Consolidated Biotechnology and Biosafety Issues in Africa Samuel E. Timpo Senior Programme Officer African Biosafety Network of Expertise (ABNE) AFSTA Congress 2017 February 28, 2017 King Fahd Hotel, Dakar
Global challenge The challenge is not only to increase global future production but also to increase it where it is mostly needed and by those who need it most with special focus on smallholder farmers, women and rural households and their access to land, water and high quality seeds, fertilizers and other modern inputs, as well as financial services including micro-credit. Statement of Jacques Diouf, DG of FAO Opening of the High-Level Expert Forum on How to Feed the World in 2050 Monday, 12 October 2009
Political decision The AU considers Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) as vital in enhancing : agricultural productivity on-farm and along the agri-food value chain competitiveness market access
Political decision African Ministerial Conference on Science and Technology (AMCOST) identified modern biotechnology as a developmental tool stated modern biotechnology must be harnessed safely advocates for a comprehensive approach to modern biotechnology
Comprehensive approach to modern agricultural biotechnology Agri-Industry Communication Public Communication Economic Growth Food Security Improved Nutrition Extension & Stewardship Market/Trade Capacity Building R & D Technology Transfer IPR PVP/IPR Farmers Seed Indus. Biotech Indus. Credit: Johan Brink, 2003 Varietal Release Outreach and Communication Conventional Breeding Biosafety Technology Regulatory Framework Food & Environmental Safety
Challenges being addressed to ensure biotech growth in Africa work in progress A move towards having biosafety systems with enabling policy, legal and administrative environment Ensuring policy and implementation coherence Manpower training initiatives ongoing to produce appreciable level of human resource that would be equitably distributed across the continent Addressing value-chain issues
Challenges being addressed to ensure biotech growth in Africa work in progress Instituting and growing viable seed industries Formulating and implementing policies that are supportive of public-private sector partnerships Strengthening linkages among R&D institutions, industry and technology end-users Providing access to accurate and useful biotechnology and biosafety information
Why a regional approach to regulation? Political will and support for a regional approach exists at the AU level e.g. mandate of NEPAD and already existing RECs Geographic proximity Existing commonalities Common agro-ecological systems Common crops of economic importance
Rationale for harmonization A well-structured harmonized regulatory system would confer benefits such as cost efficiency adequate shared technical capacity harmonized compliance procedures creation of more competitive markets facilitation of cross-border trade standardised and transparent processes for predictability in international trade
Is harmonizing biosafety regulations achievable? YES CPB provides a common and coordinated approach for parties to address potential risks of LMOs focusing on trans-boundary movements hence more similarities than differences exist Furthermore, other international regulatory guidelines exist (WTO, FAO, WHO, IPPC, CODEX, OECD) Commonalities also exist in biotech/biosafety policies of AU member states hence it is possible to align policies, technical regulations, standards and specifications for a harmonised regulatory system However it can sometimes be a long and tortuous journey (e.g. COMESA, ECOWAS, SADC)
COMESA - Long road to the approval of the regional biosafety policy Credit: Waithaka et al, 2015
Workable regulatory framework Emerging consensus is to have a regional mechanism for risk assessment while decisionmaking is done at the national level Where significant agro-ecological differences exist, national systems could then conduct complementary risk assessments. To be effective and efficient in this role, the regional institution will need good administration strong linkages with national authorities, and efficient review mechanisms
Regulatory pitfalls to avoid Key issues that can lead to disagreements and stymie progress include: choice of terminologies consistency with international obligations cost of regulatory compliance extent and nature of data requirement choice of liability and redress regime nature of inclusion of socio-economics labelling policy level of clarity of regulations and enforceability of laws
Successful regulatory harmonization A participatory, inclusive, interactive, and transparent approach that ensures ownership of both the process and outcome. Process requires flexibility and willingness to move from premeditated positions in favour of workable, science-based, evidence-based and efficient alternative options in the spirit of compromise and cooperation. Need for compelling arguments to address certain concerns e.g. fear of losing export markets in Europe
Would adopting GM technology undermine trade with Europe?
https://ec.europa.eu/food/sites/food/files/plant/docs/20150422_plant_gmo_new_authori sation_gmo_food_feed_proposal_en.pdf
Moving forward Regulatory harmonization requires platforms for consultation and a clear understanding of the benefits of an efficient functioning system Such platforms require country-to-country dialogues for confidence building and for partnerships that promote resource sharing and exchange of experiences, data and best practices Need to embrace the culture of harnessing the immense benefits of intra- and inter-regional trade in Africa
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