1 REGIONAL APPROACH TO BIOTECHNOLOGY AND BIOSAFETY IN SADC: MALAWI, MAURITIUS, SOUTH AFRICA FANRPAN STAKEHOLDERS MEETING, KEMPTON PARK, SOUTH AFRICA, 20 JUNE 2008 REPORT BY DR. WYNAND J. VAN DER WALT + MARNUS GOUSE ON BEHALF OF STUDY GROUP FOODNCROPBIO Tel (+27) /

2 COMPELLING REASONS FOR BIOSAFETY FRAMEWORKS GM CROPS ON ALL CONTINENTS CARTAGENA PROTOCOL ON BIOSAFETY PRESENT FOOD CRISES FARMER CHOICE OF PRODUCTION NEPAD & FARA PROMOTE BIOTECH ENABLE FARMERS TO EVALUATE GM CROPS DEVELOP OWN BIOTECHNOLOGIES

3 SADC MEMBERS CARTAGENA PROTOCOL ON BIOSAFETY BOTSWANA, DRC, LESOTHO,MADAGASCAR, MALAWI, MAURITIUS MOZAMBIQUE, SEYCHELLES, SOUTH AFRICA, SWAZILAND ZAMBIA, ZIMBABWE

4 MALAWI MAIZE, COTTON, CASSAVA 2001, GM MAIZE IMPORTS, NO BIOSAFETY 2002 BIOSAFETY BILL, 2004 REGULATIONS EX ANTE STUDY: INCREASE GROSS INCOME 95% Bt COTTON CONSTRAINTS: SEED COST, FINANCING, BREEDERS RIGHTS, STAKEHOLDER ARRANGEMENTS

5 MAURITIUS AGR. = 7% GDP, SUGAR MSIRI: STARTED GM RESEARCH 1993, BIOSAFETY COMM GMO BILL > 2004 ACT MSIRI > BASTA TOLERANCE TRAIT GREENHOUSE TRIALS ONLY EX ANTE: NEW WEED CONTROL LESS COST THAN BASTA DEPENDS ON CHEMICAL COSTS

6 SOUTH AFRICA 1978: SAGENE 1990 BIOSAFETY GUIDELINES, Bt COTTON TRIALS 1997: GMO ACT 1999: GMO REGULATIONS ALL GEN. MOD., ALL ORGANISMS, GMO EXEC COUNCIL, 6 DEPTS (8) ADV. COMM., REVIEWERS PERMITS

7 SOUTH AFRICA GM MAIZE: 10.6% AV YIELD INCREASE ECONOMIC BENEFIT 8 YEARS US$250 MILLION GM COTTON: S-SCALE= US$46/HA, DRYLAND L-SCALE= US$25/HA, DRYLAND L-SCALE= US$202/HA, IRRIG. GM SOYBEANS: ?

8 RECOMMENDATIONS LEARN FROM OTHERS EXPEDITE BIOSAFETY FRAMEWORKS HARMONIZE LEGISLATION ESTABLISH CAPACITY REGIONAL CLEARING HOUSE PUBLIC AWARENESS

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