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Slater, Scott & Fowler: Plant Biotechnology 2e

Case study 08

Insect resistant rice in Sans Serif

The Socialist Republic of Sans Serif is a tropical island whose agriculture has been badly affected by recent trends in world politics and economics. Previously, the island was able to obtain cheap fuel and petrochemicals from the Soviet Union to sustain a high input form of agriculture, which produced commodities such as sugar and coffee in return. Now that this special relationship no longer exists, the island cannot afford chemical fertilisers and pesticides and has also become more reliant upon home grown food crops such as rice. This situation is not helped by the fact that a current US embargo of Sans Serif prohibits the export of materials and technology transfer from the US to the island. The government of Sans Serif has therefore been forced to develop a low input form of agriculture that combines 'organic' and transgenic approaches. One example is their approach to pest management of the rice crop, which includes Bt as an 'organic' pesticide in addition to chemical pesticides. However, the major pest is the rice water weevil Lissorhoptrus brevirostris attacks the rice roots and is therefore under water or under ground during the larval stage, making it difficult to control with insecticide sprays. In order to provide an additional weapon in their armoury against this pest, the Minister of Agriculture has earmarked grant funding to support the island's biotechnology institute, and to forge collaborative links with foreign laboratories to develop an insect-resistant rice crop.

As the group leader of a European laboratory working on insect resistance, your task is to write a proposal for the development of this crop using transgenic approaches. Standard molecular and tissue culture techniques should not be included unless they have some relevance to the scheme. The project should be fully risk assessed. In addition to addressing the scientific aspects of the work, your proposal should take account of the integrated pest management scheme into which these crops will be introduced, their likely impact on the environment, and Intellectual Property Rights issues.