Environmental Commission - Monitoring the use of biotechnology

Transcription

1 2016 Environmental Commision Monitoring the use of bio-technology 1

2 Index Introduction... 3 Definition of key-terms... 4 General Overview... 6 Major parties involved and their views... 9 Timeline of important events/documents UN involvement Possible Solutions List of Sources

3 Forum: Environmental Commission. Issue: Monitoring the use of biotechnology. Student Officers: Paula Aguilar, Lucia Cofelice. Position: Chairs of Environmental Commission,. Introduction Biotechnology is the biological process to manufacture products in order to improve the quality of human life. Biotechnology was intended to enhance agriculture but nowadays it is also used for all kind of biological changes, such as medicine, energy resources and any type of food. Biotechnology is mainly used worldwide to reduce hunger and poverty, adapt to climate change and to maintain natural resources. The use of biotechnology benefits the most to big producers leaving small producers and consumers in disadvantage. In Most Economic Developed Countries (MEDCs), biotechnology is used to improve the quality of the seeds used, so as they tolerate herbicide, insect pests and even droughts. However, in Less Economic Developed Countries (LEDCs), the use of biotechnology is limited because it is expensive. Nevertheless, in countries like Argentina, Brasil, Cuba, and Mexico have medium scale biotechnological programmes, which are compulsory needed because of their agricultural economy. The United Nations (UN) thinks that biotechnology will be strongly needed so as to produce food sustainably for million people more by 2050, so the actual food production is not enough. The UN scope is mostly to shield climate change and all factors that alter natural resources such as biodiversity, land or water which are fundamental for the production of agriculture. 3

4 Definition of key-terms Biotechnology The manipulation of living organisms or their components to produce useful usually commercial products. Climate change Climate change is a large-scale, long-term shift in the planet's weather patterns or average temperatures. Natural resources The natural wealth of a country, consisting of land, forest, mineral deposits, water, etc. Green revolution The Green Revolution was a period when the productivity of global agriculture increased drastically as a result of new advances. During this time period, new chemical fertilisers and synthetic herbicides and pesticides were created. The chemical fertilisers made it possible to supply crops with extra nutrients and, therefore, increase yield. The newly developed synthetic herbicides and pesticides controlled weeds, deterred or kill insects, and prevented diseases, which also resulted in higher productivity. Genetic revolution It refers to a model for the evolution of new species holding that the Founders Effect is characterised by a great increase in the homozygosity of individuals, followed by the loss of additive genetic variance because the population remains so small. Global Warming Global warming is the observed and projected increases in the average temperature of Earth's atmosphere and oceans. 4

5 Ecosystem All the living things, from plants and animals to microscopic organisms, that share an environment. 5

6 General Overview The first food product of biotechnology appeared on the market in 1990, and, since 1995 farmers have been growing biotech crops. It helped to improve the quality of the feed in order to place beneficial traits, like diseases resistance or herbicide tolerance. The main use that the farmers have is to bustle the time needed to grow plants in cheaper prices and with less risks for human beings. The modernisation on seeds helped farmers to feed population. In 2003, 7 million farmers in 18 countries were planting biotech crops, almost one third of the global biotech plantation was grown in developing countries. In 2007, 12 million farmers in 23 countries planted biotech crops, corn and canola; 11 million of these farmers worked in resource-poor farms in LEDCs. The use of biotechnology helps to reduce agriculture s environmental footprint since it reduces fossil fuel use, soil tillage and run-off from farmer s fields. Biotech crops plantations began in 1996, and up to million gallos of fuel were saved because of reduced field operations. The use of pesticides it is also reduced since biotech seeds are modified in order to avoid deseases. Opposition Italy, Japan and Germany were the first countries against the use of biotechnology. In 1990 in Germany, the genetic commission requested a moratorium of five years for the experiments of biotechnology. Biotechnology in LEDCs In developing countries, there is a need on optimising agricultural output in conjunction with conserving the natural resources base via improved crops and crop management systems. The implications of climate change make it necessary to integrate considerations regarding adaptation, uncertainty, vulnerability and resilience into agricultural research programmes and strategies. The various biotechnologies available have the potential to play a significant role in achieving these aims. The wider application of genetic modification has been slowed down by severe limitations on the kinds of traits available, complex intellectual property rights regimes 6

7 and regulatory issues, and the often negative public perception. While there have been significant successes in the adoption by farmers of a few first-generation transgenic varieties, there have also been unexpected market setbacks as farmers sought to avoid high seed costs and other restrictions. In developing countries there is a need for continued focus on optimising agricultural output, together with preserving the natural resources base through improved crops and management systems. Nowadays, there is still a lot of controversy and fear over genetically modified organisms (GMOs) and many countries such as France, Austria and Greece have banned their growth. Others, namely Ireland, have banned the production of GMOs and only allow their sale if they are labeled. GMOs ongoing unpopularity is often attributed to the belief that they strengthen industrial agriculture, a trade perceived as being the cause of the deterioration of food quality, the accelerated decrease of farms and damage to the environment according to Sylvie Bonny from the National Institute of Agricultural Research in France. This paranoia in regard to GMOs is generally displaced as countries that allow GMOs tend to have strict guidelines to regulate them. These guidelines are usually based off of the Codex Alimentarius Guidelines which assesses the health effects of GMOs such as their toxicity and allergenicity. Additionally, environmental effects are assessed by evaluating the GMO characteristics to predict its effect and stability in the environment it will be put in. In India, there is a variety of rice resistant to floods with a potential yield 1-3 tons per hectare than the varieties used before in flood conditions. In China, the Jian carp has been developed using genetic selection within the family. The Jian carp are grown today in about fish farms and accounts for over 50 percent of the production of common carp in China. In northern Cameroon, field use of diagnostic tools has enabled the veterinary authorities quickly diagnose outbreaks of illnesses des petits ruminants, highly contagious viral disease that affects goats and sheep. The rapid and accurate diagnosis of the disease meant that the authorities could combat these outbreaks and stop the spread of this deadly disease to other herds. 7

8 Disadvantages of biotechnology There are two main ways in where biotechnology affects daily life. The first one is the environment, the possibility of cross-pollination in where biotech pollen crops diffuses traditional crops in nearby fields, with this some characteristics of biotech crops can be spread to not genetically modified crops. This could lead to the development of more aggressive wild relatives with increased resistance to diseases or abiotic stresses, upsetting the ecosystem balance. Another ecological risk came from the extensive use of genetically modified with genes that produce insecticidal toxins such as Bacillus thuringinesis (Bt) gene crops; this causes resistance gene in insect population exposed to genetically modified crops develop. There may also be risks to species that are not the target, such as birds and butterflies, for plants with insecticidal genes. The lose of biodiversity is also a disadvantage, as a result of the displacement of traditional crops by a small number of genetically modified crops. Another disadvantage is the health risk. There are possibilities of transferring toxins from one life form to another, creating new toxins or of transferring allergenic compounds from one species to another, which could result in unexpected allergic reactions. Also, there is a risk that bacteria and modified viruses escape from high security laboratories and infect human or animal population. There are four biological agents classified according to the risk of infection: Group 1 biological agent: One that is unlikely to cause disease in man. Group 2 biological agent: One that can cause disease in humans and may pose a danger to workers, being unlikely to spread to the community and there usually effective treatment. Group 3 biological agent: One that can cause severe illness in humans and presents a serious danger to workers, at risk of spreading to the community and there usually effective treatment. Group 4 biological agent: One that causing severe disease in humans is a serious danger to workers, with many likely to spread to the community and there is usually no effective treatment. 8

9 Major parties involved and their views Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) FAO recognises that when appropriately integrated with other technologies for the production of food, agricultural products and services, biotechnology can be of significant assistance in meeting the needs of an expanding and increasingly urbanised population. United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP) The UNEP believes that the use of biotechnologies should be ensured in development, research and application. It also defends the priority human resources, the needs in qualify researchers and to prevent people from the risks biotechnology has. International monetary fund (IMF) The IMF believes that the use of biotechnology will benefits all LEDCs since in this countries is common to be able only to cultivate some certain products. Nevertheless, the IMF states that the countries who use biotechnology will need to adapt to the demand and supply of the products. The IMF, like the UNEP, priority the human health so in any negotiation between countries all products need to be analysed first. European Union (EU) The EU is against biotechnological feed, so they uses the precautory principle demanding an authorisation for any genetical modified feed before it enters to the market. All products must pass by the risk assessment in where it is shown if the food is safe for human and animal health, and the environment under is intended conditions of use. United States of America The US has taken a very favorable stance towards GMOs. They are the world leaders in GMO production. Biotechnology is a major part of the US s economy and in 2012 US production represented 40% of all biotech crops grown global. Currently several crops in 9

10 the US are almost solely GMOs and in 2013 it was estimated that 93% of soybeans, 90% of cotton and 90% of corn are genetically modified to be more resistant to herbicides and insect resistant. Africa Most African countries are very opposed to GMOs. For example in 2002, Zambia, Zimbabwe and Mozambique, three countries suffering from drought and crop failure, declined food aid from the United States because it consisted of GMOs. Since then Zambia has changed it s stance and now fully accepts and grows GMOs but is the only African country, besides South Africa, to do so. Most African Countries are against GMOs because they are worried about health risks these may cause and about their exports. Most African countries main source of revenue is exporting crops to Europe and many fear that if they start growing GM crops these would contaminate non- GM crops and Europeans (being strongly anti GMO) would no longer accept to trade. South America All South American countries (except Venezuela and Costa Rica) have approved or allowed GMO crops. Asia Most Asian countries allow the growth of GMOs. For the moment China, India and the Philippines are actively growing GMOs and others (such as: Thailand, Vietnam and Indonesia) are experimenting with GMOs. 10

11 Timeline of important events/documents From 1930s to 1960s productivity). Green Revolution (increase in agricultural 1943 Foundation of Special Studies Office in Mexico. 1950s Genetic Revolution (change in seeds genetic). From 3rd to 14th June 1992 The Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro First developed genetically modified plants resistant to insect attack Transgenic corn produced The European Commission issues the Novel Foods Regulation which requires a safety assessment for GMOs before they go on sale First genetical modified product appear on the market FAO starts accepting the use of biotechnology in agriculture EU starts to regulate the commercialisation of Genetical Modified Organisms (GMO). 11

12 UN involvement The UN had to treaties in order to monitorate the use of biotechnology, the first was The Codex Alimentarius in 1963 where it was set that international food standards, guidelines and codes of practice that contribute to the safety, quality and fairness of international food trade.. This is constantly being upgraded and has committee sessions periodically to include new food related issues. Another UN involvement is the Cartagena Protocol in 2003 which is the first biosafety Protocol with the aim of ensure the safe handling, transport and use of living modified organisms resulting from modern biotechnology that may have adverse effects on biological diversity and with possibility of having human health risks. 12

13 Possible Solutions One possible solution is to draught countries to label GMOs since only 64 countries in the world are currently doing it. Some countries (like the U.S.A) believes that labelling is unnecessary but there have been many suggestions to change this in the U.S.A.. Nowadays, many costumers tries to avoid biotech consumption since they are nonnatural products and, with those not labeled, it is more difficult for them to avoid buying it. Another solution can be to start consensus. Regulations on GMOs vary everywhere since in some nations are banned, in other are produced cautiously and in other nations this products are totally allowed. At the moment, all countries who grow or trade agricultural biotech have their own ways of assessing health and environmental risks making trade difficult between many countries Coming to a global consensus on GMO assessment would be beneficial to all as it would increase the trade of GMOs and ensure valid assessments of GMOs for all nations. 13

14 List of Sources Sonnino, A. (2016). Biotechnology. Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations. Retrieved 24 April 2016, from Antonios, P. (2016). Biotecnología: varios países en desarrollo ya tienen programas bien elaborados.fao.org. Retrieved 25 April 2016, from Evenett, S. (1999). Finanzas & Desarrollo. Retrieved from Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO). (2010). SECTION 1 Background to ABDC- 10. April 25, 2016, de FAO from 14