Partnerships and the Future of

Agriculture Technology
Dr. Robert T. Fraley
Executive Vice President and Chief Technology Officer
Monsanto Company
2013 World Food Prize Laureate
@RobbFraley
 ENABLE
production of nutritious, affordable food
2
 Norman Borlaug Devoted His Life to Improving the
Most Important Global Staple Crop: Wheat
In 1944, Dr. Borlaug participated in the Rockefeller Foundation's pioneering
technical assistance program in Mexico, where he was a research scientist in
charge of wheat improvement.

For the next sixteen years, he worked to solve a series of wheat production
problems that were limiting wheat cultivation in Mexico and to help train a whole
generation of young Mexican scientists.

The work in Mexico not only had a profound impact on Dr. Borlaug's life and
philosophy of agriculture research and development, but also on agricultural
production, first in Mexico and later in many parts of the world.

It was on the research stations and farmers' fields of Mexico that Dr. Borlaug
developed successive generations of wheat varieties with broad and stable disease
resistance, broad adaptation to growing conditions across many degrees of
latitude, and with exceedingly high yield potential.

These new wheat varieties and improved crop management practices transformed
agricultural production in Mexico during the 1940's and 1950's and later in Asia
and Latin America, sparking what today is known as the "Green Revolution.

It is said that Dr. Borlaug has

"saved more lives than any other person who has ever lived."
3
Source: World Food Prize
 RISING

B
4.4

1961
1980

per person in
1 ACRE
population

arable land
DECLINING
7.1B

TODAY
Production Needed?

1/3
2050
less than

per person in
ACRE
2050
9.6B+

Source: The World Bank, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United
Nations (FAO-STAT), Monsanto Internal Calculations Source: http://esa.un.org/unpd/wpp/
Why is Increasing Agriculture

9%
climate

in 1965
1990
CHANGING
CHANGING

economies & diets

14%
in 2030
2012

DIETARY PERCENTAGE OF MEAT

Source: UN FAO Food Balance Sheet, World Health Organization Global

and regional food consumption patterns and trends Source: US Third National Climate Assessment (2013)
4
 Global Grain Demand is Expected to Double by 2050
12

RISING
Yield (tons/ha/yr)

2050
10

6 2013

2 CHANGING
0 5
Source: Ray DK, Mueller ND, West PC, Foley JA (2013) Yield Trends Are Insufficient to Double Global Crop Production by 2050. PLoS ONE 8(6): e66428.
 Staple Crops are Impacted by Climate Change
Advances in Technology Can Help Mitigate the Effects

CHANGING

Planting Increase in Insect Changes Crop Impacts on

Zone Extreme Range In Weed Disease Water
Shifts Weather Expansion Pressure Increases Availability

6
Source: US Third National Climate Assessment (2013)
 McKinsey Global Institute has Identified Resource
Productivity Improvements that would Help Meet the
Futures Needs

Achieving resource productivity improvements would off-set the

increase in land demand and much of the increase in water demand.

5 of the top 15 improvements are directly related to agriculture.

2. Increasing yields on large-scale farms

3. Reducing food waste

7. Increasing yields on smallholder farms

10. Reducing land degradation

13. Improving irrigation techniques

7
Source: McKinsey , 2011; Resource Revolution: Meeting the worlds energy, materials, food, and water needs.
 Rates of Yield Increases for Staple Crops Vary with Plant Biology
Factors & Level of Technology Investment

Impact of Reducing Rate Needed to

Food Wastage by 30% Double Yields by 2050
Maize
Soybeans
Rice
Wheat
Sweet Potatoes
Pulses
Millet
Cassava
Sugar cane
Sorghum
Potatoes
0.0 0.5 1.0 1.5 2.0 2.5
Annual Rate of Yield Gain (%)

8
Global rates of yield gain (1961-2011), based on data available from FAOSTAT
Adoption of Technology Innovation Leads to
Increases in Crop Yields
12
Maize average yields by country
Historical Yield Trends for Maize (US) MT/HA
10
10.0 United States
Metric Tons per Hectare (MT/HA)

9.1 France
8

6.7 Argentina
6
5.4 China
4 4.0 Mexico
3.2 Brazil
2.3 India
2
Source: USDA PSD

Source: USDA NASS

0
1870 1880 1890 1900 1910 1920 1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010

Improved germplasm breeding

Better farm equipment
KEY
Optimized nutrient (NPK) usage
DRIVERS
Better water management
Crop protection products
Adoption of biotechnology traits 9
 Over the Past 30 Years, Corn Production has
Increased 64%, with Improved Resource Efficiency

10
Field to Market (2012 V2). Environmental and Socioeconomic Indicators for Measuring Outcomes of On-Farm Agricultural Production in the United States: Second Report, (Version 2), December 2012. Available at: www.fieldtomarket.org.
 Support Remains High For Technology Investment
In Wheat
Farmers continue the call for investment in new technology for wheat

Nine wheat-related associations

from Australia, Canada and the The Wheat Innovation Alliance is
U.S. support commercialization working to achieve acceptance for
of biotech wheat wheat enhanced by biotechnology

Millers, bakers and food

companies are increasingly
supportive of technology in wheat Control Herbicide-Tolerant Event

The Wheat Value Chain recognizes the need for increased investment in
technology for wheat.
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 Combinations of Technologies Deliver
Solutions for Farmers

WE MULTIPLY THE BENEFITS OF

INNOVATION
when we combine these
capabilities to solve problems
and increase efficiency
BREEDING

COMBINED
BIOTECHNOLOGY solutions BIOLOGICALS

CROP
FARM MANAGEMENT
PROTECTION
SOLUTIONS

12
 Plant Breeding Is Experiencing A Technical
Revolution That Will Drive Yield Improvements

Leveraging global seed resources >40 million marker-trait associations

results in annual crop yield gains enables detailed understanding of
the plants genome
which allows development of better
crop plants
13
 Farmers Choose Biotechnology to Help Ensure Their
Success

>400 Million acres of GM crops were planted in 2012.

17 Million farmers in nearly 30 countries choose biotech.

Most of them are small-holder farmers.
14
Sources: ISAAA, Biotechnology Industry Organization, USDA Foreign Agricultural Service, Africxa Biosafety Network of Expertise.
 Crop Biotechnology is Safe, and Delivers Yield,
Economic, and Environmental Benefits

There is no substantiated case

of any adverse impact on
human health, animal health
or environmental health,
and I would be confident in
saying that there is no more
risk in eating GMO food than
eating conventionally farmed
food.
Anne Glover, Chief Scientific Advisor
European Commission July 24, 2012

Fewer Pesticides Lower Greenhouse Gas Emissions Increased Yields Improved Soil Quality

15
Sources: Brookes, G. and Barfoot, P. GM Crops Food 3, 129-37 (2012); Brookes, G. and Barfoot, P. GM Crops Food 3, 1-8 (2012); Edgerton, M. D. et al. Nat. Biotech. 30, 493496 (2012); National Research Council. The Impact of Genetically Engineered Crops on
Farm Sustainability in the United States (National Academies Press, Washington; 2010); Folcher, L. et al. Agron. Sustain. Dev. 30, 711719 (2010); Subramanian, A. & Qaim, M. World Dev. 37, 256267 (2009)
 Crop Biotechnology is Safe, and Delivers Yield,
Economic, and Environmental Benefits

There is no substantiated case

of any adverse impact on
human health, animal health
or environmental health,
and I would be confident in
saying that there is no more
risk in eating GMO food than
eating conventionally farmed
food.
Anne Glover, Chief Scientific Advisor
European Commission July 24, 2012

@RobbFraley [email protected]

16
Sources: Brookes, G. and Barfoot, P. GM Crops Food 3, 129-37 (2012); Brookes, G. and Barfoot, P. GM Crops Food 3, 1-8 (2012); Edgerton, M. D. et al. Nat. Biotech. 30, 493496 (2012); National Research Council. The Impact of Genetically Engineered Crops on
Farm Sustainability in the United States (National Academies Press, Washington; 2010); Folcher, L. et al. Agron. Sustain. Dev. 30, 711719 (2010); Subramanian, A. & Qaim, M. World Dev. 37, 256267 (2009)
Going Beyond Biotech & Breeding: New Platforms
Designed to Deliver Innovations Needed to Meet Demand

AG BIOLOGICALS
Designed to Deliver Weed
Management, Insect
Management, Plant Health
and Bee Health

DATA SCIENCE
Designed to Optimize Farm
Management Practices

ADVANCED BREEDING
Delivers Pest Control,
Stress Tolerance, and
Disease Control

AG BIOTECHNOLOGY
Delivers Insect Control,
Weed Control, and
Stress Tolerance

The Next Steps In Evolution Of Technologies For Solving Farmers Challenges

Requires a Systems Approach 17
 Delivering Field Specific Insights & Information to Help
Farmers Improve Yield, Productivity and Reduce Risk

Planning Pre-Planting Planting In-Season Harvest

Production Planning Pre-Plant Irrigation Seed Depth Keep Stand or Equipment

Re-Plant

Crop Rotation Fertility Program Planting Speed Through Post-Emergent Herbicide Timing
the Field Application

Weed Control Program pH Management Other Planting Operation Foliar Insect Control Storage
Decisions

Row Spacing Burn-Down Program Plant Population Fertility Program Post-Harvest Assessment

Variety/Hybrid Selection Tillage Level Starter Fertilizer Foliar Disease Control Crop Marketing Support

Refuge Options Primary Tillage Program Herbicide Application Irrigation Application

In-Season

Plant Population Soil Insecticides Micronutrients/Fertility

Management

Seed Treatment Fungicide Application Crop Diagnostics

In-Furrow

Soil Insecticides Variety/Hybrid

Selection In-Field

Soil Nematicides

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SOURCE: Monsanto team The above boxes refer to some of the decisions farmers face in growing their crops.
Advances in Information Technology Optimize Farm
Management Practices

DATABASE
BACKBONE
BREEDING

YIELD
MONITOR
FERTILITY & USER
DISEASE INTERFACE
PRECISION MANAGEMENT
SEEDING
VARIABLE-
RATE
FERTILITY Unlocking Yield Potential
Meter by Meter On The Farm
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Data Modeling Capabilities Can Improve Farm
Productivity - Field by Field
PLANTING-DATE AND
HARVEST ADVISOR

PEST AND DISEASE

IN-SEASON ADVISOR

TOTAL WEATHER
INSURANCE

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Rural, Small-Holder Farmers Are Also Connected to
SM
Technology: FarmAgVisory Services

Mobile phone technologies allow

support for rural farmers:
Pest & Disease Control
Fertilizer Usage
Weed Management
Irrigation

Additional benefits:
Hybrid Recommendations
Weather Forecasts
Commodity Prices

I am very happy with my healthy and higher yielding crop, all thanks to Dr. DEKALB Farm Care.
Sonar Rehman, Farmer, Purnea, Bihar21
 Biologicals-Based Products Have the Potential
to Expand Farmers Choices

BioDirect Microbials

Weed Insect Virus Bee Disease

Management Management Control Health Pest Plant Vigor
Control & Yield Control

Delivery Methods
Seed Foliar Precision
Treatment Applications Planting

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 BioDirect is Based on New Applications
of RNAi Technology

Gene

RNAi is RNA
A Natural Transfers information from gene to Protein
construct a protein
Mechanism DNA Produced
to Control Trigger
the When cells make RNAi it
Expression specifically targets an RNA

of a Gene X
Gene

RNA RNA
broken up Protein
DNA Not Produced

23
BioDirect is Based on New Applications of RNAi
Technology
BioDirect Originated from the Study of
Glyphosate Resistance in Weeds

dsRNA +
Roundup

GR-Palmer Uninjured After Treatment

With WeatherMAX Glyphosate-resistant
Palmer Pigweed

Pigweed now killed by RNA for EPSPS

Roundup gene degraded

GR-Palmer Controlled By Combining

WeatherMAX With EPSPS dsRNA 24
 The Results From First Year Testing Of Novozymes
Microbes On Corn Were Encouraging
Average Yield Improvement Of 4-6 Bu/Ac
Average Win Rate 52%

Yield Bu/Ac
200 70 Locations

198
196
194
192 196

190 193.9
188
186 190.5
184 Microbial organisms can applied
182 to the seed before planting: yield
Torque * QuickRoots * Acceleron
increases can be possible due to
superior nutrient uptake in plants
early life stage.
*Novozymes Products + Acceleron 25
Collaborations Create Better Solutions for Farmers
Improved crops from biotechnology Responsible pest management

Energy source alternatives

Germplasm improvements

Dedication to sustainability

Advances in agronomics
Enhanced food security

Product characterization & safety

Investment in education and research

26
Public-Private Partnerships Are Increasingly Important
Beachell-Borlaug
Scholarship
$13 Million investment for 2009-2016, thus
Mississippi River far resulting in support of 64 scholars from 25
countries. Scholars received Full
Watershed Partnership scholarships to study wheat and rice
breeding.
$5 Million investment to improve water quality
by developing on-farm best management
practices, urban storm water education
programs, and installing 1,000 water control
structures.

Conservation Project
International Share
A four-year pilot program aimed at providing
$6.5 Million investment to preserve
10,000 Indian farmers with tools they need to
biodiversity hotspots, including 8,000
boost production in corn and cotton. Farmer
hectares of forest. The program reached
incomes have increased 20-30%.
more than 5,000 farmers and citizens.

Water Efficient Maize

for Africa (WEMA)
Developing new drought-tolerant and insect
pest-protected maize hybrids for farmers in
Sub-Saharan Africa. The projects first
conventional maize hybrid is available for
planting in Kenya in 2013.
Monsantos Beachell-Borlaug International Scholars Program

$13 Million for wheat and rice breeding

PhD fellowships
64 scholars from 25 different countries

Rice and Wheat are staple crops that are critical for global food security.
However, yield improvements lag behind other crops.
WEMA is a Public-Private Partnership to Develop Drought-Tolerant &
Insect-Protected Maize for Sub-Saharan Farmers

Phase II of the program was

officially launched in 2013
and the first WEMA hybrids
were delivered to the hands
of Kenyan farmers last fall.
Norman Borlaug Set the Example for Agriculture
Innovation

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JOIN THE CONVERSATION

@MonsantoCo MonsantoBlog.com
MonsantoToday.com
@RobbFraley
GMAonline.org
MonsantoCo
GMOanswers.com

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Improving Agriculture. Improving Lives.

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