When agriculture and technology meet

Visitors to the grand opening of the Patriot Renewable Fuels ethanol plant near Annawan last week had the opportunity to tour the Monsanto Mobile Technology Unit. In addition to a film and displays, the unit included a table-sized model of the entire ethanol process. (BCR photo/Barb Kromphardt)

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ANNAWAN — Visitors to last week’s grand opening of the Patriot Renewable Fuels ethanol plant also had the opportunity to learn about some of the latest research in biotechnology and agriculture.

The research was displayed in the parking lot in Monsanto’s Mobile Technology Unit, which began touring in July 2007. The Mobile Technology Unit, which travels the highways on a semi-trailer, is a 53-foot long, 1,000 square-foot interactive display featuring Monsanto’s latest advances in seed breeding, biotechnology and new product development designed to help farmers be successful.

After watching a video in the 14-seat movie theater, visitors were able to tour the exhibit hall.

The first part of the exhibit showed how Monsanto seed breeders are using “exotic” seed germplasm from around the world to develop new, high-performing crops for U.S. farmers.

Monsanto ag educator Kathy Sehnert said the ultimate goal is to develop a variety of corn that has a high yield and high resistance to stress, and to develop this corn, researchers are looking for new traits in some unusual places.

“We want genes not already found in Iowa and Illinois,” she said.

Sehnert showed one exotic corn plant that regularly produces five ears of corn on its short stalks. She said that when an exotic plant with promising traits such as this is found, tissue samples are taken from the leaves for further research.

Sehnert also showed how scientists are adopting existing equipment to meet the needs of agriculture, such as the MRI, or magnetic resonance imaging, which is routinely used on humans.

The MRI is able to scan million of corn seeds each year to analyze oil content to help produce higher quality grain, and it enables researchers to get data quickly without destroying the seed.

“The point is to get new technology to farmers as quickly as possible,” she said.

Once new traits are found, biotechnology comes into play, and researchers need to insert the new trait into a plant. Sehnert said development of a marketable new variety takes from eight to 10 years.

In conclusion, Sehnert also showed the group how advanced new biotech genes are being developed that not only provide improved weed and insect control, but also improved stress tolerance, healthier food oils and stronger yields.

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