Biotechnology in Action in Brasil

Maurício Antônio Lopes Pedro Luiz Oliveira de Almeida Machado

Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation - Embrapa

Summary

Constraints to agricultural development

Key drivers of agricultural innovation

Agricultural biotechnologies

Biotechnologies and bioeconomy

Challenges for the future

Constraints in tropical environments

Source : NHQ/NRCS/USDA

Concentration of acidic and nutrient-poor soils in the tropics

Tropical Soils

Acid – 84%Saline – 2%

Shallow – 7%Flooded – 16%

No problem – 9%

Constraints in tropical environments

2/3 OF BIODIVERSITY CONCENTRATED IN THE TROPICS

37% IN TROPICAL AMERICA

A Mega-diverse CountryIt is estimated that Brazil contains greater biodiversity than any other country on Earth.

Barthlott, W., Biedinger, N., Braun, G., Feig, F., Kier, G. & J. Mutke (1999): Terminological and methodological aspects of the mapping and analysis of global biodiversity. In: Acta Botanica Fennica 162: 103-110.

Constraints in tropical Environments

Before 1970 Brazil was not a food secure country.

• Low agricultural production and low yields;

• Production only in the South and Southeast Regions;

• Constant food supply crisis and rural poverty;

• Lack of specific knowledge in tropical agriculture;

• Lack of adequate agricultural development policies;

• Brazil: a coffee and sugar producer.

Tropical Forest

Semi-Arid

Savanna

Challenging Tropical Environments

Despite the constraints…Brazil has developed a science-based, advanced

tropical agriculture

Key Drivers of Agricultural Innovation

Improvents in fertilizer recommendation and acidity control

Quality and certified seeds

Government commitment and public policies;

Landscape suitable for mechanization;

Availability of mineral resources (limestone and nitrogen);

Crop breeding programs;

Biological nitrogen fixation (soybean without mineral N fertilizer)

Farmers’ will for entrepreneurship.

Institutional building and strenghtening

The Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation47 Embrapa centers dedicated to technology development

State research institutesLarge network of experimental stations

Private sectorBrazil has also an active and growing private sector, which supplies technologies and technical assistance mainly in farm inputs and food processing

Agricultural faculties & technical schools

Federal network of professional education

Challenging Tropical Environments

Results and Impacts

Key results and impactsTechnology: basis of agricultural development in Brazil

Key results and impactsBrazil became a relevant export country

Sources: MAPA, Conab and ÚNICA

Açúcar

Celulose

Café

Soja

Algodão

Carne de frango

Milho

Carne bovina

Carne suína

Álcool

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%

32%

42%

47%

47%

59%

68%

72%

79%

85%

89%

68%

58%

53%

53%

41%

32%

28%

21%

15%

11%

Consumo Exportações

Alcohol

Corn

Beef

Poultry

Cotton

Soybean

Coffee

Cellulose

Sugar

Beef

Domestic Consumption Export

Pork

Key results and impacts

Evolution of food basket prices in São Paulo, Brazil (1975=100, real prices, Sept.2013)

Data from DIEESE, deflator IGP-DI (FGV), calculations and elaboration by G.B. Martha (2013).

Brazil became food secure in a short time

± 50% decrease

Why is biotechnology important for Brazilian agriculture?

High impact agricultural biotec in Brazil

BIOSAFETY, BIOINFORMATICS, PROTEOMICS, METABOLIC ENGINEERING ETC...

ADVANCED REPRODUCTION

CLONING IN-VITRO FERTILIZATION

Animal BreedingGR Conservation

Germplasm EnhancementBiofactories

MOLECULAR TOOLS

MOLECULAR BREEDING

Molecular Markers/MapsGenetic Resources Charc.

Gene/Trait MappingFunction Characterization

GENOMICSCIENCES

GENOMICS PROTEOMICS

CoffeeEucalyptus

Banana/RiceBovine & Others

Well beyond genetic engineering...

GENETIC ENGINEERING

TRANSGENIC TECHNOLOGY

Biotic Stress ToleranceAbiotic Stress Tolerance

Quality/FunctionalityNew Bioproducts

Genomic SelectionBiotechnology in Action in Brazil

Strong public-private partnershipBiotechnology in Action in Brazil

Genomic Selection – Concrete results for the industryBiotechnology in Action in Brazil

Biotechnology in Action in BrazilAdvanced animal reproduction

India’s cattle returning to its origin

Source: Globo Rural

Biotechnology in Action in BrazilSecond Generation Ethanol

Commercial production of celullosic ethanol from sugarcane bagasse

Source: http://www.canalbioenergia.com.br/biocombustivel-2g-da-granbio-uma-realidade-brasileira/

Advances in Biosafety

Biotechnology in Action in BrazilBrazilian Biosafety Law Guidelines

Biotechnology in Action in BrazilBrazilian Biosafety System

Biotechnology in Action in BrazilCommercial approval of biotec products in Brazil

Source: CTNBio (http://www.ctnbio.gov.br/) – 2015 data

Biotechnology in Action in BrazilCommercial approval of biotec products in Brazil

Source: CTNBio (http://www.ctnbio.gov.br/) – 2015 data

Biotechnology in Action in BrazilCommercial approval of biotec products in Brazil

Source: CTNBio (http://www.ctnbio.gov.br/) – 2015 data

Biotechnology in Action in BrazilField test approvals in 2015

Source: CTNBio (http://www.ctnbio.gov.br/) – 2015 data

Biotechnology in Action in BrazilAdoption of GM technology in Brazil

Capacity Developmentin Biotechnology

Biotechnology in Action in BrazilFirst biotec crop developed in Brazil – Open Innovation

Biotechnology in Action in Brazil

Bean Golden Mosaic - annual decreases between 90,000 t and 280,000 t yellow-green mosaic of leaves, stunted growth

The first biotech plant developed in the southern hemisphere by a public organization - From the lab bench to the field (Phaseolus vulgaris)

Biotechnology in Action in Brazil

Embrapa’s GMV resistant beans:

• Approved for open field trials in 2011;• Commercial release – 2016 – Central Region of Brazil;• Impacts: less use of pesticides to control the vector Bemisia tabaci and less risky production

Agriculture and BioeconomyNew Opportunities

Agriculture... Food – Nutrition – Health ...

Agriculture… Environmental and ecosystem services

Agriculture... Biomass – Biomaterials – Green Chemistry...

. Agriculture will be increasingly demanded for multifunctionality . Not only food, fiber or bioenergy production

Agriculture and the Nascent Bioeconomy

Biotechnology and the Nascent Bioeconomy

BIOTECHNOLOGYIN SEVERAL

FIELDS

medicines

genetic improvement

vaccines

biological control

microrganisms in agriculture and

bioenergy production

industrial fermentation

genetic transformationgene editing

cell culturetissue culture

plant and animalcloning

genomics

Biotechnology in Action in Brazil

.Transgenic soybean plants producing cianovirin for HIV treatment.

.The comercial production is under discussion with the private sector.

Biofactories

Biotechnology in Action in Brazil

New incentives for the continued production of biofuel will come from the newly negotiated Paris Agreement. Biotechnology is helping to improve the efficiency of the processes.

Created in 2011, GranBio is a Brazilian Biotechnology company working in the

production of second generation biofuels

Second Generation Ethanol is a reality and it will be 20% cheaper than the conventional ethanol

according to the company. (2014).

Advanced Biofuels

Biotechnology in Action in BrazilDengue Fever, Chikungunya, and Zyca Virus

Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis, a soil bacteria, kills the larvae of A. aegypti controlling the adult population.

Registered in 2004

2005

Biological control of human diseases

Aedes aegypti

Final Message:Advanced technologies are essential

Sustainability economic/environmental/social

Low carbon processes - Reducing GHG emissions

Expanding possibilities in many fronts - food/nutrition/health – environmental services

Mimic and enhance natural processes - new industrial processes & products

Less waste and less energy consumption

Adding value to natural processes and biodiversity

More efficient, distributed and equitable value chains

Agriculture will need new tools and processes...

Advanced Technologies are Essential

Communication with society

New agricultural technologies must not be seen as a problem, but as a solution and key component in the

path towards a more sustainable future.

Advanced technologies are essential

Mauricio Antonio Lopes, PhDEmpresa Brasileira de Pesquisa Agropecuária

presidencia@embrapa.brmauricio.lopes@embrapa.br

www.embrapa.brwww.facebook.com/agrosustentavel

@MauricioLopes@Science4Future

Pedro Luiz Oliveira de Almeida Machado, Dr. nat. techn.Empresa Brasileira de Pesquisa Agropecuária

labex.europe@embrapa.brpedro.machado@embrapa.br

Thank You!