Plant-based answers for drought
By Nancy Jorgensen

Missouri-based researchers lead the charge for drought-tolerant crops.

Since the beginning of the growing season, soil moisture has been a hit and miss proposition. In many parts of the Midwest, rain hit just as crops began to look dire, but not everywhere. And hot temperatures have last year’s drought on the mind of most growers. So what would a crop be worth that could hold on another week or two in dry conditions? An answer is on the horizon.

Researchers at the University of Missouri-Columbia and at Monsanto in St. Louis lead the world in developing drought-resistant crops. But you’ll have to wait at least 5 years before you can slake your thirst for these new varieties.

Ben Kampelman, a communications associate at Monsanto, said scientists at his company are researching drought-tolerant corn, soybeans and cotton. Corn research, now entering its second year of field trials, is further along than the other two crops. “Our corn product will hit the market after the turn of the decade,” he predicted. With sales of more than $6 billion for 2005, an agribusiness like Monsanto can afford to invest in drought-tolerance research. And in an industry where seed marketshare is being parsed among fewer players, seed companies depend on varieties that bring novel traits or specific characteristics to the game.

Public institutions may not be so well heeled, but Missouri soybean farmers are digging into their own pockets to speed up results. Henry Nguyen, who specializes in drought-resistant soybean research, came to the University of Missouri in 2002, recruited from Texas Tech to fill a new position dedicated to soybean-related genomic research endowed by the Missouri Soybean Growers Association. “Our project is just getting started,” he said. “The process takes a long time—7 to 10 years, with the last 2 years devoted to gaining regulatory approval.”

Why drought-resistant crops?

Whether it’s corn, soybeans or cotton, raising food requires a lot of water. “On a global scale, water supply will become less available as population increases,” Nguyen said. “We need to produce more food for more people using less water. Water supply will be a major issue in the 21st century.”

In the U.S., farmers increasingly compete for water resources with urban consumers in high-population, low-rainfall states like California. Even in normally wet states, water represents a growing concern. Before we heard of global warming, farmers around the world ranked drought as affecting crop yields more than any other single environmental factor.

“Every year in Missouri, there are locations where soybeans are stressed due to lack of moisture,” Nguyen said. “Drought-tolerant crops will prevent yield losses up to a point. Economical yields will not occur unless we attain adequate yields, and that requires moisture. We are looking for genetic traits that will support high yield in good environments and reduce yield losses when drought occurs.”

Kampelman elaborated. “All farmers are affected by water stress to some degree. We think this technology could provide more consistent yield returns for the Midwest farmer, although dryland acres that routinely experience a less-than-ideal supply of water may see the most immediate benefit from a drought trait.”

Monsanto expects to commercialize a portfolio of traits that provides more consistent yields in dryland production systems, as well as the potential for water savings on irrigated acres. “Helping reduce the amount of water required to produce a profitable crop could be a significant benefit for farmers where water shortages and depleted aquifers are an increasing threat to their operations,” Kampelman said.

Mixing oil and water

Nguyen and Kampelman agree that higher oil prices fuel the need for drought-tolerant research. “Less irrigation means fewer fuel costs to run the pumps, which is an important benefit with higher oil prices these days,” Kampelman said.

“I can see a conversion from irrigation to dryland farming due to concerns about the water supply and the cost of energy to pump water,” Nguyen added. “We will save costs by using drought-resistant crops.”

Nguyen links demand for water and oil even further, especially for corn and soybean growers. “We’re seeing interest in developing soybeans and corn as biofuel. That’s part of the solution. But to grow the amount we need, we may need to get some drought-tolerance capability.”

How will the plants resist drought?

Dale Ludwig, executive director of the Missouri Soybean Association in Jefferson City, offered his view on how new strains will work.

“A few varieties already claim they’re drought resistant,” he said. “Seeds, especially corn, are rated for drought tolerance. To get a drought-tolerant plant, you look at yield trends in test plots. Some plants may be naturally drought tolerant. You can go into the field and take seeds from plants that do better in drought situations.”