Practical Delivery of Genes to the Marketplace

Although new technologies in genomics are powerful tools for discovering genes and gaining insight into their function, discovery of a gene itself does not ensure its practical application. Commercialization of transgenic crop plants has now taken place for more than a decade. Plant biotechnology, which can be seen as an extension of traditional plant breeding for crop improvement, offers one way to boost food, feed, fiber, and fuel production and has provided significant environmental and economic benefits. Like plant breeding, biotechnology introduces new traits with specific benefits into plants, and does so in a selective, precise, and controlled manner. Several steps are necessary before commercializing a crop with a biotechnology trait, including not only gene discovery and product development but also regulatory clearance, stewardship evaluation, and stakeholder dialogue. Examples will be drawn from the work at Monsanto on the development and commercialization of glyphosate-tolerant soybeans, which is representative of the first wave of agronomic traits.