World Bank Experience in Capacity Building for the Implementation of the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety

Transcription

1 World Bank Experience in Capacity Building for the Implementation of the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety Eija Pehu, Advisor, Agriculture and Rural Development Department

2 The Context: Support to Agricultural Biotechnology and Biosafety in the World Bank since 1990 mid-1990s: first investments in biotechnology and biosafety (India, Indonesia) Late 1990s: high profile meetings Biotech and the Poor ; more investments in Latin America and Asia Early 2000: Internal taskforce, Board briefing, staff training 2003: GEF funded biosafety framework implementation projects start in Colombia and India 2006: Regional biosafety programs in Latin America and West-Africa 2007: World Development Report 2008: biotechnology has unrealized potential for poverty reduction

3 Agricultural Biotechnology in the World Bank s Lending

4 Increasing Trend for Biotechnology in the Agriculture Portfolio Number of agriculture projects with biotechnology content ( ) Numbers of Projects Time

5 WB investments in Agriculture Projects ($ Million) from Actual Investments Biotech/biosafety investments 100 million US$ in Million Share of agricultural R&E projects Share of all agriculture projects 2.4% 0.3% 0 Agricultural in general Agricultural Research& Extension Agricultural biotechnology

6 Support to Biosafety

7 GEF Funded WB Supported Biosafety Projects in India and Colombia ( ) Impl. agency Focus Initial Capacity COLOMBIA Institute Alexander von Humboldt (IAvH) Strengthening of the national biosafety framework; inter-ministerial collaboration Establishment of a Central Laboratory INDIA Ministry of Environment and Forests Capacity building among stakeholders; review of risk assessment procedures; LMO detection; public information provision Had already laboratory capacity project provides incremental inputs to four institutions

8 Colombia and India Projects Lessons Learnt Attention to the specific country context in project design (existing legal framework, institutional set-up; capacity needs among stakeholders) Multistakeholder approach: Public sector: MOA, MIF, Min. Trade and Commerce, Min of S&T Academia and research organizations Private sector Civil society: Producer Organizations, Consumer organizations, environmental NGOs Communication and coordination for impact: Intra- and inter-ministerial coordination Knowledge sharing and management to the public, and stakeholders Importance of an adaptive approach (demand-led capacity development, flexibility in the design) Regulatory support coupled with product development For small countries, regional support to rationalize resource use

9 WB s Regional Projects - Latin America and West Africa Implenting agency Latin America International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT) West Africa West African Economic and Monetary Union - WAEMU Objectives TECHNICAL: Competence for environmental risk assessment to support compliance to Cartagena Protocol on biosafety. REGULATORY: Compliance to Cartagena Protocol through development of a Regional Biosafety Regulatory Framework Countries Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Peru Benin, Burkina Faso, Mali, Senegal, Togo

10 India Biosafety Project with MOEF Flagship project for the World Bank in biosafety Progress made in: risk assessment methodology; institutional strenghtening; LMO detection; capacity building of stakeholders; communication, knowledge management and awareness building; BCH Experiences and knowledge products to be shared internationally Recognition and appreciation of productive cooperation with MOEF

11 Future Challenges for GMOs in Agricultural Development Knowledge Challenge: environmental impacts (benefits and risks); Economic impacts (environmental and health economics, trade impacts etc.) Institutional arrangements in the commodity sectors Social impacts Trade-offs Capacity Challenge: biosafety, foodsafety, IPR policy Funding challenge: Resources for biotechnology research, - the right balance Cost of regulatory frameworks and compliance to regulations the right balance Institutional challenge: Access to biotechnology (AATF, CAMBIA, CIMBA, PIPRA, etc.) Equity in benefit distribution

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13 Articulation of the potential risks and benefits of biotechnology for development Facilitation of a stronger policy dialogue on biotechnology in poverty reduction Strengthening of regulatory systems for countries to objectively assess potential risks and benefits Increased financial and technical support to countries wanting to develop safe GM-crops with propoor impact

14 THANK YOU!