The cotton biotechnology pipeline is driven by a lengthy product development cycle and a large investment process, Monsanto’s director of cotton and specialty crop technology, Dr Fred Perlak, told the Australian Cotton Conference.

He said that on average it takes 8-10 years to bring a biotechnology trait to market, with expenses embracing up to US$100 million.

He said Monsanto’s Bollgard®II technology project was started in 1990 but did not surface in Australia until 2002, while the Roundup Ready Flex technology project started in 1995 will not be commercially released in Australia until this season.

New Monsanto cotton biotech products in the pipeline include Bollgard®III, containing an additional gene that increases toxicity to insects and extends its effectiveness longer through the growing season.

A third generation of weed technology control includes herbicide tolerant cotton with alternative modes of action to Roundup Ready® cotton, allowing the pre and post emergence use of alternative herbicides that do not persist in the soil.

 “More water use efficient cotton is also being developed with benefits such as  higher yields (from improved water utilization), lower crop losses on dryland acres, lower water costs, better irrigation management, and potentially expanded cotton plantings,” he said.