The Importance of The Importance of Biotechnology on the Biotechnology on the

Success of Conservation Success of Conservation Agriculture in Portugal and Agriculture in Portugal and

in the Worldin the World

Maria Gabriela CruzMaria Gabriela Cruz

““My Story”My Story”

Fourth Generation of Farmers,

My Father was an Agronomist and my best Teacher,

The third of 4 daughters,

All educated to be able to keep the Family Business,

Studied Agronomy in Lisbon,

Have been managing the Family Business for 20 years.

ELVASELVAS

The FarmThe Farm

At the same latitude as NYC,

Climate: Very hot & dry Summers 20 inch max of rain in Winter,

Cold Soils: very difficult to till,

Main Crops: Durum Wheat, Barley, Peas, Corn, Sugarbeet.

Potencial Risk of Erosion in Southern Europe

Fonte: EEA (1992)

EROSION CAN BE A EROSION CAN BE A CONSEQUENCE OF INTENSIVE CONSEQUENCE OF INTENSIVE

TILLAGETILLAGE

Erosion is responsible for:Erosion is responsible for:

- Loss on soil fertility (17 ton/ha/year),- Loss on soil fertility (17 ton/ha/year),

- Loss on water availability,- Loss on water availability,

- Loss on biodiversity,- Loss on biodiversity,

- Water pollution,- Water pollution,

- Air pollution,- Air pollution,

- Dramatic reduction on crop - Dramatic reduction on crop productivity/farmer´s income,productivity/farmer´s income,

- Damage in social infrastructures like - Damage in social infrastructures like roads, dams.roads, dams.

What has been on in Europe & Portugal ?

Decrease on Cereals prices about 80% in real terms between 1986 and 2006,

From 2007 to 2008 prices reduced 32%,

Compensation for Price reduction decreased to 30%,

Farmer´s income decreased 30% from 1986 to 2006 and 2008.

What has been on in Europe & Portugal ?

Some of the imputs like fertilizers doubled price,

Price of water is expected to increase 40% in 2009,

32 agrochemicals will be put out of the market – Brussels wants to move to organic farming,

Farmers are seen as the highest consumers of water

WHAT TO DO IN SUCH CIRCUMSTANCES?

CHANGE TO CONSERVATION CHANGE TO CONSERVATION

AGRICULTURE - CAAGRICULTURE - CA

• First contact with CA was 14 years ago while visiting Rawson's Family farm – Michigan,

• Since 1998 No-Till and Strip Till have been practised on the whole farm.

WHAT IS CONSERVATION WHAT IS CONSERVATION

AGRICULTURE – CA ?AGRICULTURE – CA ?

Several practices which:Several practices which:

Cause the least alteration in soil,

Defend it from damaging processes like erosion, compaction, loss of organic matter,

Enhance soil productivity and biodiversity,

ECONOMICAL BENEFITS :ECONOMICAL BENEFITS :

To the Farmer:To the Farmer:

fuel consumption (up to 80lt/ha/y),

labour (up to 5h/ha/y),

expenditure with machinery,

water & energy consumption,

soil productivity (up to 34%).

ECONOMICAL BENEFITS :ECONOMICAL BENEFITS :

To Society:To Society:

Less expenditure repairing roads, ditches, dams, etc,

Less expenditure cleaning rivers and water

Accomplishment of Environment Protection Commitments within Protocols (Quioto)

ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFITS:ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFITS:

Increase on soil fertility,

Better water quality,

Better air quality ( CO2 emission)

Carbon sink up to 1,4 tons per ha per year climate change mitigation

Biodiversity preservation.

Problems and how to overcome them

Controlling weeds Biotech crops resistant to herbicide ( exº to glyphosate),

Soil & water pollution concerns Biotech crops resistant to herbicides, insecticide,

Water scarcity drought resistant crops

Water pollution concerns Biotech crop more efficent using nitrogen

CA Biotechnology

Because

CA is not viable in the long term without Biotech,

Sustainable farming is not possible without CA and Biotech,

Reduction on cereals imports is not possible without Biotech,

Living is not possible without Agriculture,

To be sustainable farming has to be profitable.

“Land is the only thing is worth working for, fighting for, dying for, because it is the only thing that lasts”

in Gone with the Wind