Biotech and Society Interface: Concerns and Expectations Diran Makinde AU-NEPAD Agency ABNE Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso www.nepadbiosafety.net Presentation at the 5 th Asian Biotech & Dev Conference. Kanya, Sri Lanka. December 17, 2010 NEPAD Planning and Coordinating Agency
Source: ISAAA +7%
by country USA: 64.0 Brazil: 21.4 Argentina: 21.3 India: 8.4 Canada: 8.2 China: 3.7 Paraguay: 2.2 South Africa: 2.1 ROW: ~2.7 by crop Soybean: 69.2 (77%) Maize: 41.7 (26%) Cotton: 16.1 (49%) Rapeseed: 6.4 (21%) Others: ~0.6 by trait Herbicide tolerance (HT): 83.6 Insect resistance (IR): 21.7 HT + IR: 28.7 Others: <0.1 Source: ISAAA
Drought tolerance expected commercial release of the first maize varieties in 2011 Increased yield Resistance to additional pests e.g. resistance to anthracnose, aphids, nematodes Nitrogen Use Efficiency Output traits o Remedy to deficiencies higher vitamin and iron content o Improved nutritional profile improved amino acid and fatty acid composition o Improved processing properties ethanol value, modified starch, higher solid content, improved fiber quality Courtesy of Syngenta
Concerns about gene transfer Environmental: Outcrossing; Spreading; Biodiversity (nontarget) Food and feed safety Economic: (Trade, IPR) Social: Ethics; Saved seed; Organic farming; Labelling
Concerns in the media The anti-gm movement arose in the EU Primarily in opposition to US commodity exports (an economic threat to local agriculture) Opposition to globalization, conventional agriculture, multinational corporations, etc. Used safety issues to capture public support
Needs to Address the Concerns Capacity building- Personnel -Infrastructure & Equipment Training Support Services Awareness creation Funding AU-NEPAD Agency African Biosafety Network of Expertise (ABNE): Part of the Solution
Status of biosafety in Africa Countries with developed NBFs: 12 Countries with interim NBFs: 11 Countries with no biosafety frameworks or in the process of developing NBFs: 30
Africa Expectations from Biotech Agricultural development Provision of sufficient affordable nutrition Improving access to affordable and effective health care Protection of the African environment Creation of jobs and the reduction of poverty Develop new energy sources
Bollgard Bt Cotton South Africa India - Cotton = 30% Agriculture GDP +54% in yields +62% in profits -70% in insect sprays 20-60% yield $50 Gross Margin 6 less sprays
Triggers for biotechnology adoption Increasing population pressure on farming resources especially land and water. Growing food security problems due to low crop yields (about 1 mt/ha for cereals in Africa; contrast 3.6 for developed countries). Climate change problems-uncertain rainfall patterns, droughts and floods.
Triggers for biotechnology adoption Fossil fuel price hikes and the effects on agriculturetransport costs, agro-input costs, etc. Rising food prices- due largely to climate change and escalating fuel prices. Right policies to be put in place to ensure the farmer gets a substantial share of this increase. Modern biotechnology in complementation with traditional technologies in an appropriate policy framework (seed sector improvement, agro-input supply, farmer credit, extension delivery, agro-processing and improved market infrastructure) can to a large extent address the above challenges.
What are the key barriers to the adoption of GM crops? Consumer Acceptance Technology Transfers Civil Society Religion Trade Policy Costs / Funding Capacity
Challenges Absence of a Legal Framework. Lack of Institutional and Infrastructural Capacity Limited Human Resource Capacity Limited Funding Incomplete Regulatory System Lack of Protection of IPR Lack of Platform for Networking
Challenges (contd) The issue of co-existence Over-concentration on safety issues of biotechnology and missing the bigger picture of its benefits to society. Conflicting stands on issues of biotechnology by the Ministries-Environment, Science and Agriculture. Lack of an aggressive risk communication activity championed by a pro-gm NGO.
What needs to be done? Aggressive lobbying of politicians and extensive risk communication involving the politicians, farmer groups, the media and civil society. Identification of a major production constraint in a key national commodity that can best be solved by modern biotechnology. Convincing national governments to mainstream and budget biotechnology activities into national development agenda for agriculture. Drawing attention to biotech solutions to a natural disaster whenever this is appropriate.
CONCLUDING REMARK The acquisition of biotechnology (GE) products will drive the need for and use of biosafety regulations. NEPAD Agency championing this in consultation with institutions in Africa that promote biotechnology
Our Key Responsibility Ensure that society has enough knowledge and foresight. Continue to confirm safety before products are introduced into the environment and food supply.