What’s on the Horizon for Biotechnology in Alfalfa and Forage Grasses?

Biotechnology is concentrated in two evolving research areas, genomics and transgenics. For the genomics approach, molecular markers combined with sequencing data, high throughput machinery, and sophisticated data analysis, allow determinations of complex gene expression. The use of an annual relative of cultivated alfalfa, Medicago truncatula, as the reference species for all legumes is an important step for using genomic technologies in alfalfa research. Transgenics involve the movement of specific and useful genes into the crop of choice and is referred to as genetic engineering. A summary of biotech research in this paper demonstrates genomic and transgenic biotechnologies are now a large part of alfalfa and forage grass cultivar development and basic research. These approaches are expensive, and in the case of transgenics, controversial, requiring much planning and even partnerships or consortia with others. However, the irony is not whether basic biotechnology research is increasing, but whether useful biotech traits will be available to the farmer due to costs and concerns with regulatory and public perception. Therefore, the de-regulation of alfalfa for the Roundup Ready gene is an important event for the future of forage biotechnology.