In
This Issue:
WSSD
CONCLUDES WITH GOVERNMENT COMMITMENTS AND PARTNERSHIP PROGRAMS
The two-week World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) in Johannesburg,
South Africa concluded with significant commitments to improve the lives of
people living in poverty and to reverse the continuing degradation of the global
environment.
During a closing press conference, United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan
said "This Summit will put us on a path that reduces poverty while protecting
the environment, a path that works for all peoples, rich and poor, today and
tomorrow." He noted that governments agreed "on an impressive range of concrete
commitments and action that will make a real difference for people in all regions
of the world."
Commitments were made to increase access to clean water and proper sanitation,
to increase access to energy services, to improve health conditions and agriculture,
particularly in dry lands, and to better protect the world's biodiversity and
ecosystems.
Delegates
to the World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) agreed on a
wide-ranging Plan of Implementation aimed at detailing actions needed
to fight poverty and protect the environment. The Plan sets several
targets and timetables for a number of initiatives dealing with water,
energy, health, agriculture and biodiversity.
Among decisions taken, government representatives agreed to halve the proportion
of people who lack clean water and proper sanitation by 2015. Countries committed
themselves to reaching two billion people who do not have access to modern
energy services. On health issues, countries agreed to phase out the use and
production of chemicals that harm human health and the environment by 2020
in addition to actions to fight HIV/AIDS and reduce water borne diseases and
health risks due to pollution.
Commitments to protect biodiversity and improve ecosystem management include
reducing biodiversity loss by 2010; restore fisheries to maximum sustainable
yields by 2015; establish a representative network of marine protected areas
by 2012; and to improve developing countries' access to environmentally-sound
alternatives to ozone depleting chemicals by 2010.
The Summit also generated concrete partnership initiatives by and between governments,
citizen groups and businesses. Governments agreed on a series of commitments
in five priority areas that were backed up by specific government announcements
on programs, and by partnership initiatives. More than 220 partnerships, representing
$235 million in resources, were identified during the Summit process to complement
the government commitments, and many more were announced outside of the formal
Summit proceedings.
The Summit was attended by 104 Heads of State and Government, 9,000 delegates,
8,000 NGOs and 4,000 members of the press. For more information, go to http://www.un.org/apps/news/
story.asp?NewsID=4617&Cr=johannesburg&Cr1=summit and http://www.johannesburgsummit.org/
html/whats_new/feature_story38.htm
SCIENCE
FORUM FOCUSES ON ROLE OF BIOTECH AND BIODIVERSITY
One of the highlights during the recently concluded World Summit on Sustainable
Agriculture was the Science Forum Workshop on the Role of Biotechnology and
Biodiversity in Sustainable Development held at Ubuntu Village, Johannesburg,
South Africa.
This gathering of stakeholders in biotech aimed at stimulating a dialogue between
governments, scientists, industry and international organizations working towards
Type II partnerships for sustainable development. Scientists, farmers and private
partner organizations spoke on their experiences and initiatives in developing
countries with regards biotechnology.
Dr. Ben Ngubane, South African Minister of Science and Technology, expressed
his government's support for biotechnology (see related article). Insights
on developing country perspectives were provided by Dr. Xia Jingyuan of China's
Ministry of Agriculture, Prof. Ibrahim Manwan of Indonesia's Hasanuddin University,
Prof. Jennifer Thompson of South Africa's University of Cape Town, and Chengal
Reddy of India's Federation of Farmers.
The following conclusions and recommendations were made at the dialogue and
finalized for presentation to the organizers of the Forum:
- Increased
funding for science and infrastructure development in Africa and
other developing countries is required to realize the full benefits
from biotechnology. This includes human resource development and
capacity building, development of basic infrastructure, as well
as an enabling policy environment.
- Public
awareness, dialogue, communication and understanding of biotechnology
are required to ensure that end-users understand and are given
the opportunity to experience the benefits of biotechnology. Collaboration
among scientists, governments, international organizations, farmers,
civil society groups, and other stakeholders is key to achieving
this objective.
- Biotechnology
is one critical tool in the quest for sustainable development.
Farmers from developing countries have reported significant positive
experiences with this technology. Concerns about the safety of
the technology have also been raised, which need to be addressed
by scientists, government officials and others through the provision
of accurate and understandable information and dialogue.
- Africa
must develop its own scientific and technological solutions to
African problems. Africa must be able to make its own choices about
what technologies to utilize and under various conditions.
- A new
contract between science, civil society and the private sector
to foster and develop successful Type II partnerships is required.
- In
the move towards a bio-based economy, opportunities for investment
in
biotechnology need be explored to enhance industry's productivity in a sustainable
manner.
- Recognizing
the adoption and near-term implementation of the Cartagena Protocol
on Biosafety, participants agreed on the need to focus immediate
attention on implementation of the remainder of Chapter 16 of Agenda
21 to harness biotechnology to address food security, human and
animal health, sustainable energy and industrial production and
other aspects highlighted in Chapter 16 to contribute to sustainable
development in developing countries.
The Science
Forum was sponsored by AfricaBio, the International Service for the
Acqusition of Agri-biotech Applications, and other stakeholder organizations.
More details on the Science Forum and related events are provided by AfricaBio
at http://www.africabio.com
SOUTH
AFRICA FORMULATES NATIONAL BIOTECHNOLOGY STRATEGY
"The first century of the new millennium will not only belong to information
and communications technology, as we are often led to believe, but also to biotechnology,
and its immense potential to contribute to human and animal health, agriculture
and food production, manufacturing and sustainable development". Dr. Ben Ngubane,
South Africa's Minister of Arts, Culture, Science and Technology, stressed this
point during his welcome address at the Forum on Science, Technology and Innovation
for Sustainable Development, a parallel event to the World Summit on Sustainable
Development.
Minister Ngubane said that while South Africa has a solid history of engagement
in traditional biotechnology, it has failed to exploit recent advances in biotechnology.
Thus, South Africa has designed a National Biotechnology Strategy to enable
it to catch up with the progress of other developing countries like Cuba, Brazil
and China. Key recommendations include the establishment of a government agency
to champion biotechnology, proactive investment in human resources development
and the strengthening of scientific and technological capabilities.
Though Minister Ngubane said that there was a need to continuously assess biotechnology
programs within the framework of the South African constitution and to ensure
that the country protects its own intellectual property rights. He stressed
that technological innovation is essential for human progress.
The welcome address can be seen at http://www.scienceforum.co.za/minafricabio.doc.
FAO
TO SOUTH AFRICAN COUNTRIES: CONSIDER CAREFULLY BEFORE REJECTING FOOD AID
The Director General of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) said that
south African countries facing drought should carefully consider current scientific
knowledge before rejecting food aid containing genetically modified organisms
(GMOs). In a press conference at the World Summit on Sustainable Development,
Director General Jacques Diouf said 13 million people were estimated to be
in need of food assistance in the coming months to avoid widespread starvation
in the region.
Diouf said that the important thing is that all donated food meets the food
safety standards of both the donor and recipient countries. He also said that
based on information from a variety of sources and current scientific knowledge,
the food being offered to southern African countries is not likely to present
a human health risk and may be eaten. Further, in the current crisis, governments
in south Africa must consider carefully the severe and immediate consequences
of limiting food aid available for millions of people so desperately in need.
In the meantime, the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) launched an
online donation feature on its web site http://www.wfp.org,
giving individuals the chance to make their own contribution to the Agency's
global fight against hunger. Visitors can use their credit cards to help the
aid agency feed hungry people around the world.
The statement of Diouf can be seen at http://www.fao.org/english/newsroom/
news/2002/8844-en.html
AFRICAN
SCIENTISTS CONDEMN GM FOOD REJECTION
African scientists who attended the WSSD said "it was immoral, unethical and
inhuman for some southern African countries to reject genetically modified
(GM) foods under the pretext that it was unsafe."
In a statement issued on their behalf by A Harvest Biotech Foundation International
(http://www.ahbfi.org),
the scientists averred that the rejection of GM food by some African countries
is not based on scientific data. They lamented that the affected governments
had not consulted scientists in their countries but appeared to have been influenced
by anti-GM lobby groups.
The scientists added that they have come together to clarify the matter from
a scientific perspective. " We endeavor to provide leadership and direction
of this critical issue threatening the lives of 13 million people and over
300,000 facing near-death due to the various governments' decision to refuse
food aid because it is GM."
PRIVATE
SECTOR CALLS FOR USE OF BIOTECH
The biotechnology private sector urges governments, international organizations
and other stakeholders involved in the World Summit on Sustainable Development
(WSSD) to "conduct their work in a manner that allows biotechnology to continue
contributing to the goals of sustainable development, poverty eradication and
food security."
This appeal was endorsed and submitted to the WSSD by AgroBio Mexico, Biotechnology
Industry Organization, CropLife International, Desusche Industrie vereiningung
Biotechnologie, EuropaBio, International Seed Federation and Japan Bioindustry
Association.
The private sector noted that the positive experience with biotechnology over
the last 20 years has been and continues to be confirmed by governments and
international organizations. They cited the 2001 report of the European Commission
which announced the results of 15 years of genetically modified organisms (GMO)
safety research involving 81 projects and more than 400 multidisciplinary teams.
The Commission stated that GM plants and derived products have not shown any
new risks to human health or the environment "beyond the usual uncertainties
of conventional plant breeding."
In addition, the private sector organizations noted that the scientific, political
and institutional support for biotechnology is strong and continues to grow.
They cited, in particular, the endorsements and reports of Asia Pacific Economic
Council leaders, the International Fund for Agricultural Development, the National
Academies of Science of India, Mexico, Brazil , the US, UK and the Third World
Academy of Science.
CCST
REPORT ON GMF BENEFITS AND RISKS AVAILABLE ON-LINE
The California Council on Science and Technology has made available on-line
its report on the benefits and risks of genetically modified foods (GMF). The
report provides a concise review of the scientific literature on the benefits
and risks of food biotechnology for the State of California Food Biotechnology
Task Force and its Advisory Committee. The document, which focuses on food
biotechnology issues based on sound science and modern farming technologies,
was published in late July 2002.
The CCST report centers on crop biotechnology and any positive or negative
impacts on human and animal feeding and the environment. Specific discussions
center on biotechnology overview, food safety, transgenic crop plants, California
situation, national and international regulatory systems, state regulatory
control, governmental regulation of spliced-DNA foods, intellectual property
rights, and scientific reports of organizations.
Interesting information from the report include:
- Approximately
70% of the human food products in the marketplace contain some
fraction of crops developed by the new biotechnology. However,
only about 36% of US consumers were aware that GE products were
commercially available.
- US
farmers are currently receiving the greatest economic benefits
of pest-resistant Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) cotton and herbicide-tolerant
soybeans (42% to 72%). US consumers appear to receive the least
benefits from these crops, 7% and 4% of the total, respectively.
Seed companies received most of the remaining economic benefits.
- The
most striking effect of these crops is the reduction in pesticide
applications (15 million fewer applications for cotton and 19 million
for soybeans per year).
- There
is no evidence that transgenic crops harm the environment any more
than traditional agriculture; however, without systematic monitoring,
the lack of evidence of damage is not necessarily a lack of damage.
The full
paper is available at http://www.ccst.ucr.edu/gmf/FoodBiotech.pdf
HYPOALLERGENIC
SOYBEANS DEVELOPED
Allergenicity is one of the main arguments against genetically modified (GM)
crops but ironically, researchers have used biotechnology to develop hypoallergenic
or less allergy causing soybeans. The researchers are Eliot Herman an Agricultural
Research Service plant physiologist, along with Rick Helm, Tony Kinney and
Rudolf Jung.
Soybeans are used in a variety of ways including printing ink, biofuels, baby
formulas, soy milk, flour, cereals, grits and pet food. Unfortunately soybeans
are considered as one of the "big eight" food allergen sources along with eggs,
milk, peanuts, wheat, fish, shellfish and tree nuts.
Research suggests that a single protein called Gly m Bd 3s0K/P34 causes the
allergic reaction. The P34 protein causes 65% or more of allergic reactions
in soy-sensitive individuals. The researchers found that all domestic varieties
and wild soybeans had it. They then resorted to biotechnology to shut off the
gene that makes the allergenic protein in the crop's seed.
However, more tests are needed to prove that they are hypoallergenic before
commercialization. The crops also have to be tested on seed production, yield,
pest resistance, oil and protein composition and other criteria important to
soy farmers and processors.
The original article can be found in the US Department of Agriculture website
at http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/AR/archive/sep02/soy0902.htm.
ANNOUNCEMENT:
Rice Gene Machine Workshop
An international workshop entitled "Towards Building a Rice Gene Machine" will
be held at the Optus Lecture Theatre, Discovery, CSIRO Black Mountain, Corner
of Clunies Ross St and Barry Dr, Canberra, Australia on 11-12 November 2002.
The workshop aims to bring together researchers from all over the world involved
in the production of rice insertional mutants as a resource for "Rice Functional
Genomics"; develop strategic networking between research groups to assign function
to all rice genes; build and share required bioinformatics capabilities for
the efficient functioning of the Global Rice Gene Machine; and contribute collectively
to the area of "Cereal Functional Genomics". The workshop will be sponsored
by the CSIRO Plant Industry. For more information visit the workshop website
at http://www.pi.csiro.au/Events/SpecialEventsLaunches/SpecialEvents.htm.
ERRATA: In the August
30, 2002 issue of Crop Biotech Update, we failed to mention
that Louise Fresco is the Assistant Director General, Agriculture
Department of the Food and Agriculture Organization of
the United Nations. Fresco is co-chair of the new international
consultative process launched in Johannesburg, South Africa,
on the risks and opportunities of using agricultural science
to reduce hunger and improve rural livelihoods in the developing
world. |
