“Transgenic Crops in East Asia: Status, Perception and Regulatory Challenges” Andrew D. Powell, Ph.D. ARB Consultants Singapore KRIBB Conference, Seoul, May 2003

Presentation Summary More People, Less Land:- challenges on a macro level Agriculture in Asia GM Adoption and current status of R and D Public private Sector Partnership Public Perception Biosafety Closing comments

Challenges   More people Increasing demand for food and fiber ~ 7 billion by % in developing countries 95% of all growth in developing countries

Stark reality “In the next 50 years, mankind will consume as much food as we have consumed since the beginning of agriculture 10,000 years ago - Clive James”

Challenges   Less arable land (developing countries) 1961 –.5 ha per capita 1992 –.2 ha per capita 2050 –.1 ha per capita   2 billion ha of arable land suffer from moderate to severe soil degradation

Green Revolution Fatigue Yield improvements for cereals tapering off   Conventional Plant Improvement Methods are Reaching their Limits   Agricultural Growth is Now 1% Compared To 3% in 1970s

Asia’s population continues to increase Asia’s population continues to increase Reduction in per capita farm land Reduction in per capita farm land Further requirement for agricultural intensification Further requirement for agricultural intensification Spare remaining wilderness land from development Spare remaining wilderness land from development

Role of Agriculture in Asia (CIA factbook)

Global area of GM crops, mha (1996 to 2002) IndustrialDeveloping 32.8 (82%) 7.1 (18%) 33.5 (76%) 10.7 (24%) 23.4 (84%) 4.4 (a16%) (74%) 13.5 (26%) Industrial Countries Developing Countries Total Source: Clive James,

Global Transgenic Crops, 2002

Real Benefits for Real People Better Yields Increased profits Less pesticide use (better targeted use) Better health Reduced pollution

Indonesia Government encouraging participation of private companies in Government encouraging participation of private companies in establishing bio-industries establishing bio-industries Public and private sector initiatives on biotech R&D Public and private sector initiatives on biotech R&D First ASEAN country to produce GM crop in commercial scale First ASEAN country to produce GM crop in commercial scale 4000 ha of Bt cotton in 7 districts of South Sulawesi province 4000 ha of Bt cotton in 7 districts of South Sulawesi province during first season; >8000 ha of Bt cotton expected to be during first season; >8000 ha of Bt cotton expected to be grown second season grown second season Multi-location field tests conducted for Bt corn, Bt cotton, Multi-location field tests conducted for Bt corn, Bt cotton, Bt potato, HT corn, HT cotton, and HT soybean Bt potato, HT corn, HT cotton, and HT soybean Crop biotechnology R&D

More than 80% increase in net incomeMore than 80% increase in net income Profit advantage of more than Rp 600 thousandProfit advantage of more than Rp 600 thousand Less pesticide use (from 10 sprays/season to 1-2/season)Less pesticide use (from 10 sprays/season to 1-2/season) Better maintenanceBetter maintenance Bt cotton in Indonesia

Malaysia Crop biotechnology R&D  Strong government support for R&D, infrastructure, and human resource development human resource development  US$26.3 million allocated for biotechnology research  R&D for transgenic crops conducted primarily by public research institutes research institutes  GM crops under development include rice, papaya, oil palm, rubber, pomelo, orchids, and chili oil palm, rubber, pomelo, orchids, and chili  First contained field trial for DR papaya underway

 Crop biotech R&D program focusing on: RiceCornBanana RiceCornBanana PapayaMango Coconut PapayaMango Coconut  Multi-location field trials of Bt corn have shown very encouraging results; field trials for BB rice very encouraging results; field trials for BB rice  Guidelines for GMO importation and commercialization issued by the DA (effective July commercialization issued by the DA (effective July 2003) 2003)  Significant number of initiatives on social acceptance and biosafety; more consistent and positive Government support  2 applications for commercial release have been submitted (GM corn)- now approved Philippines Crop biotechnology R&D

Thailand insect resistance, tungro resistance Transgenic crops being developed virus resistance (CMV) Chili Chili TraitCrop longer shelf life, better flower color Orchids Orchids Rice Rice insect resistance (Bt), herbicide tolerance Maize Maize insect resistance (Bt) Cotton Cotton delayed ripening Tomato Tomato PRSV resistance, longer shelf life Papaya Papaya

Crop biotechnology R&D Vietnam Insect resistance (Bt) Cotton Cotton PSV resistance Papaya Papaya Germplasm, propagation, rust and stem borer resistance Sugarcane Sugarcane Abiotic stress tolerance, Rhizobia strains Soybean Soybean Propagation Cassava Cassava Insect resistance (Bt) Sweet potato Sweet potato In vitro tuberization Potato Potato Diagnosis Maize Maize Hybrid, gene transformation Rice Rice BiotechnologyCrops Source: Nguyen 2000

Taiwan- crops in biotechnology research programs include garlic, onion, eggplant, mungbean, peppers, tomato, rice, and brassicas. Increased funding to biotech research Japan has approved 43 products derived from GM crops for sale (corn, soybean, potato, sugarbeet, rapeseed, cotton). It has commercialized 1 GM crop (petunia) Labeling policy in place and Japan remains cautious over GMOs

China Crop biotechnology R&D  Funding for agri-biotech R&D comes entirely from the government the government  Now second to USA in agri-biotech R&D investment  US$112 million invested in increase of 400% by 2005  141 GM crops developed  45 approved for field trials  65 approved for environmental release  4 crops approved for commercialization

The China Bt Cotton Experience 1.5 million hectares in /3 cotton area 2 Bt cotton sources: public and private 80% less insecticides; 13 sprays; 15,000t; 50 kg/ha Dramatic reduction in poisonings Production costs lower by 20-23% Income up by $ /ha; /capita of $250 >2 million small farmers adopt Bt cotton and capture 80 to 85% of benefits; rest went to seed producers or research companies 1.5 million hectares in /3 cotton area 2 Bt cotton sources: public and private 80% less insecticides; 13 sprays; 15,000t; 50 kg/ha Dramatic reduction in poisonings Production costs lower by 20-23% Income up by $ /ha; /capita of $250 >2 million small farmers adopt Bt cotton and capture 80 to 85% of benefits; rest went to seed producers or research companies Source: Pray et al., 2000

India  Public sector investments of US$15 million per year; private sector spending US$10 million per year private sector spending US$10 million per year  R&D for transgenic rice, maize, wheat, cotton, brassica, mungbean, and potato brassica, mungbean, and potato  commercial planting of 3 Bt cotton cultivars approved by GEAC in March 2002 approved by GEAC in March 2002 ~50,000 ha planted this season ~50,000 ha planted this season ~300,000 ha expected to be planted next season ~300,000 ha expected to be planted next season  long delay before biosafety approval - debate not entirely centered on specific biohazards but MNC control, etc Crop biotechnology R&D

Asian Rice Biotechnology Network: New lines with pyramided genes for bacterial blight resistance released in Indonesia in 2001 Angke for IR64xa5 (Bio-1) Conde for IR64Xa7 (Bio-2)

Website Public Perception / Acceptance

Specific items checked in food labels (Q4c) Base: All who ever checked food labels (573)

Concerns about food Importance rating (Q3) Base: All respondents (600) Not at all important Very Important

Any action taken in the last 6 months to avoid or seek out genetically modified foods? (Q15a) Base: All respondents (600)

Perceived Advantages of Food Biotechnology

Perceived Disadvantages of Food Biotechnology

“The government would not allow biotechnology foods to be sold if they were unsafe” (Q10.3) Base: All respondents (600)

Would you try genetically modified corn snacks if offered now? (Q16) Base: All respondents (600)

Have you eaten any DNA? (Q9b) Base: All respondents (600)

“Ordinary soybeans don’t contain genes but GM soybeans do”

Time Technical documents in scientific journals and government reports News items,off-hand remarks, interest-group reports Expert risk assessments Public risk perceptions Risk Information Gap The vacuum

Most important sources of information for food-related health and safety matters AFIC survey, 2002 Newspapers 45% Doctors 9% Posters 14% Radio 54% TV 54% Dept of Health 31% Magazines 8% (Open-ended question, unlimited spontaneous responses) 600 consumers Government 14% Country- specific (see next slide) 30%

Biosafety The need for all developing countries to have functioning biosafety systems has increased since the adoption of the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety.

Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety (CPB) Status of ratification: Asian countries

Biosafety Regulations in ASEAN A work in progress Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand and Singapore- have a elements of a policy in place but full legislation is expected soon Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Bruniei Darussalam,and Vietnam*- very early stages of policy development

Lack of human resources and infrastructure - A Major Roadblock to Legislation Development and Implementation Addressed by international groupsAddressed by international groups –APEC –ISAAA –ACIAR –ILSI / SOM-AMAF / ASEAN –ISNAR etc.

Labeling Status CountryLabeling (Threshold) BruneiN CambodiaN LaosN IndonesiaY (Undecided) MalaysiaY (3%) MyanmarN PhilippinesN (Under Review) SingaporeN (Under Review) ThailandY (5%) VietnamY (Undecided)

Andrew D. Powell x Thank you