Political Economy & Political Economy & Sociology of Agricultural Sociology of Agricultural

BiotechnologyBiotechnology

Shuji HISANOShuji HISANOGraduate School of AgricultureGraduate School of Agriculture

Hokkaido UniversityHokkaido University

Seoul National University – Hokkaido UniversitySeoul National University – Hokkaido University

4th Joint Symposium, Oct 21-23, 2001, Seoul, 4th Joint Symposium, Oct 21-23, 2001, Seoul, KoreaKorea

Our Viewpoints on Our Viewpoints on Science & TechnologyScience & Technology

1.1. Rhetoric of Neutrality embedded Rhetoric of Neutrality embedded in Science & Technology should in Science & Technology should be Questionedbe Questioned

Science & Technology are shaped Science & Technology are shaped in the context of political economyin the context of political economy

Current development of Current development of agricultural biotechnology reflects agricultural biotechnology reflects a decision-making process in which a decision-making process in which various interests are concernedvarious interests are concerned

Consumers’ Concerns Consumers’ Concerns EvolvingEvolving

Just fear to eat “Just fear to eat “Frankenstein-foodsFrankenstein-foods”” Concerns about possible Concerns about possible adverse effects on adverse effects on

environmentenvironment Recognition of Recognition of institutional failuresinstitutional failures in risk in risk

management (or distrust of regulatory management (or distrust of regulatory process)process)

Recognition of Recognition of political and market powerpolitical and market power behind GMO commercialization pushed aheadbehind GMO commercialization pushed ahead

Suspicious about “techno-fix” solutionSuspicious about “techno-fix” solution as a means to alleviate world hungeras a means to alleviate world hunger

Choices for Future Choices for Future Agriculture to Address Agriculture to Address

Hunger ProblemHunger Problem1.1. Expand the area of farmlandExpand the area of farmland

⇒ deforestation and loss of biodiversity

2.2. Increase production in exporting Increase production in exporting countries to feed the world efficientlycountries to feed the world efficiently

⇒ Expansion and liberalization of food trade have resulted in deterioration of food security in importing countries

3.3. Increase total farm productivity in the Increase total farm productivity in the countries which most need the foodcountries which most need the food

⇒ Can GM technology help those countries to increase productivity and improve food security?

Feeding the World is not a Feeding the World is not a Simple ProblemSimple Problem

GM tech GM tech maymay address address the amount and qualitythe amount and quality of food availableof food available

GM tech GM tech cannotcannot deal with deal with the issues of the issues of access and distributionaccess and distribution

What is the cause of hunger on earth?What is the cause of hunger on earth? Production? …..Production? …..NoNo (only a few cases Yes)(only a few cases Yes) Poverty and Uneven Land Distribution? …..Poverty and Uneven Land Distribution? …..YesYes

They need They need Money Money (vitamin M)(vitamin M) to buy food and to buy food and Land Land (vitamin L)(vitamin L) to farm by themselves for to farm by themselves for themselvesthemselves

⇒ ⇒ GM tech GM tech (vitamin A)(vitamin A) is not the answer is not the answer

““Appropriate Appropriate Biotechnology” Is Biotechnology” Is

Possible?Possible? A Handful TNCs control key techs and resourcesA Handful TNCs control key techs and resources

As far as poor farmers can’t afford GMOs, they are not TAs far as poor farmers can’t afford GMOs, they are not TNCs’ customersNCs’ customers

We appreciate some of them for collaborating with We appreciate some of them for collaborating with researchers to develop poor farmer-oriented GMOresearchers to develop poor farmer-oriented GMO But, their patented tech and strategic resources continuBut, their patented tech and strategic resources continu

e to be available freely or cheaply?e to be available freely or cheaply? Public institutions and University are suffering from Public institutions and University are suffering from

lack of money and depend on TNCs’ fundslack of money and depend on TNCs’ funds Without changing framework, can “appropriate biotech” bWithout changing framework, can “appropriate biotech” b

e shaped by public support?e shaped by public support?

““Paradigm Shift”Paradigm Shift”-- Sustainable Agricultural System ---- Sustainable Agricultural System --

Prof. Pretty’s Survey of 208 projects from 52 countries shows;Prof. Pretty’s Survey of 208 projects from 52 countries shows; Remarkable yield increaseRemarkable yield increase Better use of locally-available natural resourcesBetter use of locally-available natural resources Improved human capital building (empowerment)Improved human capital building (empowerment) Economically, environmentally, and socially viable aEconomically, environmentally, and socially viable a

nd positive to local livelihoodnd positive to local livelihood

Why not allocate enough money & resources Why not allocate enough money & resources to such a research and practices?to such a research and practices?

Our Viewpoints on Our Viewpoints on Science & TechnologyScience & Technology

2.2. Limitations of “Sound-Science” Approach aLimitations of “Sound-Science” Approach and Economic Approachnd Economic Approach

There remain a lot of There remain a lot of uncertaintiesuncertainties We don’t know exactly the whole system of DNWe don’t know exactly the whole system of DN

A, genome, human body, ecosystem, and relatA, genome, human body, ecosystem, and relations among these sub-systemsions among these sub-systems

We don’t know long-term effects of GMOsWe don’t know long-term effects of GMOs We don’t have any absolute criteria to cope witWe don’t have any absolute criteria to cope wit

h and calculate these uncertain risk and/or beh and calculate these uncertain risk and/or benefit in terms of moneynefit in terms of money

Our Viewpoints onOur Viewpoints onScience & TechnologyScience & Technology

3.3. Democratization of Science & TechnologyDemocratization of Science & Technology Citizens’ involvementCitizens’ involvement in decision-making proces in decision-making proces

ses is importantses is important Because….everyone is a participant in a global Because….everyone is a participant in a global

experiment with GMOsexperiment with GMOs Decisions must be accomplished through a proDecisions must be accomplished through a pro

cess of debate and negotiation in which all stacess of debate and negotiation in which all stakeholders have a voicekeholders have a voice

Expert PanelExpert PanelExpert PanelExpert Panel

Democratizing Process in Democratizing Process in Consensus ConferenceConsensus Conference

Citizen Panel Citizen Panel (with diverse backgrounds)(with diverse backgrounds)Citizen Panel Citizen Panel (with diverse backgrounds)(with diverse backgrounds)

Natural Natural scientistscientist

ss

Natural Natural scientistscientist

ss

Social Social scientistscientist

ss

Social Social scientistscientist

ssNGOsNGOsNGOsNGOsRegulatoRegulatorr

RegulatoRegulatorr

CompanCompanyy

CompanCompanyy

JournalistJournalistss

JournalistJournalistss

Debate & NegotiationDebate & Negotiation

Interdisciplinary….?Interdisciplinary….?

Civil society (all stakeholders)

ConclusionConclusion

Interdisciplinary researchInterdisciplinary research to evaluate to evaluate this new technology or the direction of this new technology or the direction of its innovationits innovation

Informed democratic debateInformed democratic debate on science on science & technology in which all stakeholders & technology in which all stakeholders involved and have a voiceinvolved and have a voice

These are the indispensable steps for These are the indispensable steps for us to fulfill our social responsibilitiesus to fulfill our social responsibilities

Bio-Majors Control EverythingBio-Majors Control Everything

CompaniesCompaniesWorld World

Pesticide Pesticide (mil$, (mil$, rank)rank)

World World Seed Seed (mil$, (mil$, rank)rank)

US Corn US Corn Seed Seed

(%, rank)(%, rank)

US US Plant Plant patentpatent

Bt-gene Bt-gene related related patentpatent

OECD OECD regist. regist. GMOsGMOs

Corn / Soy Corn / Soy GMOs in fiGMOs in fi

eld testeld test

19991999 19991999 19971997 -1999-1999 -1996.6-1996.6 -2000.8-2000.8 -2001.5-2001.5

SyngentaSyngenta 5,8885,888 ①① 947947 ③③ 9.09.0 ③③ 205205 4646 44 185185

MonsantoMonsanto 3,8853,885 ②② 1,7001,700 ②② 14.014.0 ②② 173173 4343 2727 1,6291,629

Aventis Aventis ## 3,7013,701 ③③ 288288 ⑫⑫ 7.07.0 ④④ 5555 2222 1111 346346

DowDow 2,2712,271 ④④ 350350 ⑨⑨ 4.04.0 ⑤⑤ 4545 2222 -- 113113

Bayer Bayer ## 2,2522,252 ⑤⑤ -- -- -- -- n.d.n.d. -- -- --

BASFBASF 2,2282,228 ⑥⑥ n.d.n.d. -- -- -- n.d.n.d. 44 -- --

DuPontDuPont 2,0092,009 ⑦⑦ 1,8501,850 ①① 42.042.0 ①① 184184 55 33 848848

Top 7Top 7 80%80% 24%24% 76%76% 330%0%

51%51% 88%88% 85%85%# Bayer announced the agreement to acquire Aventis CropScience recently.# Bayer announced the agreement to acquire Aventis CropScience recently.