Will New technologies save the planet?

An Agricultural Perspective.

David C. Heering, Ph.DMonsanto Company

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What will drive the next decade in farming?

•Demand for food, feed and fuel: - High yield farming essential- Technology and management saves habitats

• Limiting factors: Water/Land- 70% of fresh water used in agriculture (FAO)

• Global challenges: Climate change- Carbon footprint of fuel AND food production

• Human nutrition and health: - Improved oils; vitamins- Ever increasing demands for healthy diet

Technology’s Impact On Crop YieldsUS CORN YIELDS from 1865 to the present

Source: March 2006. Crop Science. Ref# 46:528-543

0

1000

2000

3000

4000

5000

6000

7000

8000

9000

10000

11000

1865 1875 1885 1895 1905 1915 1925 1935 1945 1955 1965 1975 1985 1995 2005Year

Ave

rage

Cor

n Y

ield

s (K

g/ha)

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

160

Ave

rage

Cor

n Y

ield

s (b

u/a

c)

Double CrossOpen Pollinated

Single Cross

Biotech

Future biotech products: Monsanto corn and oilseed pipelines

Commercialization dependent on many factors, including successful conclusion of regulatory process

* Renessen is a Monsanto/Cargill joint venture

YGVT Stacks

YGVT PRO Stacks

Renessen corn processing system*

Feed: 2nd Gen. high-value corn with lysine*

CRWIII

Yield I

Nitrogen

Drought II

ColdMavera high-value corn with lysine*

Drought I

CORN

OILSEEDS

Omega-3

SCN

Rust

OmniSoy

Bt/RR2

HBC a’

Feed: High Protein Soy*

Soy Protein

RR2Y

High Stearate

Processing: High Oil Soy*

Feed: HVS*

Dicamba

Yield

Disease

RHS CanolaRR2+ Yield

Modified Oil Canola

2006 2007 2008 2009+

DroughtTolerance

NitrogenUtilisationEfficiency

Omega 3

The Challenge• Agriculture is responsible for 70% of freshwater

withdrawal (UNEP).• By 2025, Developing Countries will have

~ 300 Million MT grain deficits due to water scarcity

Drought Tolerance Product Concept • Yield gain through water use efficiency• Yield gain from water deficit tolerance

Benefits• Increased, more stable yield• Flexible Water Management• Reduced Water Consumption, Cost Savings

Overcoming Insufficient Fresh Water for Crop Usage: Drought Tolerance

•Arabidopsis

• control with gene

Sustainable Yield Initiative: Helping Farmers Grow Yields Sustainably

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Produce More

Improved seeds and agronomics for corn, soy, & cotton farmers to double yields from 2000-2030

Conserve More

Improve Farmers’

Lives

Improved seeds and agronomics that reduce aggregate use of key resources by 1/3 per unit of output by 2030 vs. 2000

Improved seeds and agronomics proven to make farmers of all sizes more productive including >5M additional subsistence farmers by 2020

Improve Farmers’ Lives

Goal: Improve the lives of an additional 5 million farm families in developing countries by 2020

• Example:Water Efficient Maize for Africa (WEMA)– Partnership approach: AATF, CYMMT, Monsanto, Gates

Foundation, Buffet Foundation– Goal: Develop drought-tolerant corn hybrids for Africa– Countries Involved: Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Mozambique,

South Africa

Did you know? There are still nearly one billion people engaged in agriculture on a global basis.

Thank You