Transcript Slide 1
Protecting Today’s Investments For Tomorrow’s Innovations I am an Emerald Ash Borer. Full grown, I’m about a ½ inch long. We live in ash trees. Well, we don’t just live in them. We kill ash trees. My ancestors came to North America from Asia. Likely they hitched a ride on some wood used for packing material. My family really likes it here as we don’t have any natural enemies and humans have found it VERY hard to get rid of us. Since arriving in North America in 2003, my family has spread to several states. How many ash trees would you guess my buddies and I have taken out in North America since 2003? In southeast Michigan alone, the answer is 10’s of millions. We’ve killed at least that many combined in the other states and provinces as well. • Resistance – The ability of an organism to withstand the effects of chemicals or other organisms by means of natural selection and mutation • Refuge – A block or strip of crop that does not contain Bt technology for the control of insect pests which are controlled by the planted technology • 4 Major companies: – Monsanto, Pioneer, Dow, Syngenta • Example of products: – – – – YieldGard Corn Borer YieldGard Rootworm Bollgard Cotton Herculex • Resistant pests breed with each other, producing even more resistant pests • Ensure there are susceptible insects close by to mate with insects that are resistance to Bt products • Ensure that resistance is not passed on to offspring, preserving the long-term effectiveness of the technology • 2005 benefits to farmers - $251 Million!! • • • • 20% of corn acres in one field must be refuge Farmer must own or manage refuge field Refuge corn must be planted at the same time Refuge must be in the same field • Can be separated by ditch or road, but not another field. • Can be treated with another insecticide to control the pest • Cannot mix Bt and conventional seed • Read the TUG (Technology Use Guide) Block Block Block Strips Adjacent: Separated by a road, path, ditch, etc., but not by another field • Pioneer’s Refuge Acres Calculator • Random selection by company • Questionnaire to farmers • On farm visit • Warning letter • Compliance visit • Technology license can be revoked – Unauthorized to use any biotech traits after second year of non-compliance • Growers can lose access to traits both individually and collectively • 2005 benefit to farmers was $251 Million • Eventually will lead to ineffectiveness of the GMO trait • Sustainability of an abundant food supply