ChangingCottonLandscapeNeilForrester

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The key factors affecting the development of resistance to Bt cotton will be addressed later but it is clear that Pakistan should be planning now for the introduction of pyramided or stacked gene products for bollworm control. It is much more difficult for insects to develop resistance to two or more combined toxins than it is for them to develop resistance to the same toxins presented individually and sequentially. This then brings the first of a number of recommendations concerning the adoption of insect tolerant cottons for the Pakistan cotton industry:- 1) It is strongly recommended that Pakistan introduce Bollgard 2 or 3 (and other stacked insecticidal transgenes) as soon as possible and that this should be done through a professional cottonseed industry. Do not delay because of the current high resistance risk to segregating and mixed single gene Bollgard 1. Stack this with Roundup Ready Flex. 2) Negotiate with Monsanto for either a one-off fee or a per kg based technology fee. Details of both these pricing models have been communicated separately. The subsidy could be gradually phased out after, say, 5-10 years. Pricing should be based on parity for the same product sold in the Indian Punjab. Explore alternative funding sources e.g. US aid funds. 3) Negotiate also with other potential technology providers. 4) As part of the Tech Fee, ask for training in introgression breeding and genetic purity Quality Assurance. Ideally, a Centre of Excellence for this should be set up in Pakistan. 5) Independently check to verify the efficacy of all potential Bt cottons against a standard reference technology (e.g. Bollgard 1 for single gene Bts and Bollgard 2 for double gene Bts). This should be done in side by side replicated field tests, artificially infested if need be. 6) Ask for information on primers for all new Bt technologies to be lodged in all regulatory applications (Commercial-in-Confidence if required) so that potential future disputes on genetic integrity of commercial products can be effectively investigated. 7) As a matter of urgency, set up a Bt Resistance Monitoring facility in Pakistan so that any changes in bollworm susceptibility to Bt toxins can be closely tracked. 8) Improve and develop local Bio-Safety Evaluation capacity so that the relevant Pakistan authorities are capable of following the world’s best practice in the evaluation of new GM regulatory applications. This should involve training in such places as the US/Canada and/or Australia as well as contact with such organizations as the International Society for Bio-Safety Research (http://www.isbr.info/) and the International Life Sciences Institute 28
(http://www.ilsi.org/AboutILSI/IFBIC/). Attendance at relevant conferences should also be encouraged. 3. Research Research is essential to underpin a large number of the objectives suggested here in this report. Unfortunately, the current research system is failing the growers, not for want of talent from many of the researchers but a failure of the system to allow researchers the freedom to operate their research programmes effectively. The bureaucracy beats them. The system has to be changed if Pakistan is to resolve the problems identified in this report. The competitive funding model being suggested by Dr. Mubarak Ali of the Punjab Agricultural Research Board (PARB) is a refreshing novel approach to the funding model for agricultural research in Pakistan and I strongly recommend that it should be implemented as soon as possible. I can also see a need to set up a new Cotton Research & Development Corporation sponsored specialist cotton research facility. This should be set up anew so that it can be unencumbered by previous organizational structures. Funding for this could come from the current industry surcharges and taxes. For example, APTMA currently pays US$ 28m per year in surcharges and cesses to support cotton research in Pakistan while the ginners currently pay another US $5m per year in cesses. 4. Future Pipeline Technologies Pakistan needs to enter the mainstream science and technology arena with strong IP laws and enforcement. This will allow Pakistan prompt access to future technologies and breakthroughs. Otherwise, Pakistan will be left behind scrambling for outdated technologies or left to fend for itself. There are a number of new transgenic technologies being worked on around the world of relevance to cotton, in addition to those insect and herbicide tolerant technologies mentioned previously. Most are output traits but there are also some new input traits for disease and nematode control. Some of the more important ones are: • Drought tolerance from Monsanto (getting closer to commercial release) and other companies 29
Page 1: Changing the Cotton Landscape in Pa
Page 5: Preface The importance of improving
Page 8 and 9: Acronyms AARI Ayub Agricultural Res
Page 10 and 11: Millions of Bales (170 kgs) Yield (
Page 12 and 13: Millions of bales (170 kgs) 35.0 30
Page 14 and 15: 4.1b/year in extra lint, oil and me
Page 16 and 17: CLCV susceptible variety in the Ind
Page 18 and 19: (Feb/March) of part of their cotton
Page 20 and 21: The following table presents data o
Page 22 and 23: 96.1%, respectively). High levels o
Page 24 and 25: for transgenic seed production othe
Page 26 and 27: 2) Ensure all private seed sector c
Page 28 and 29: Logistical problems It will be very
Page 30 and 31: the introduction of Roundup Ready F
Page 32 and 33: eview and will not be discussed fur
Page 34 and 35: Following is a list of insect toler
Page 38 and 39: • Disease tolerance, especially F
Page 40 and 41: whatever natural refuges are availa
Page 42 and 43: The models above clearly indicate t
Page 44 and 45: 7. Summary of Recommendations 1) En
Page 46 and 47: case, we need to carefully examine
Page 48 and 49: Stakeholders Engaged for this Study

ChangingCottonLandscapeNeilForrester

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