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BIOTECHNOLOGY & GM CROPS: OPPORTUNITIES, RISKS IN AFRICABIOTECHNOLOGY & GM CROPS:

OPPORTUNITIES, RISKS IN AFRICA

FANRPAN REGIONAL STAKEHOLDERS MEETING

31 Aug—4 Sept 2009, Maputo, Mozambique

WYNAND J. VAN DER WALT

FOODNCROPBIO

Tel (+27)-12-347-6334 / 083-468-3471wynandjvdw@telkomsa.net

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DEFINITIONSDEFINITIONS

BIOTECHNOLOGY application of biological production systems beer, bread, wine, cheese MODERN BIOTECHNOLOGY tissue culture, embryo transfer, vaccination GENETIC MODIFICATION = GM transfer or alter genes BIOSAFETY FRAMEWORKS Regulatory systems to ensure safety

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GENETICALLY MODIFIED CROPSGENETICALLY MODIFIED CROPS

GM REQUIRES SOLVING SPECIFIC PROBLEMS ADAPTED VARIETIES ACCEPTED BY FARMERS, POLITICIANS,

CONSUMERS PART OF FARMING TECHNOLOGIES EXTENSION SERVICES MANAGEMENT

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NATIONAL MAIZE CROP YIELDS PER HECTARE 1924 TO 2009 FOR FIVE PERIODS: OPVs, ADVENT OF HYBRIDS, PRIVATE HYBRIDS,

INFUSION OF US GERMPLASM, AND IMPACT OF GM

NATIONAL MAIZE CROP YIELDS PER HECTARE 1924 TO 2009 FOR FIVE PERIODS: OPVs, ADVENT OF HYBRIDS, PRIVATE HYBRIDS,

INFUSION OF US GERMPLASM, AND IMPACT OF GM

MAIZE: YIELD PER HA SINCE 1924/ 25

0.00

0.50

1.00

1.50

2.00

2.50

3.00

3.50

4.00

4.50

5.00

1924 1929 1934 1939 1944 1949 1954 1959 1964 1969 1974 1979 1984 1989 1994 1999 2004 2009

OPV

Hybrids

Private Cultivar

US Germplasm

GM

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Figure 2Figure 2Figure 2: Trend of South African GM maize hectares 2000-

2009 harvest years

0

500

1000

1500

2000

2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009

Years

Hec

tare

s x1

000

GM HECTARE WHITE GM HECTARE YELLOW GM HECTARE TOTAL

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Global Area of Biotech Crops, 1996 to 2008:Industrial and Developing Countries (M Has, M Acres)

Source: Clive James, 2009

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008

Total

Industrial

Developing

0

49

99

148

198

247

296

346

M Acres

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Biotech Crop Countries and Mega-Countries, 2008

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SOME PROVEN BENEFITS OF GM CROPS

SOME PROVEN BENEFITS OF GM CROPS

REDUCTION IN DAMAGE BY WEEDS, PESTS, DISEASES

INCREASED FARMER INCOME REDUCTION IN CHEMICAL PESTICIDES MORE SAFETY FOR HUMANS AND ENVIRONMENT PROMOTED CONSERVATION FARMING MORE HEALTHY FOODS CROPS WITH SPECIALIZED TRAITS

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AFRICAN ISSUES, CONSTRAINTS,CONCERNS, RISKS

AFRICAN ISSUES, CONSTRAINTS,CONCERNS, RISKS

NEED POLICIES AND BIOSAFETY FRAMEWORKS NEED SPECIAL TRAITS FOR SPECIAL PROBLEMS ATTENTION TO AFRICAN FOOD CROPS TRAITS IN ADAPTED VARIETIES INTEGRATE WITH ACCESS TO OTHER INPUTS, EXTENSION,

INFRASTRUCTURE, CREDIT, MARKETS CONSIDER IMPACT ON BIODIVERSITY POST-RELEASE MONITORING TRADE BARRIERS INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS FARMER IMPATIENCE EVIDENCE-BASED COMMUNICATION

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DISPARATIES IN AFRICAN APPROACHES

DISPARATIES IN AFRICAN APPROACHES

<10% EXPORT TRADE IS INTRA-AFRICA S.AFRICA SOLE GM FLYER UNTIL 2008, THEN

EGYPT AND BURKINA FASO MOST BIOSAFETY FRAMEWORKS NOT YET IN

PLACE – POLICIES? STATUS RANGES FROM PRO- TO ANTI-BIOTECH,

MANY UNCLEAR A.P. RANGES 1% TO 0.5% TO 0.2% TO ZERO

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STAKEHOLDER ACTIONSSTAKEHOLDER ACTIONS

FANRPAN: STUDIES, REPORTS, PUBLICATIONS, ADVOCACY = NO PROMOTION

MANY STAKEHOLDERS, MUCH POLARIZATION, UNCOORDINATED

COMESA: INITIATIVE FOR HARMONIZATION OF BIOTECH POLICIES, BIOSAFETY FRAMEWORKS

FARMER ACCESS TO TEST AND ADOPT

FACILITATE TRADE IN GMO

FACILITATE FOOD AID TRANSFER

CENTRES OF EXELLENCE

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THANKS TO FANRPANAND TO THE AUDIENCE

THANKS TO FANRPANAND TO THE AUDIENCE