Dr Mahendra Sharma

8/8/2019 Dr Mahendra Sharma

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Release of Bt Cotton in India: A CaseStudy

Short Term Orientation Course on

Bio-safety and Biotech Regulations

Organized by TERI-SAS & Sponsored by MoEF

By

M.K.Sharma,

Mahyco Monsanto Biotech India Ltd., Mumbai


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Insects 330 Myrs.

Dinosaurs 160 Myrs

Man 1.5 M yrs

We inherited this planet from insectsWe inherited this planet from insects


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A crop of significanteconomic importance,valued at over Rs. 15000crores

Approx. 20 Mn acres of cotton provides livelihoodto almost 4 million farmers.

Damage by Insect pests

reduce yields by 50%

Cotton trends in India


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Farmers spend mostmoney on controlling

bollworms; up to 15 spraysand over RS. 1400 Cr Insects resistance to

chemicals is increasing Yields are reduced in spite

of sprays

Cotton trends in India


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Cotton Yield World & India

0

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

1400

1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002

World China Pakistan India

Lint Yield Q/Ha

Indian cotton yields are half of world avg. and 1/3 rd of China avg. Overall a compound growth of 2% since 1995, yield from China are growing by 3%


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22.5 % of all crop pesticide in the world

55% of total insecticides used is on Cotton majority on

bollworm control

Helicoverpa a common major pest, causing epidemics

resulting into calamity

H . armigera comes in more than one peak along with

pink boll worm in all cotton growing zones

Other pests: Jassids,Aphids,White flies and Thrips

Rs. 2600 crores is spent in controlling insect pests on

Pesticide Usage


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Change in pest Scenario

a. Excessive and indiscriminate use of pesticidesb. Improper choice, quantity and application of pesticides.c. Use of pesticide mixtures

(Has lead to)

a. Resurgence of minor pests

b. Resistance to pesticides

c. Increase in cost of protection

Constraints of CottonProduction


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Four components of TransgenicCotton

Laboratory phase : Involves identification of the gene, achieving stabletransformation and adequate expression

Breeding phase: Involves using the transformant as a donor parent

for transferring the trait to other elite germplasm Bio-Safety & Field studies :

Required to establish the safety of the transgenicproduct

Both small scale and large scale needed toestablish the agronomic superiority and determineparameters like yield, quality etc

Regulatory Process for Transgenic Crops: IBSC, RCGM, MEC, ICAR & GEAC.


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Conventionalplant breeding

Desired gene

Commercial varietySource variety / species Result

By comparison, biotechnology offersmore precise plant breeding...

X

Modernbiotechnology


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Importance of Transgenic Crops for Developing Countries

Greater crop area, variety of crops. Better crop protection.

Greater need for more food and nutrition.


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Transgenic Plant

A transgenic plant is a normal cropplant with one or more additional

genes from diverse sourcesengineered into the plant genome; theplant thus acquires new, stable and

inherited trait/traits.


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Transgenic Crop Plants

Methods for gene transfer:

Agrobacterium -mediated transformation

Particle bombardment

Electric discharge transformation


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Food and fiber production

Increased yield Nutritional quality

Insect and disease control Weed and abiotic stress tolerance Medicine and food processing

Transgenic Crop Plants: Traits


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Mode of Action


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Mode of Action

Insecticidal activity in crystalline bodies producedduring sporulation of the bacteria.

Composed of proteins (delta endotoxins).

The crystals dissolve in the alkaline conditions of insect midgut.

Release proteins (protoxins) of relative molecular mass 65KD-160KD.

These are proteolytically processed by midgutproteases to yield smaller toxic fragments (65KD).


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Mode of Action

The activated protein crosses theperitrophic membrane

Binds to receptors on the midgut epithelium Gut paralysis Midgut lining disintegrates Larva stops feeding Dies in 2-3 days.


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Limitations of Bt Sprays

Low efficacy UV-degradable, short field

persistence. Poor Coverage

d h


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Concerns Associated with Transgeniccrops

Human health risks.i. Risk of possible allergies

ii. Extensive testing required.iii. Labeling of GM food required.vi. Fear of danger to human health from foreign gene.

Environmental risks.i. Unintended harm to other organisms

ii. Pests develop resistance to traqnsgenics.Iii. Gene transfer to non-target species.contd...


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Concerns Associated with Transgeniccrops

(contd.)

Economic concerns.I. Fear of economic concentration.

II. Intellectual property rights & ethics.III. Failure to exercise regulatory oversight


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Issues with Transgenic Crops

Evaluation of risk before release of transgenics.

Base decisions on validated information. Regulating transgenics by Government. Safety testing. International policies and trade.

Public awareness and education.


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22

Agencies Involved in Rules,1989 of EPAct 1986

GOVERNMENT OF

INDIA Dept. of BiotechnologyDept. of Environment

RCGMGEAC

IBSC

PI/ Applicant

SBCC

Large ScaleImports,Productionand Release

DLC

Applicant Monitoring

-cum-EvaluationCommittee

R&D,Limited

experimentalfield trials andimports for R&D.


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Commercialization of Transgenic Crops

It involves:i. Regulations

ii. Risk Assessmentiii. Release

It needs: i. Regulatory Agenciesii. Research Organizations


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Sub-threshold Protection inBollgard Cotton

Economic Threshold level

Normal cotton

insecticide applicationtriggered

Rs.Rs.

Time

Population(Dam

age)

Rs.Rs.

Rs.Rs.

Rs.Rs.

Rs.Rs.

Bollgard cotton

Savings


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Flowers NCIPM, Nanded trialFig. 8. Damage in Squares & Flowers in BT vs Non-BT

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49

Standard W eeks

% d

a m a g

e

BT NON-BT


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How can Bt. cotton help the

farmer? Bt cotton provides in built protection to cottonagainst lepidopteran pests (Helicoverpa)

Can significantly reduce the number of sprays

for Helicoverpa therefore reducing farmers costsand debt Potential for large yield increase Is completely safe to crop and environment

Fits into the IPM strategy in India Peace of Mind


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Development Of Bt Cotton In India 1994 Formation of IBSC & application for seed import 1995 Permit to import seed (100 gm Coker 312) 1996 Imported seed, Greenhouse trial (Coker 312) 1996 Limited field trial -1 Location 1997-98 Limited field trials-5 Locations 1998 Ruminant (goat) and Allerginicity studies 1998-99 Multi centric replicated trials-15+25 Locations 1999-00 Multi centric replicated trials-11 Locations

2000-01 Large Scale field Trials & Hybrid SeedProduction, Conduction of various Studies, ICAR Trials 2001-02 Large Scale & ICAR trials, Hybrid Seed Prodn. 2002: Approval for commercialization by GEAC


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Bio-safety data generation

Followed DBT Guidelines and Recommendations Studies conducted in India from 1997 to 1999

Goat study at ITRC, Lucknow Aggresiveness, germination, weediness Pollen flow studies Substantial Equivalence (oil and food/feed properties) Soil microflora Effect on beneficial and non target insects

protein expression in different plant parts Supplemented with published data and studies conducted by

Monsanto


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Biosafety Data (Food/Feed)

x

Toxicity Studiesx Mouse ( acute oral )x Rat feeding studyx Allergenicity (Brown Norway rat)x Goat Study ITRC,Lucknowx Fish Feeding study CIFE, Mumbaix Cow feeding study NDRI, Karnalx Buffalo feeding study GBPUA&T, Pantnagar x Chicken feeding study CARI, Bareillyx Presence of Bt protein in lint & oil cake CICR,

Nagpur


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OTHER STUDIES CONDUCTED IN 2000-01

ABSENCE OF TERMINATOR GENE, Delhi University,South Campus, New Delhi

BASE LINE STUDY PDBC, Banglore SOCIO-ECONOMIC BENEFIT STUDY, IIM,

Ahmedabad GENE STABILITY Bt PROTEIN CONTENT STUDIES MOLECULAR CHARACTERISATION STUDY INSECT RESISTANCE STUDIES SOIL STUDIES POLLEN ESCAPE


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Bollgard Performance ICAR TrialSummary

Bollgard Hybrids mature 15 days earlier The increase in yield over non-Bt counterparts by 31%.Bollgard recorded 20q/ha highest yieldInsecticide spray reduction to the tune of 65%.Under unprotected conditions also performance of Bollgard

cotton was better.The Bollgard cotton hybrids fit well in IPM module.Bollgard yielded additional economic benefit of Rs.10000/ha.


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Approval

The GEAC considered the proposal in its 32 nd meeting held on 26.3.02. After careful and in-depth consideration, the GEAC hereby accordsapproval for release into the environment of threetransgenic Bt hybrid cotton varieties, developedby Maharashtra Hybrid Seed Company MAHYCO,

namely, Bt MECH 12, Bt MECH 162, and BtMECH 184, containing Cry 1Ac gene and nptll and aad marker genes subject to conditions.


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Approval conditions for commercializationof Bt cotton in India

Valid for three years: April 02 to March, 05 Three hybrids namely MECH12Bt, MECH162Bt and

MECH184Bt Provide same non Bt seed to meet refuge requirements

Conduct studies to monitor resistance development Provide information to government on distribution of theseed through its dealers and agents

Labeling requirements such as GEAC number, etc., Develop Bt based IPM program Undertake education and awareness program Meet other requirements as stipulated


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Bt alone not the sole solution :Inconsistent expression of cry

Bt protein throughout the growseasons

Bt cotton can be viewed as :

Foundation on which IPM has tobuilt with broad range of biologcultural practices

Bt as a component in IPM :expected to reduce insecticide

by40-50 % in Helicoverpa contro(Bennet, 1998).

Bt inIPM


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Research on Bt cotton development in IndiaMahyco - Cry1Ac

Monsanto Cry1Ac+2AbNath seeds Cry1Ac modified (China)JK seeds Cry1Ac modified (IIT Khargpur)Syngenta Vip3A

Dow Agri. Science Cry1FICAR Cry1Aa3

Cry1FCry1Ia5Cry1Ab (Japan)Cry1Ac (Canada)

NBRI Cry1Ec

d d h b d


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Recommended Bt cotton hybridsfor commercial cultivation in

India 2005North Zone Central Zone SouthZone

(6) (12) (10)MRC-6301 MECH-12 MECH-12MRC-6304 MECH-162 MECH-162RCH-134 MECH-184 MECH-184RCH-317 MRC-6301 RCH-2(2004)Ankur-651 RCH-2 (2004) RCH-20Ankur-2534 RCH-118 RCH-

368RCH-138 MRC-6322RCH-144 MRC-

6918(HB)

Ankur-651 BunnyAnkur-09 Mallika


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Table:- Cost of cultivation of Bt cotton in Maharashtra (Rs/ha)

Details 2002-03 2003-04 Overall

Bt hybrid Conventional Bt hybrid Conventional Bt hybrid Conventional

LandPreparation

1345(10.68)

1345(12.86)

1420(10.93)

1420(13.24)

1382.5(10.81)

1382.5(13.05)

Seeds andsowing

4476(35.55)

1645(15.72)

4325(33.28)

1496(13.95)

4400.5(34.40)

1570.5(18.32)

Manures andfertilizers

1482(11.77)

1482(14.17)

1565(12.04)

1565(14.59)

1523.5(11.91)

1523.5(14.38)

Gap filling 169(1.34)

180(1.72)

140(1.08)

170(1.58)

154.5(1.21)

175.0(1.65)

Weeding andhoeing

1927(15.30)

1730(16.54)

1880(14.47)

1740(16.22)

1903.5(14.88)

1735.0(16.38)

Plantprotection

1097(8.71)

2394(22.88)

1170(9.00)

2410(22.47)

1133.5(8.86)

2402.0(22.67)

Picking 2096(16.65)

1686(16.12)

2496(19.21)

1926(17.95)

2296(17.95)

1806(17.05)

Total cost 12592(100)

10462(100)

12996(100)

10727(100)

12794.0(100)

10594.5(100)

Yield (q/ha) 11.73 9.72 12.48 9.63 12.10 9.69

Price (Rs/q) 2078 2029 2250 2225 2127 2078

Gross return 24375 19722 28080 21427 26227.5 20148.2

Net return 11783 9260 15084 10700 13433.5 9620.0

Output/input ratio 1.94 2.00 2.16 1.89 1.96 1.94


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India has avoided famine. But

hunger continues even today

India has avoided famine. But

hunger continues even today

Prof. Amartya Sen,Prof. Amartya Sen,Nobel Prize Laureate for Nobel Prize Laureate for

Economics , 1998Economics , 1998

Prof. Amartya Sen,Prof. Amartya Sen,Nobel Prize Laureate for Nobel Prize Laureate for

Economics , 1998Economics , 1998


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Thank you!

Dr Mahendra Sharma

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