Skip to main content
ARS Home » Midwest Area » Ames, Iowa » Corn Insects and Crop Genetics Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #319189
Title: Challenges and opportunities in supporting sustainable agriculture and food security

Author
item HUESING, JOSEPH - Us Agency For International Development (USAID)
item ANDRES, DAVID - Bayer Crop Sciences, Germany
item BRAVERMAN, MICHAEL - Rutgers University
item BURNS, ANDRES - Syngenta Crop Protection
item FELSON, ALLAN - Washington State University
item HARRIGAN, GEORGE - Monsanto Corporation
item Hellmich Ii, Richard
item REYNOLDS, ALAN - Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
item SHELTON, ANTHONY - Cornell University
item JANSEN VAN RIJSSEN, WILNA - University Of Pretoria
item MORRIS, JANE - University Of Leeds
item ELOF, JACOBUS - University Of Pretoria

Submitted to: Symposium Proceedings
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 9/29/2015
Publication Date: 1/11/2016
Citation: Huesing, J., Andres, D., Braverman, M.P., Burns, A., Felson, A.S., Harrigan, G.G., Hellmich II, R.L., Reynolds, A., Shelton, A.M., Jansen Van Rijssen, W., Morris, J.E., Elof, J.N. 2016. Global Adoption of Genetically Modified (GM) Crops: Challenges for the Public Sector. In: International Congress of Pesticide Chemistry, August 10-14, 2014, San Francisco, California. DOI: 10.1021/acs.jafc.5b05116.

Interpretive Summary: Advances in biotechnology continue to drive the development of a wide range of insect-protected, herbicide-tolerant, stress-tolerant, and nutritionally enhanced genetically modified (GM) crops, yet societal and public policy considerations may slow their commercialization. Such restrictions may disproportionately affect developing countries, as well as smaller entrepreneurial and public sector initiatives. The 2014 IUPAC International Congress of Pesticide Chemistry (San Francisco, August, 2014) included a symposium on “Challenges Associated with Global Adoption of Agricultural Biotechnology” to review current obstacles in promoting GM crops. Challenges identified by symposium presenters included i) poor public understanding of GM technology and the need for enhanced communication strategies, ii) non-harmonized and prescriptive regulatory requirements, and iii) limited experience with regulations and product development within some public sector programs. The need for holistic resistance management programs to enable the most effective use of insect-protected crops was also a point of emphasis. This manuscript provides details on the symposium discussion and provides background information that can be used in support of further adoption of beneficial GM crops. Overall, it emphasizes that global adoption of modern agricultural biotechnology has not only provided benefits to growers and consumers but has great potential to provide solutions to an increasing global population and diminishing agricultural land. This potential will be realized by continued scientific innovation, enhanced regulatory systems, and broader communication of the benefits of the high-yielding, disease-resistant, and nutritionally-enhanced crops attainable through modern biotechnology. This information will be useful to all growers and scientists interested in genetically-engineered crops.

Technical Abstract: The 2014 IUPAC International Congress of Pesticide Chemistry (San Francisco, August, 2014) included a symposium on “Challenges Associated with Global Adoption of Agricultural Biotechnology” to review current obstacles in promoting GM crops. Challenges identified by symposium presenters included i) poor public understanding of GM technology and the need for enhanced communication strategies, ii) non-harmonized and prescriptive regulatory requirements, and iii) limited experience with regulations and product development within some public sector programs. The need for holistic resistance management programs to enable the most effective use of insect-protected crops was also a point of emphasis. This manuscript provides details on the symposium discussion and provides background information that can be used in support of further adoption of beneficial GM crops. Overall, it emphasizes that global adoption of modern agricultural biotechnology has not only provided benefits to growers and consumers but has great potential to provide solutions to an increasing global population and diminishing agricultural land. This potential will be realized by continued scientific innovation, enhanced regulatory systems, and broader communication of the benefits of the high-yielding, disease-resistant, and nutritionally-enhanced crops attainable through modern biotechnology.