Benefits of Agricultural Genomics

Indicators of Agriculture's Impact Technological and scientific advances account for the vast percentage of growth in the U.S. agricultural industry. Government economists have reported that scientific breakthroughs are responsible for at least 75 percent of the productivity growth since 1949. And it is the public that benefits from more abundant supplies and less costly production methods. One indication of this is that the U.S. consumer now spends only 16 percent of his or her disposable income on food, instead of the 46 percent that was required in the 1940s.

The rate of return on research and development investment has been proven. Even the most conservative estimates would indicate that the California economy could expect a $1.5 billion boost from the new jobs, income, and markets that this Institute would help to create.

There is no doubt that a "green revolution" is on the horizon. Understanding the structures and functions of the genomes of agriculturally important plants and animals, of major insect and nematode pests as well as the diseases they spread, and of the interactions between plant genes and the human body will enable researchers to breed or engineer superior commodities or novel products.

Examples of research occurring in UC labs today include:

Inserting genes in major agricultural pests so that the adults die off before they can cause damage to crops

Creating a clean-burning hydrogen fuel from algae

Isolating genes responsible for fruit tree dwarfing to enable producers to plant more trees per acre

Cloning a pathogen-resistant gene found in peppers and introducing it into tomato plants

Investigating cotton genes to identify which ones are responsible for creating fiber and which ones can be manipulated to create more fiber per boll

Creating cereals that are easier to digest and less likely to cause allergic reactions

Increasing the size of flowers and seeds produced by plants by inserting the ANT (Aintegumenta) gene, known to regulate plant organ size

Identifying the genes in vegetables and fruits that have anti-carcinogenic characteristics The potential of genomics research to boost the economy cannot be overstated. A conservative estimate is that publicly funded agricultural research at the University of California generates up to 20 percent of an annual return to the state. New uses and markets for crops, greater productivity, dramatic reductions in production costs due to less need for pesticides or less damage from pests, and more efficient use of land and water are just some of the expected outcomes. In addition, the Institute will share its discoveries, products, and technologies with the private sector and will train agricultural genomics specialists through its educational component.