Chapter 16
Research in Biotechnology at the Agricultural Research Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture 1
2
Jerome P. Miksche and G. Ram Chandra 1
Agricultural Research Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Beltsville, MD 20705 Plant Molecular and Genetics Laboratory, Plant Genetics & Germplasm Institute, Agricultural Research Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Beltsville, MD 20705 2
Within the framework of the Agricultural Research Service (ARS) mission, the term Biotechnology is defined simply as those biological means used to develop processes and products employing organisms or their components. Those biological means include bioreactors, bioreactions, immunolocalization of biologically active cells and enzymes, cell tissue and organ cultures, genetic engineering, gene transfer, recombinant DNA technology and hybridoma techniques (1). The new biotechnology methodologies present approaches and precision never before available to agricultural researchers to address the many difficult challenges. What are the biotechnology efforts in the ARS and where are they located; the profiles of our scientists as related to industry and university colleagues; and an overview of research efforts they are pursuing will be covered in this chapter. The Agency expends 30 million dollars annually on biotechnology related research at 130 locations across the United States. This effort is represented by approximately 200 projects. The research is directed accordingly: $300,000 11.4M 9.9M 8.4M
S o i l and Water P l a n t P r o d u c t i v i t y and P r o t e c t i o n A n i m a l P r o d u c t i o n and P r o t e c t i o n Product Q u a l i t y
The r e s e a r c h i s conducted by ARS s c i e n t i s t s l o c a t e d on many of the Land Grant u n i v e r s i t i e s and ARS Research C e n t e r s l o c a t e d i n s e v e r a l g e o g r a p h i c a r e a s . A s t r o n g c o n c e r t e d t h r u s t was developed t o d i s s e c t the c o m p l e x i t i e s o f p l a n t gene e x p r e s s i o n a t the A l b a n y , CA, l o c a t i o n . The r e s e a r c h conducted a t the B e l t s v i l l e , MD, l o c a t i o n i s a good example o f the d i v e r s i t y o f the A R S - b i o t e c h n o l o g y r e l a t e d r e s e a r c h p r o j e c t s t h a t are focused t o s o l v e s e v e r a l complex problems i n a g r i c u l t u r e ( 1 ) . Much o f t h i s research i s i n t e r d i s c i p l i n a r y i n v o l v i n g s e v e r a l f i e l d s of s c i e n c e s and commodities w i t h one major o b j e c t i v e , i . e . , t o This chapter not subject to U.S. copyright Published 1988 American Chemical Society
16.
MIKSCHE AND CHANDRA
Research in Biotechnology
231
d e v e l o p new t e c h n o l o g i e s t o produce and market value-added U.S. a g r i c u l t u r a l products ( 2 ) . ARS doesn't have a f o r m a l l y s t r u c t u r e d b i o t e c h n o l o g y program, but i t uses the t o o l s of m o l e c u l a r b i o l o g i c a l s c i e n c e s i n c l u d i n g recombinant DNA t e c h n o l o g y t o d i r e c t r e s e a r c h e f f o r t s t o f i n d s o l u t i o n s to h i g h p r i o r i t y problems. These p r i o r i t i e s ( T a b l e I ) a r e p a r t l y f o r m u l a t e d by a g r i b u s i n e s s i n d u s t r i a l groups, commodity o r g a n i z a t i o n s , u s e r o r g a n i z a t i o n s , and c o n g r e s s i o n a l mandates t o the Agency and ARS s c i e n t i s t s . The N a t i o n a l Program S t a f f f i n a l i z e s the p r i o r i t i e s and d i r e c t s r e s e a r c h programs t o address t h e s e p r i o r i t i e s i n a t i m e l y and e f f i c i e n t manner. Table I .
A. B. C. D. Ε. F.
B i o t e c h n o l o g y Research D i r e c t e d t o Solve H i g h P r i o r i t y Problems
Q u a l i t y of N a t u r a l Resources Reduce H i g h Cost of Farm P r o d u c t i o n Improving Crop P r o t e c t i o n Enhancing Market V a l u e and Q u a l i t y of Farm P r o d u c t s Improve M a r k e t i n g and E x p o r t of A g r i c u l t u r a l P r o d u c t s Promote Human H e a l t h Through N u t r i t i o n
There are about 1,000 worldwide b i o t e c h n o l o g y f i r m s , w i t h 400 l o c a t e d i n the U n i t e d S t a t e s . Many "buy o u t s , " f a i l u r e s , and s h i f t s have taken p l a c e s i n c e 1980, but g e n e r a l l y t h e r e i s a g r a d u a l i n c r e a s e i n the number of f i r m s . T h i s g r a d u a l i n c r e a s e i n b i o t e c h n o l o g y i n d i c a t e s i n d u s t r i a l i n t e r e s t and permanence. The Agency i s c o g n i z a n t of t h i s p a t t e r n and i t d e s i r e s t o d e l i v e r r e s e a r c h answers t o the a g r i b u s i n e s s b i o t e c h n o l o g y m a r k e t p l a c e and u l t i m a t e l y to the grower, as t h i s i s the most e f f i c i e n t way t o t r a n s f e r knowledge to h e l p the consumer. The i n c r e a s e d emphasis i n b i o t e c h n o l o g y and subsequent knowledge t r a n s f e r t o i n d u s t r y r e q u i r e a match-up of t a l e n t between ARS and i n d u s t r y . Tables I I and I I I demonstrate d o v e t a i l i n g the p e r c e n t of ARS s c i e n t i s t s i n g e n e r a l b i o t e c h n o l o g y a s s o c i a t e d i n d u s t r i a l a r e a s and a l i s t i n g of s p e c i f i c commercial a r e a s , r e s p e c t i v e l y . I t i s e v i d e n t from the t a b l e s t h a t the major s h o r t and l o n g term b i o t e c h n o l o g y r e s e a r c h areas are b e i n g addressed ( 3 ) . Table I I . D i s t r i b u t i o n of ARS S c i e n t i s t s by I n d u s t r i e s and A s s o c i a t e d A r e a s Percent I n d u s t r i e s and Areas 19 Pharmaceutical 10 Chemical 4 Fermentation Genetic Engineering 3 Food P r o c e s s i n g 44 A p p l i c a t i o n s to P l a n t s i n A g r i c u l t u r e 13 Animal Improvement/Disease 7 Use of G e n e t i c a l l y Engineered Organisms i n the Environment
232
BIOTECHNOLOGY FOR CROP PROTECTION
The a g r i c u l t u r a l problems b e f o r e us w i l l seek r e s o l u t i o n through c o o p e r a t i o n w i t h u n i v e r s i t y i n v e s t i g a t o r s . T a b l e IV l i s t s the p e r c e n t of ARS p r o j e c t s d e a l i n g w i t h b i o t e c h n o l o g y on the b a s i s o f s c i e n t i f i c f i e l d s . The s c i e n t i f i c d i s c i p l i n e s r e l a t e d t o b i o t e c h n o l o g y a r e g i v e n i n Table V. I t i s e v i d e n t t h a t the b i o l o g i c a l and a g r i c u l t u r a l a s s o c i a t e d d i s c i p l i n e s a r e r e p r e s e n t e d more s t r o n g l y than a r e e n g i n e e r i n g and m e d i c a l science d i s c i p l i n e s .
T a b l e I I I . I n d u s t r y and A s s o c i a t e d ARS Research
Areas
Pharmaceutical Antibiotics Antibodies Antigens (Vaccines) Enzymes Growth Hormones Other Hormones Interferons Lymphokines/Cytokines P r o t e i n Pharmaceuticals Non P r o t e i n
Chemical Fermentation Fertilizers B i o l o g i c a l Processing Pesticides Polymers I n d u s t r i a l Chemicals by B i o l o g i c a l Technologies
Genetic Engineering and F e r m e n t a t i o n L i v i n g Whole C e l l Fermentation I s o l a t e d Enzymes Energy P r o d u c t i o n from Biomass
Food P r o c e s s i n g Single C e l l Protein Production B a k i n g , Brewing, and Winemaking Microbial Polysaccharides Enzymes i n Food P r o c e s s i n g Sweetener, F l a v o r s , and Fragrances
Table IV.
Field A g r i c u l t u r a l Sciences B i o l o g i c a l Sciences Engineering Biomedical Sciences
D i s t r i b u t i o n of S c i e n t i s t s by F i e l d s Percent 23 62 7 8
16.
MIKSCHE AND CHANDRA
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