The Program for Biosafety Systems (PBS) in Ugandaussp.ifpri.info/files/2012/07/PBS-Presentation-June-2012-Kampala.pdf · • Increased Gov. recognition of the relevance of ... Biosafety

Program for Biosafety Systems – http://pbs.ifpri.info/

The Program for Biosafety Systems (PBS) in Uganda

Building functional biosafety systems

Sengooba TheresaHerbert Oloka

PBS Uganda team


Our Premise• Economic growth and sustainability depends on agricultural

growth in developing countries such as Uganda

• Absence of functional biosafety systems is currently rate‐limiting for adopting biotech crops that can contribute to economic growth

• Often accompanies lack of overall progressive view on agriculture– affects non‐biotech, agriculture

policy decisions


PBS Uganda

• Initiated in 2004; in 2nd phase• Primarily funded by USAID• Managed by the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI)

• Four key objectives in Uganda– Technical support to establishment of biosafety policies– Regulatory capacity building for national agencies– Process support to establishment of biosafety regulations, guidelines, and procedures

– Biotechnology and biosafety awareness


How We Work

• A comprehensive, integrated approach working with key national partners to achieve results

• Provision of direct technical and logistical support in development the biosafety regulatory framework in the country

• Responsive to specific biosafety capacity needs of the country ; consistently work with partners

• Main country partner is Uganda National Council for Science and Technology


How We Work• National Partners

– National Agricultural Research Organisation (NARO)

– Uganda Biotechnology and Biosafety Consortium (UBBC)

– Makerere University, UNAS, UNBS

– Science Foundation for Livelihoods (Scifode)

– ABSPII

• International Partners– NEPAD‐Agency African Biosafety Network of Expertise

– Michigan State University– International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotech

– International Service for the Acquisition of Agri‐biotech Applications

– Donald Danforth Plant Science Center; etc.


Our Expertise

• Diverse team of experts & an integrated approach• Mostly national based, international experts outsourced whenever necessary– Biotechnology and breeding scientists– Biotechnology regulators– Food, feed and environment assessment experts– Outreach experts– Socio‐economists– Development experts– Biosafety legal experts


Support activities in Uganda• Capacity building for national biosafety regulatory

officials• Technical support in development of biosafety policies• Technical and logistical support to development of

implementing regulations & guidelines• Compliance training for managers and personnel

involved in field testing of GE crops• Supporting national consensus building on matters

related to biosafety• Support to national biosafety and biotechnology

communication activities


Accomplishments to date2004 - 2012


• Approval National Biotechnology and Biosafety Policy 2008

• Approval of Principles for the Biotechnology and Biosafety Bill (in 2011)

• Increased Gov. recognition of the relevance of biosafety systems in biotechnology evolution in Uganda

• Supported the establishment of a functioning regulatory environment for field testing of appropriate GE crop technologies in Uganda.

1. Biosafety regulatory framework development


• Impact on technology progress: 12 confined field trials conducted since 2008– Cassava (CMD, CBSD); Maize (drought); Banana (Vit. A, BBW, black sigatoka), cotton (boll worms, weeds)

• PBS supports decision making: >10 regulatory documents developed and currently in use– CFT SOPs, Food Safety Guidelines, Field Trial guidelines (+revisions), GE containment guidelines

– Net‐mapping conducted for stakeholders in bill process

1. Biosafety regulatory framework development (contd.)


CFTs in Uganda


2. Capacity Building ‐ Human Resource

Field of biosafety Number trained since 2004

Remarks

Biosafety Inspection 26 NARO, MAAIF, NEMA, UNBS

General Biosafety >60 Collaboration with Makerere University

Environmental Biosafety (short course)

16 At MSU

Food biosafety 1 MSc, Makerere UniversityEnvironmental Biosafety

3 MSc, at MakerereUniversity

Risk assessment 19 NBC and scientists


Capacity Building


2. Capacity Building – Institutional strengthening

• National regulators, NBC, IBC– Refresher training– Specialised trainings e.g legal aspects of biosafety, Food Safety, environmental safety

– Risk assessment of GE field experiments

• UNCST– Biosafety office support– Regulatory documents– Human resource biosafety training


2. Capacity Building – Institutional strengthening

• NEMA– Training of biosafety inspectors

• UNBS– Training of biosafety inspectors– Development of food safety regulatory documents

• MAAIF– Training of biosafety inspectors– Development of regulatory documents


3. Compliance training – Institutional strengthening

• NARO– CFT personnel trained for banana, cotton, cassava.

– IBC established, trained, and now functioning

– 12 Scientists trained on preparation of dossiers for CFT

PBS has Contributed to building a critical mass of skilled staff who are confident in biosafety decision making


4. Support to national and regional consensus on biosafety

• National– Consensus document on the scope of biosafety in Uganda, vs. biosecurity (with UNAS)

– National biosafety framework development– National Biotechnology and Biosafety Policy

• Regional• EAC GMO policy• COMESA – RABESA initiative


• Communication Strategy• Developed by key stakeholders

– UNCST, NARO, ABPSII, SCIFODE, CONSENT, MAAIF, mass media

• Updated with progress• Main objectives

– Demystify biotech, minimize misconception– Demonstrate benefits and potential of biotech– Provide accurate and balanced information about biotech– Create opportunities for intellectual discourse about biotechnology – Provide up‐to‐date information on advances in biotechnology in

Uganda and elsewhere

5. Support to biotech and biosafety communication


5. Support to biotech and biosafety communication• Media training –

– >30 journalists trained in biotech communication

• Mass media– Increased public discourse on biotech

– Improved quality of reporting

– Increased coverage of biotechnology stories

• Open Forum on Agricultural Biotechnology (OFAB)– Since Dec. 2007– 30 sessions to date, in Kampala and upcountry

– Partnership with UNCST and AATF

– All are invited to attend



• Newsletters– Biovision published quarterly

• Highlights of biotech R&D in Uganda, EA, and World• Highlights of regulatory approvals, issues etc.

• Info sheets– Published as needed– Subject matter based

• Radio and TV panel discussions– National and region specific

• Media workshops and conferences– AGBIOSAFESEED2010



• Outreach through UBBC– PBS supported the establishment of a stakeholder body for biotechnology and biosafety development

– Uganda Biotechnology and Biosafety Consortium (UBBC)• Formed in 2011• Currently being registered as not‐for‐profit organisation• Hosted by UNCST

PBS has contributed to improved understanding of biotech among policy makers and other stakeholders


6. Policy studies to complement biosafety evaluation• Introduction of GM banana: social benefits, costs, and consumer perception (E. M. Kikulwe et al)– GM crops (food) with tangible benefits, such as resistance to pests and diseases and hence higher yield, increases consumers’ acceptance of GM banana

– Food insecure households more likely to accept GM crops for increased food security

– Urban consumers more concerned about future health concerns


6. Policy studies to complement biosafety evaluation

• Can GM cotton improve farmer’s welfare? Horna et al– GM cotton has the potential to improve cotton productivity– Facilitation needed for farmer access to complimentary inputs– Technology delivery, technology fee, and seed marketing strategies should be deliberated by policy makers

Cost components Units IR cotton HT cotton Org. + Prem.price

Organic +Bt

Yield Kg/acre 536.37 543.33 349.4 445.70Total income Sh/acre 349,656 354,195 255,520 325,915Total costs Sh/acre 267,400 260,137 218,927 220,506Margin Sh/acre 82,257 94,059 36,593 105,409

Downside risk % 30.7 25.5 54 46.4

B/C 1.24 1.27 1.14 0.32


6. Policy studies to complement biosafety evaluation• Biosafety Bill Process support – ongoing studies by in‐country consultants

i. Agricultural biotechnology capacity in Ugandaii. Biosafety capacity in Ugandaiii. Laws, policies related to biosafety in Ugandaiv. Evolution of biosafety in Uganda

All studies above being concluded by June 2012


Future directions


What more is need?

A lot has been achieved to build the biosafety framework(SOPs, policies, NBC, IBC, guidelines, human capacity)a) Biosafety law in offing but needs support

1. Continued Technical support on bill process key provisions Addressing issues therein

2. Continued communication support to promote informed debate and decision making

3. Implementing regulations to facilitate safe use of relevant biotech products for national development


What more is need?b) Fully functioning biosafety frameworkc) Coordination among regulatory agencies

– Institutional support for general release of biotech products Approvals Product stewardship

d) Fully‐fledged biosafety coordinating office at UNCSTe) Vibrant, responsive, and ‘strong’ NBCf) Integration of biotechnology in National Development

— Requires concerted efforts— Captured in NDP


Beyond PBS

• Competent Authority (UNCST) with functioning mechanisms to handle applications, incidents, and development of biosafety

• Effective coordinating platform for biosafety management (NEMA, UNBS, MAAIF, Ministry of Trade, NARO, MoH, NDA, etc.)


Where else does PBS work?• Africa

– Kenya– Nigeria– Ghana– Malawi– Mozambique– Ethiopia– Tanzania– Regional harmonization

• COMESA, ECOWAS

– Previous: Mali, South Africa

• Asia– Vietnam– Indonesia– Philippines

• Global• Cartagena Protocol


Thank you for the support!!

Documents

The Program for Biosafety Systems (PBS) in Ugandaussp.ifpri.info/files/2012/07/PBS-Presentation-June-2012-Kampala.pdf · • Increased Gov. recognition of the relevance of ... Biosafety