Challenges and opportunities for a generic market for GM crops in Africa

Transcription

1 Challenges and opportunities for a generic market for GM crops in Africa Diran Makinde NEPAD Agency African Biosafety Network of Expertise Presentation at the 2015 IIBN Forum, Ghent June 19, 2015

2 On the Ground-- Africa, spends between $30 billion to $50 billion/year to import food. (Funds needed for infrastructure, social & economic amenities). By 2030 could be up to $150 billion!!! Africa s agric exports accounted for 3.3% ( ) up from 1.2% ( );whilst intra-africa trade has doubled Genetic engineering, is one of the most promising technologies for confronting the multiplicity of challenges facing Africa, especially food insecurity.

3 Good news.. The voices of pro-transgenic crops is being heard by a growing number of high-level authorities in more countries bringing about revised or strengthened biosafety laws. However, a significantly vocal anti-gms remain skeptical and stress potential risks. Generic GM and the roles of AATF on access to royalty-free technology.

4 Prospects for GM Trade are rising in Africa Total biotech crop ha increased by 6%. From 3,233,781 ( 12) to 3,435,759 ha ( 13). B Faso 51%, Sudan 207%. 7 countries conducting CFTs on food security crops. Banana, cassava, potato, cowpea, maize, rice, sorghum, wheat & sweet potatoes. Distribution of biotech crops trait broadened. 37 ongoing: 23 on tropical pest and disease resistance; 5 nutritional enhancement; 3 NUE & salt tolerance; 2 on flower colour in Gypophilia; & 1 modified oils in soybean.

5 Status of Regulatory Regimes in Africa

6 Approved Events in Africa Source: ISAAA Report 2015 South Africa Maize 38 Soybean 11 Cotton 10 Canola 4 Rice 1 Burkina Faso Cotton 2 Egypt Maize1 Sudan Cotton 2

7 Source: FARA, ABNE & MSU, 2013 Current status of GM Crops in Africa CROP TRAITS COUNTRIES INVOLVED STAGE OF DEV. PARTNERS SOURCE OF FUNDING Banana Increase iron and beta carotene content Uganda CFT QUT Gatsby charitable Foundation, US Bacterial Wilt resistance Uganda CFT AATF, Academia Sinica, IITA Gatsby charitable Foundation, US Weevil, nematode resistance Uganda Approved for CFT Univ. California (San Diego),Univ. of Leeds,Univ. of Pretoria Bioversity Int.,Rockerfeller foundation, Gov. Of Uganda

8 Current status of GM Crops in Africa II CROP TRAITS COUNTRIES INVOLVED STAGE OF DEV. PARTNERS SOURCE OF FUNDING Cassava Cassava mosaic disease Enriched Vit A, iron, improved storage Kenya, Uganda CFT Danforth center, ETH Zurich, KARI,NACRRI Kenya, Nigeria CFT Danforth center, ETH Zurich, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Howard Buffet Foundation, Monsanto Fund, USAID Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation Cotton Bollworm resistance Uganda, Kenya, Egypt, Malawi CFT Monsanto, Danforth, NARS (Uganda, Kenya, Egypt) - 27 Source: FARA, ABNE & MSU, 2013

9 Current status of GM Crops in Africa III CROP TRAITS COUNTRIES INVOLVED STAGE OF DEV. PARTNERS SOURCE OF FUNDING Cowpea Pod borer resistance (Maruca vitara) Nigeria, Ghana, Burkina Faso CFT AATF, CSIRO, IITA, Kirkhouse, Monsanto Rockefeller Foundation, USAID Maize Stem borer resistance Kenya CFT CIMMYT, KARI Syngenta, Foundation for Sustainable Dev. Maize streak virus resistance South Africa GH C Pannar Seed, Univ. Cape Town - Source: ABNE & MSU, 2013

10 Source: FARA, ABNE & MSU, 2013 Current status of GM Crops in Africa IV CROP TRAITS COUNTRIES INVOLVED Maize Rice Drought tolerance Water use efficiency (WUE), Nitrogen Use Efficiency (NUE) and salt tolerance Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, South Africa and Mozambique Burkina Faso, Uganda, Nigeria, Ghana STAGE OF DEV. CFT in Uganda, Kenya GHC in South Africa CFT in Ghana PARTNERS AATF, CIMMYT, Monsanto, NARS AATF, Arcadia Bioscienc es, CIAT, Japan Tobacco SOURCE OF FUNDING Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Howard G. Buffett Foundation DFID-UK,USAID

11 Current status of GM Crops in Africa V CROP TRAITS COUNTRIES INVOLVED STAGE OF DEV. PARTNERS SOURCE OF FUNDING Sorghum Iron, Zinc, pro vit. A, protein(quality and digestibility) Kenya, Nigeria, B. Faso and S. Africa CFT- Kenya and Nigeria. GHC in S. Africa AATF, Africa Harvest, CORAF/ WECARD,CSIR (S.Africa),Danforth Center, ICRISAT, Pioneer,Univ. Of California Berkeley, Univ. of Pretoria, Bill and Melinda Gate Foundation and Howard Buffet Foundation Sweet Potato Weevil resistance Uganda and Kenya GHC Auburn Univ. BecA, CIP, Danforth Center, Kenyatta Univ., Univ. of Ghent, Univ. of Puerto Rico Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Rockefeller Foundation and USAID 30 Source: FARA, ABNE and MSU, 2013

12 AFRICAN ORPHAN CROPS CONSORTIUM The African Orphan Crops Consortiums Genomics Lab Dec 2013: Life Technologies donated instrumentation and lab establishment started Jan- Sept 2014: Lab set up; Staff was appointed (2 technical assistants, 1 scientist) December 2014: 1 st species sent for whole genome sequencing to BGI, China February 2015: 1 st re-sequenced genome of common bean at ICRAF The African Plant Breeding Academy (AfPBA) Dec 3 rd 2013: Opened at the World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF) Dec 2014: 1 st batch of 25 breeders graduated 250 plant breeders and technicians will be trained over 5 years.

13 P2 Ion chip: expected WHERE ARE WE NOW? 1 Whole genome sequencing (WGS) at BGI 2 Re-sequencing at AOCC lab, ICRAF Whole Genome Sequencing began for 12 species Adansonia digitata Adansonia kilima Vigna subterranea Casimiroa edulis Annona senegalensis Sclerocarya birrea Faidherbia albida Solanum aethiopicum Lablab purpureus Moringa oleifera Eleusine coracana Celosia argentea 3 4 Re-sequencing done for 40 accessions Phaseolus vulgaris (12) Cleome gynandra (28) On-going activities: Gene sequencing: 50 AOCC species Genome size estimation: for 101 species

14 Current Intra-African Trade 20% (+ informal & all products combined) Higher in East Africa (16%) vs. West Africa (11%). Europe 60%; North America 40%; ASEAN countries 30%. East Africa prone to chronic droughts - maize, rice, sugar, livestock & cassava(limited). - Kenya is the centre of gravity with mainly imports from Tanzania & Uganda. - Maize is imported from US, South Africa & Mexico - Rice from Asia and US (15-25%) TZ is the highest producer.

15 Current Intra-African Trade II West Africa- roots & tubers, cereals (maize, millet, sorghum & rice), vegetable oils & vegetables (onions, potatoes). Trade is polarised by Nigeria (half the W. Africa population & accounts for 60% of regional transactions in cereals.) Millet & Sorghum- Northern Nigeria, B. Faso, & Mali with Niger & Mauritania main recipient. Maize to Niger from Ghana, Benin, Cote d Ivoire Lesser amount from B.Faso & Mali

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17 Current Intra-African Trade III Rice: Region has large deficit & covers only 50% of its needs. Main importers are Nigeria (1.8-2 MT/year), Senegal, Cote d Ivoire, & Benin. Onions: Niger major producer. Trade with Senegal, Ghana & Cote d Ivoire. Palm oil is dominated by Nigeria (1.3 MT and consumed within the country) & Cote d Ivoire(330,000T)

18 Top Export Commodities from Burkina Faso in Tons ( ) Export Quantity in Tons Item Cotton Lint 198, ,415.0 Sesame Seed 49, ,298.0 Karite Nuts (Sheanuts) 62, ,797.0 Maize 14, ,892.0 Fruit, Tropical Fresh 5, ,915.0 Cottonseed cake 21, ,832.0 Dry Beans 3, ,161.0 Sorghum 2, Tomatoes 6, ,929.0 Source: USAID / CILSS (2013)

19 Regional & Cross-border Trade Flows in Agricultural Products in West Africa (December 2013) Regional & Cross-border Trade in Maize (December 2013) Exporting Country Côte d Ivoire (CI) Nigeria (NIG) Burkina Faso (BF) Ghana (GHN) Benin (BN) Tons Value (in USD/ 000) Export Price USD/Ton Destination Countries Regional & Cross-border Trade in Maize (December 2013) Impor-ting Country Tons Value (in USD/ 000) Export Price USD / Ton 5, SNG 3, CI Country of origin 1, BF 1, CI, GHN, TG 1, ML 1, CI NG 3, BF, CI, GHN Mauritania CI, ML Mali (ML) BN 15 4 BF Togo (TG) Total 10,843 2,655 Total 10,843 1,547 Source: USAID/CILSS (2013)

20 Regional & Cross-border Trade in Millet (December 2013) Exporting Country Tons Value (in USD/000) Export Price USD/ Ton Destination Countries Regional & Cross-border Trade in Sorghum (December 2013) Importing Country Tons Value (in USD / 000) Export Price USD/ Ton Country of origin Nigeria (NIG) 5,109 2, NG NIG 3,510 2, NG Ghana (GHN) BN, CI, GHN, TG BF BN, GHN, NG, TG Burkina Faso (BF) BF ML BF TG BF Total 5,629 2,543 Total 4,256 2,414 Source: USAID/CILSS (2013)

21 Marketing challenges Constraints include Institutional and infrastructure. High transactions costs high due to market inefficiencies; Poor organization of smallholders- producing small amounts of variable quality, Inadequate infrastructure to production areas, Limited storage capacity at key locations, Cumbersome customs and border procedures, Insecurity, Lack of reliable market information, and lack of financing viable activities.

22 COMESA Region

23 Major challenges of the agriculture sector in COMESA region

24 Policy Despite the Free Trade Area agreement by 11 of the 19 MS, barriers to regional trade in staple and other foods do occur. periodic import or export bans, superfluous sanitary and phyto-sanitary (SPS) requirements, duties and other charges on cross border trade. Easier to export into the world market than to trade with a neighbouring country

25 Technology Dependency on uncertain rainfall and nutritionally deficient soils. Cultivated area under irrigation is only 9 per cent; Adoption of improved seed varieties is only 30 per cent; and Fertilizer intensity use is only 10 kg/ha compared to global average of 50 kg/

26 GMO Trade: Challenges Export risks due to potential market losses in Europe may have been exaggerated (but regulatory frameworks influenced under extensive bilateral aid to Africa). Most agric. exports: tea, coffee, cocoa, vegetables & flowers rather than staples that are likely to be GM are traded within Africa. GM staples for intra-africa trade will require: Regional trade agreements (regional biosafety procedures & regional regulatory decision-making); -Bilateral & multilateral mechanisms to manage it.

27 South Africa Uniqueness Almost 2 decades experience in GM production & trade; Management of the marketing and trade of GM crops continues to evolve; 1997 approval for import permits of GM products after safety review(commodity clearance); 7 out of 10 countries in SADC have restrictions on GM maize imports, except it is milled.

28 AU/NEPAD Agency ABNE Approach Regulatory harmonization- more similarities than differences exist RECs must strive for co-ordinated coexistence, adventitious presence and identity preservation standards to facilitate regional trade(comesa/rabesa/actesa; ECOWAS/WAEMU/CILSS). Niche markets exist for both GM and non-gm crops with growing demand for GM crops

29 NEPAD Agency ABNE Approach II AU Member states are importers of GM technology. Therefore, there is need for proper stewardship of products e.g. implementing IRM, in case of resistance built up to inform concerned authorities. In case of challenges product should be phased out from the market as a risk mitigation measure. Need for proper and adequate seed quality production Responsible use of regulatory data for application Technology transfer is a marathon not a sprint

30 Conclusion GMO is needs-based for Africa. Africa s share of world agric. trade has increased in recent years after decline, & trade among African countries has been on the rise with the decreasing trade barriers.

31 Conclusion II The ability of decision-makers to discern the appropriateness of data necessary to adequately conduct a risk assessment ( nice to know vs. need to know ), all have considerable consequences. For example, too much information often confuses decision-making

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