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Science & Innovation 13

per cent yearly – the best gains in the world. But The origins of this transformational technology
the gains in grains and sugar have been less than are found in the discovery of the structure of DNA.
1 per cent yearly. Variation exists even within the This discovery has been attributed to the scientists
grains industry itself: in summer cropping regions Watson and Crick, who first published their work
for example, gains have been more substantial, in an issue of Nature in 1953. This was seen at first
although this is difficult to measure given the large as “blue sky” research – that is, research without
seasonal variations experienced. Grain sorghum a clear, real-world application. Later, in the early
advances in productivity have exceeded 1.5 per 1970s, the first genetic transformations were
cent yearly, but for wheat, for example, yearly made, again with university research, and in 1986
gains have been less than 1 per cent. the first field trials of genetically engineered plants
were conducted in France and the USA.
In the sugar and animal production industries,
advances in the efficiency of water use and labour Monsanto (which did not discover the genes for
have been substantial, even if productivity gains insect resistance and herbicide resistance but
have been less than 1 per cent yearly. These gains licenced the technology) worked in Australia
in productivity and efficiency are directly related to with the CSIRO scientists in the cotton-breeding
innovation. program and with Cotton Seed Distributors (CSD),
who produced the seed for farmers to plant. The
The role of science CSIRO cotton-breeding program provided the high
In many cases, transformational technologies yielding, regionally adapted, disease-resistant
have been created in the public sector (often at varieties with high-quality fibre attributes into
Universities and organisations like CSIRO and which the insect-resistant genes were introduced.
state departments of agriculture), developed and Local Australian research and extension provided
commercialised by the private sector and then the essential knowledge to deliver Integrated Pest
subsequently embraced by farmers. Management to the industry, as well as insect and
weed resistance management strategies. Crop
Significant examples include the use of genetically consultants provided the necessary farm advice
modified (GM) crop varieties, the development of to enable rapid farm uptake.
Global Positioning System (GPS) technologies and
the widespread adoption of zero till, controlled The first cotton varieties containing Bt (a bacteria
traffic farming (CTF) systems. The livestock harmful to insects), Ingard cotton containing the
industries have their own advances, including Cry1Ac gene, were released in Australia in 1996.
those in genetics such as estimated breeding We now have commercial cotton varieties with two
values and meat quality (including innovations Bt genes (Cry1Ac and Cry2Ab) and two varieties
made through Meat Standards Australia (MSA)). for glyphosate resistance (RoundUp Ready Flex).
Varieties with a third gene for insect resistance
Highlighting the roles played by scientists, (Vip3A) were commercially trialled in the 2015-
agribusiness and farmers, there are two prominent 2016 summer.
examples of innovation at work.
This example of a transformational innovation
Modern Australian GM cotton varieties have highlights the roles of universities and CSIRO in
delivered an 89 per cent reduction in use of agricultural “blue sky” research; agribusiness
pesticides (comparing five year averages for (Monsanto and CSD) in the commercialisation of
the periods between 2008-2013 and 1998- technology; local publically funded research and
2003) and a 40 per cent increase in water use extension efforts in the delivery of field technology
efficiency (1.1 bales/ML in 2000-2001 to 1.9 to its end users; and private consultants in enabling
bales/ML in 2009-2010). farmers to make full use of the technology. The

The Australian Farmer • Issue 2017