Biotechnology is the key to improvements in soybean varieties

By Doug Rich

In 1900Soybeanswere planted by 292 farmers in 75 counties in Kansas, according to K-State Extension records and Dr. Bill Schapaugh, K-State soybean breeder. A survey after harvest showed that 135 of those producers thoughtSoybeanshad a chance to be a profitable crop.

If current expectations are realized current soybean growers in Kansas could be making some history of their own and make the words of those original 135 growers come true in a big way.

Dr. Schapaugh gave a short history lesson on soybean production in Kansas at the Kansas Soybean Expo Jan. 10 in Topeka, Kan. K-State released its first soybean variety, Columbus, in 1971. Since that time K-State soybean breeders have released numerous soybean varieties and soybean germplasm.

"Over the next 100 years our work will revolve around the genetic code of the soybean," Dr. Schapaugh said. "We will manipulate its DNA for the betterment of soybean producers in Kansas and the entire country."

Biotechnology has already had an impact on soybean production with the introduction of Roundup resistant varieties in 1996. Timothy Conner, senior director for oilseeds and food technology at Monsanto, said they are working on the second generation of Roundup resistant soybean varieties.

"The first generation of Roundup resistantSoybeanswas really good and it has been hard to get the next generation," Conner said. "Monsanto is using its investment in genomics and molecular breeding combined with biotechnology to create a new Roundup resistant event." This second generation of Roundup resistantSoybeanscould boost yields 3 to 5 bushels per acre. Conner said this second generation soybean variety could be ready for release by 2009.

"This gives us a new platform that we can build all of our other traits on," Conner said. The next trait they would like to stack on top of Roundup resistance is resistance to the herbicide Dicamba.

"We looked at a lot of herbicides and this is the one we decided to use with our second generation of herbicide tolerance," Conner said. "It would work very well with glyphosate." Conner said Dicamba kills broadleafs and it gives outstanding safety and performance.

Monsanto is working to identify a biotech approach to increasing soybean yields. It is a very complex process that involves multiple genes.

"We think this will make a step change in soybean yields," Conner said. "It is easy to hurt yield but it is very hard to improve yield."

The other traits Monsanto is working on can be classified as consumer traits that improve the value ofSoybeansas food or feed. Monsanto was ahead of the trend with the release of its Vistive low lin soybean varieties in 2005. At the beginning of 2006, the Food and Drug Administration said all foods must list trans fats on their nutrition labels.

Conner said they are now working on a third generation low lin soybean that is also low on saturated fats.

"It will make soybean oil look more like canola oil," Conner said.

Omega-3 has been identified as an important item for healthy diets and Americans don't eat enough fatty fish to consume the required daily amount. Many people take supplements to meet their minimum daily requirement for Omega-3. Monsanto is working on a soybean variety with Omega-3 oil so that people can consume foods they normally eat and get Omega-3 in their diets.

The Omega-3 they are working on will last six times longer than fish and have a shelf life of six months.

On the feed side Monsanto is working on increasing the value of protein in soybeans. This product will be nutrient dense with no loss in oil content or grain yield. This variety could have a 6 percent increase in protein content.

"When you look at the future ofSoybeansyou are looking at quite a dramatic pipeline and it will be coming really fast and really condensed," Conner said. "It took us a while to get over the hump with soybeans. There were some difficult challenges to overcome."

In 1900 when Kansas farmers began plantingSoybeansthey were grown more for forage as well as seed production. TodaySoybeansare the primary ingredient for food, feed, and fuel products.

Doug Rich can be reached by phone at 785-749-5304 or by e-mail at richhpj@aol.com.

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1/22/07

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Date: 1/18/07

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