF) Better seeds

How have we met the increased demand since 1950’s?

There are only 4 major technologies

Mechanisation including irrigation

Synthetic fertilisers (NPK)

Crop Protection Chemicals (HIF)

Better seeds

Drivers for agricultural fungal control : New disease issues and Resistance New disease pandemics can occur Example : Soybean rust - dramatic yield losses (up to 80%). Rapid spread from Zimbabwe in 1998 to S. Africa, S. America and USA by 2004 Septoria tritici in EU wheat Strobilurin resistance Rapid spread Fungicide treated vs. untreated soya in Brazil

New disease pandemics can occur

Example : Soybean rust - dramatic yield losses (up to 80%).

Rapid spread from Zimbabwe in 1998 to S. Africa, S. America and USA by 2004

Septoria tritici in EU wheat

Strobilurin resistance

Rapid spread

Formulation Science – a key technology area Example : Adjuvant can improve activity by : increasing droplet spread - leaf uptake Controlled Release Immediate or extended action No adjuvant With adjuvant

Example : Adjuvant can improve activity by :

increasing droplet spread - leaf uptake

Controlled Release

Immediate or extended action

“ Seed enhancement system“ -> selected AI‘s in appropriate ratios -> seed technology (e.g. disinfection, priming, coating, pelleting) Seed Treatment Technology

Biotechnology provides powerful tools for seed innovation Biotechnology - Transgenic crops Introduces genes from other species e.g. insect resistance, vitamin content Stacked traits Precision breeding Modern techniques improve efficiency and speed of conventional breeding Traits native to species (drought tolerance, enhanced yield, disease resistance) Usually complex multi-gene traits Undifferentiated transformed plants under selection

Biotechnology - Transgenic crops

Introduces genes from other species e.g. insect resistance, vitamin content

Stacked traits

Precision breeding

Modern techniques improve efficiency and speed of conventional breeding

Traits native to species (drought tolerance, enhanced yield, disease resistance)

Usually complex multi-gene traits

Marker Assisted Trait Selection Early screening to reduce selection costs in germplasm improvement Healthy Diseased disease resistance marker ID’ed disease-resistant plants selected by markers DNA analysis of young plants

Meeting the demand for better food and more choice Our technology enhances the flavor and nutritional content in food Kumato tomatoes are among the tastiest and juiciest you can buy Dulcinea seedless watermelon have great sweet watermelon flavor with less waste Toscanella tomato are a direct response to consumer demand for a tastier high quality tomato

Our technology enhances the flavor and nutritional content in food

Kumato tomatoes are among the tastiest and juiciest you can buy

Dulcinea seedless watermelon have great sweet watermelon flavor with less waste

Toscanella tomato are a direct response to consumer demand for a tastier high quality tomato

Agricultural output suffering from unsustainable water use Source: World Bank, World Development Report 2008, p. 183 Water stress indicator in major basins Overexploited (more than 1.0) Heavily exploited (0.8 to 1.0) Moderately exploited (0.5 to 0.8) Slightly exploited (0 to 0.5) ‘ Food supply’ bubble ~15-35% of irrigation unsustainable Depletion of aquifers for growing demand Local water scarcities Wheat yields, China: minus ~23% in 8 yrs Cotton area, Australia: minus ~30% in 2 yrs Yellow River running dry on last 100 km: 1972: 15 days 1996: 133 days 1997: 226 days Lake Aral Only ~25% of original size Rio Grande failed to reach the Gulf of Mexico in 2001 for first time

Water stress indicator in major basins

Overexploited (more than 1.0)

Heavily exploited (0.8 to 1.0)

Moderately exploited (0.5 to 0.8)

Slightly exploited (0 to 0.5)

‘ Food supply’ bubble

~15-35% of irrigation unsustainable

Depletion of aquifers for growing demand

Local water scarcities

Wheat yields, China: minus ~23% in 8 yrs

Cotton area, Australia: minus ~30% in 2 yrs

Drought Tolerant Corn M ultiple new trait constructs currently in field trials Native traits and functional genomics Several lead gene candidates with excellent drought tolerance

M ultiple new trait constructs currently in field trials

Native traits and functional genomics

Several lead gene candidates with excellent drought tolerance

WHEAT: Invinsa delayed senescence in both stems/leaves and heads when applied at flag leaf and/or heading stage Control Invinsa Chemical approaches to crop enhancement Invinsa UTC Oil

What is Sustainable food production? Strategies & Practices that promote the long term well being of the environment, society & the farming economy. To meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs* *Brundtland Commission Definition of Sustainable Development Improved Productivity Sustainable farming Triple bottom line – Economic, Social, Environmental Environmental Protection Welfare of Rural Communities

Strategies & Practices that promote the long term well being of the environment, society & the farming economy. To meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs*

What is in a typical carbon footprint? Conventional Corn (Iowa, Rain-fed, 175 bu/ac) Note : footprints can also be developed for water and other elements of sustainability ~3 lb C/bu

Modern technologies play an important role in sustainable production Lower Impact Higher Impact Eliminating tillage Decreasing fuel use Optimizing Fertilizer Practices Preventing Pest Losses Cover crops and N 2 O Emissions Reducing Pesticide Applications Managing biodiversity Using less water and pumping energy The primary impact of CP is enabling other improvements

Corn and soybean– nitrogen use efficiency and drought tolerance traits

Syngenta CP products help in Sustainable Ag Improved water use efficiency Improved nitrogen use efficiency Optimal water solubility f or high efficiency drip irrigation Improved vigor and drought tolerance Improved water use efficiency Source: Syngenta Soybeans Brazil Untreated Examples

Improving root growth Agrisure RW Isoline Bt corn rootworm resistance Cruiser seed treatment

Sustainability factors Soil Water Energy Waste Productivity Environment Quantity & Quality Minimise use / Crop Footprint Minimise / Valorise as energy Economics / Reduce land use changes Fertility / Moisture / Erosion

Soil

Water

Energy

Waste

Productivity

Environment

Cover crop April Desiccated cover crop September Cover crop re-generated November Erosion on conventional plot September

Reduced methane production and water use in rice through no-till, hybrid rice and irrigation technology

Corn and Sugarcane ethanol efficiency improvement alpha-amylase Endogenous cellulase enzymes

Tropical sugarbeet in Sudan – new high yields in dry conditions

Protecting the environment … Our products help: farmers to adapt to changing climate conditions to prevent soil erosion to conserve water To manage biodiversity locally reduce the need to expand farmland into natural habitats

Our products help:

farmers to adapt to changing climate conditions

to prevent soil erosion

to conserve water

To manage biodiversity locally

reduce the need to expand farmland into natural habitats

Summary – Meeting the global challenge Technology is a critical component of the solution What we need is here today; promise of more for the future The question is, how can we deploy technology safely in sustainable agricultural systems locally? Many problems to be overcome Climate Change Technophobia Infrastructure, Policy, Regulation, Finance Investment in creating a rural economy that sustains itself Training – reinvigorating agricultural extension services Effective Public Private Partnerships

Technology is a critical component of the solution

What we need is here today; promise of more for the future

The question is, how can we deploy technology safely in sustainable agricultural systems locally?

Many problems to be overcome

Climate Change

Technophobia

Infrastructure, Policy, Regulation, Finance

Investment in creating a rural economy that sustains itself

Training – reinvigorating agricultural extension services

Effective Public Private Partnerships

Our company