Tracking Modern Biotechnology to Enhance Agriculture and Rural Development. L.W. O GARRO University of the West Indies Cave Hill Campus

Transcription

1 Tracking Modern Biotechnology to Enhance Agriculture and Rural Development L.W. O GARRO Cave Hill Campus 34 th Annual Meeting Board of Governors May 11, 2004

2 Nature and Scope of Biotechnology Fermentation technology Enzyme technology Cell culture technology Genetic engineering

3 Global Perspective on Market Trends in Modern Biotechnology Key industry of the 21 th century Attractive investment climate facilitated growth Spiral of innovations producing new goods, services and hardware Profound impact on global trade

4 BMCs Standing in the Industry Lack of attractive investment Sidelined as importers of biotechnology goods and services Emergence of regulatory regime overtaken by trade in biotechnology products

5 Opportunities for Rectifying Trailing Position of BMCs Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety UN System for managing trade in GMOs Slanted towards agriculture Guide for developing biotechnology industry with internationally acceptable standards Concerns GMOs that will be released to the environment All countries will be parties to the Protocol First binding system linking trade and the environment

6 First Feature: Potential Benefits Crop improvement Resistance to pest and diseases Improving crop adaptability to growth limiting conditions

7 First Feature: Potential Benefits Requirements for GM crop development Isolation and characterisation of desirable genes Development of gene transfer systems for tropical crops Other needs to set up a biotechnology industry

8 Second Feature: Biosafety and Socio-economic Concerns Invasive species Gene flow Human health Accessibility of products and services

9 Relevance of Concerns to BMCs Small sizes and fragile ecosystems Vulnerability to natural disasters and external threats by invasive species Vulnerability of indigenous human settlements Economic and social importance of agriculture

10 Economic Contribution of Agriculture to CARICOM Countries Country % GDP 2003 % Foreign Exchange Earning 2001 % of Labour Force 2002 Antigua & Barbuda Bahamas Barbados Belize Dominica Grenada Guyana

11 Economic Contribution of Agriculture to CARICOM Countries Country % GDP % Foreign Exchange Earning % of Labour Force Jamaica St. Kitts/ Nevis St. Lucia St. Vincent & the Grenadines Suriname Trinidad & Tobago

12 Response Advocated by Biosafety Protocol Proactive action encouraged Case by case risk assessment Case by case risk management

13 Advocated Response: Limitations for BMCs Lack of capacity Limitations of a case-by-case approach to risk assessment and management Minimal obligations under the Biosafety Protocol

14 Proposals for Improving BMCs Response to Concerns Maintain planting material of selected crops at all times in quantities sufficient to replace predetermined acreage of these crops in events of GMO-related damage.

15 Crop Selection Requirements Importance to export agriculture Importance to food security Vulnerability to potential threats

16 Table 2 Main Crops Identified for Food Security and/or Export Agriculture in Borrowing Member Countries Country Crops Anguilla - Antigua & Barbuda Bahamas Barbados Belize Fruits, vegetables, hot pepper Citrus, avocado, vegetables Sugarcane, vegetables, root crops, fruits, hot pepper Rice, sugarcane, banana, citrus, beans, papaya, vegetables, ho British Virgins Island - Cayman Islands - Dominica Grenada Guyana Jamaica St. Kitts/Nevis St. Lucia St. Vincent and the Grenadines Surinam Trinidad and Tobago Banana, hot pepper, plantain, citrus, root crops, vegetables, av coconut, papaya Nutmeg, cocoa, banana, fruits, hot pepper, root crops, vegetab Sugarcane, rice, spices, pineapple, coconut, plantain, vegetabl Sugarcane, banana, root crops, hot pepper, coffee, fruits, papa Sugarcane, root crops, vegetables Banana, hot pepper, fruits, spices, coconut, vegetables, papaya Banana, root crops, fruits, spices, plantain, coconut, hot peppe Rice, banana, root crops, vegetables, fruits Sugarcane, fruits, vegetables, hot pepper Turks and Caicos Islands - Main Source: FAOSTAT and World Bank Development Indicators, 2002.

17 Preferred Method of Maintaing Planting Material Seeds and tissue culture plantlets for reasons of efficiency

18 Other Supporting Features of Proposed Strategy Basis of programme for crop improvement by genetic engineering Upgrading marginal and subsistence crops by making quantities of high quality planting material available Regular supply system of planting material to farmers

19 Other Supporting Features of Proposed Strategy (Con t) Allows for development and enforcement of quality standards Supports cultivating crops for export and food security Can buffer dislocation of agriculture Extends scope of disaster preparedness plan

20 Factors to Consider for Implementing Proposed Strategy Overall capacity Physical facilities Technical,scientific and administrative competencies Location and coordination of bulking Trans-boundary movement of planting materials Feasibility of strategy

21 Conclusions Need to include biotechnology in BMCs plan to tackle problems in agriculture Need for a policy on biotechnology Elements of a biotechnology policy for BMCs

22 Elements of a Biotechnology Policy for BMCs Establish BMCs overall policy objectives in the field of biotechnology research and development and identify policy directives to achieve these objectives; Promote balance between biotechnology, the environment and social and economic development; Establish standards and procedures to manage research and development in biotechnology; Establish standards and procedures for facilities engaged in biotechnology research and development;

23 Elements of a Biotechnology Policy for BMCs (con t) Identify mechanisms by which biotechnology research and development and the release of GMOs are to be regulated; Identify methods by which GMOs are to be regulated, controlled and managed to support biotechnology research and development in BMCs; Establish standards and procedures for registration and accreditation of facilities for biotechnology research and development in BMCs; identify appropriate mechanisms including economic instruments, for enforcing and implementing the policy.