1 BIOTECHNOLOGY & 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) /

2 DEFINITIONS  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

3 GENETICALLY 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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8 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

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13 Global Area of Biotech Crops, 1996 to 2008: Industrial and Developing Countries (M Has, M Acres) Source: Clive James, Total Industrial Developing M Acres

14 Biotech Crop Countries and Mega-Countries, 2008

15 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

16 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

17 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

18 STAKEHOLDER 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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21 THANKS TO FANRPAN AND TO THE AUDIENCE