Australia
October 2, 2003

BOLLGARD II cotton grown under commercial management in Australia in the past two seasons has allowed growers to reduce their pesticide use by more than 70% in both seasons, but it is also having a big impact on the number of insect species in the crop.

Initial data from trials conducted by Monsanto Australia, in conjunction with Queensland Department of Primary Industries entomologist Dr David Murray, show that Bollgard II can support more than 300 species of arthropods, almost 20% more than conventional crops.

Speaking at the opening of the company’s biotech research centre in Toowoomba yesterday, Monsanto entomologist Dr Stewart Addison said the trials showed an average of 55 insects per metre in Bollgard II, compared with 32 per metre in conventional cotton monitored over the season.

"Bt is helping larger populations of non-target insects to flourish," he said.

As for the use of pesticides, trials at 13 commercial sites in the first year of Bollgard II trials showed a reduction of 73% in pesticide use; followed by trials at 67 sites, over several thousand hectares, showing a 72% reduction in the second year.

"So we're sure of a 70% reduction in pesticide use through the use of Bollgard II. And if we look after this technology, it can last us 30-40 years."

Monsanto Australia managing director Terry Bunn said crop monitoring and auditing work conducted at the Toowoomba facility would ensure BOLLGARD II and future technologies like Roundup Ready Flex cotton were managed for the long term.

The centre in Toowoomba includes a laboratory and a certified quarantine glass house, employing three full time scientists/technicians and three part-time researchers led by Stewart Addison.

Dr Addison said that about 50 Bollgard II cotton varieties held by Australia's cotton seed suppliers had passed Monsanto's "gene equivalency" tests, which monitor the expression of the active proteins in Bollgard II.

This bodes well for variety selection in future. Roger Boyce, Monsanto's commercial manager for biotech, said he was happy with the takeup of Bollgard II in its first season of commercial release, although full plantings will not be known until end-November.

“Some growers have taken the full 40% of their crop area with Bollgard II; others have been a bit more conservative, wanting to see how those varieties on offer this season perform in the field,” he said.

“Hopefully, with the current rainfall we will see more cotton planted, and more Bollgard.”

Research programs at the Toowoomba centre include:

--Resistance Monitoring
Monitoring for any changes in the potential for resistance development to the proteins produced by BOLLGARD II in populations of Heliothis - the main cotton pest insect.

--Product quality control
Monitoring the expression of active proteins in Bollgard II cotton.

--Compliance Auditing
Ensuring resistance management plans are in place and adhered to by growers using INGARD and BOLLGARD II to ensure sustainability of the technology for the future.

--Ecological Research
Monitoring diversity of non-target species in commercial cotton crops using BOLLGARD II, and monitoring of feral cotton control on roadsides.