1 AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH COUNCIL Presentation to the Portfolio Committee on Agriculture and Land Affairs Public hearings on the GMO Amendment Bill January 17 th 2006 ARC LNR

2 The Team Mr. F. Guma Group Executive – Horticulture Dr. P. Lukhele-Olorunju Group Executive - Grain and Industrial Crops Dr. A. Magadlela Research Manager – Livestock Production ARC LNR

3 The Mandate of the ARC The ARC was established in terms of the Agricultural Research Council Act (Act No 86 of 1990) and bears the statutory mandate to: Conduct research, Develop technology, and Transfer technology that promotes agriculture and the agricultural industry. The ARC forms part of the National System of Innovation and receives core strategic funds for the purposes of the execution of this mandate through Parliament. ARC LNR

4 The Mandate of the ARC The execution of this mandate requires the ARC to peruse a variety of technologies in the quest to ensure food security and the creation of employment generated by the agricultural sector in an environmentally sustainable manner. Biotechnology and genetic engineering are but part of the arsenal of technologies utilised by our researchers in pursuing this goal. ARC LNR

5 The Productivity Challenge The continuing growth in the human population combined with the limits of the availability of productive agricultural land requires an increase in the output/unit area of such agricultural land. Gains commensurate to this challenge achieved through classical breeding techniques, and allied advances in plant/animal management, are no longer up to this pace, and require the establishment of technologies that can reduce the duration of this developmental cycle. The nature of the biologically governed system of agriculture, leads to the system becoming open to the vagaries of mutations/unintended consequences, as a result of the pressures being applied. ARC LNR

6 Biotechnology The ARC accepts the following broad definition of biotechnology as being: “Biotechnology is a body of techniques that uses biological systems, living organisms, or derivatives thereof, to make or modify products or processes for specific use.” The ARC recognizes and applies all iterations and generations of technology in this field, in its development of products that are of benefit to the people of South Africa. ARC LNR

7 Genetic Engineering In our understanding; The term genetic engineering encompasses a range of techniques aimed at the identification of genes that trigger certain physiological responses within living organisms, and the development of processes through which these “codes” can be transferred to other living organisms. Living organisms created from such a process are known as Genetically Modified Organisms [GMO’s], and represent an unknown threat to society because their genetic constitution is the result of direct human intervention in previously unfathomed processes of the “natural order”. ARC LNR

8 Genetic Engineering - Concerns Major concerns with respect to this technology are related to the following: Food safety – with particular reference to the potential effects of the “disruption of the natural order” of the way in which foods are made available to consumers. Environment - can these products evolve into super weeds that can grow out of control, and threaten the existing biodiversity of the countries into which they have been introduced into. ARC LNR

9 ARC Opinions – GMO Debate 1.The business of science and the subsequent development of the products of that science into technologies that enter the public domain, needs to be attenuated by a regulatory process that takes public concerns into account. 2.The nature of regulatory process that is applicable to these situations has to be based on models of best practice applied within the international community – and shown to be void of influence arising from other interests. 3.The urgency of meeting the challenges of increases in agricultural productivity/output in areas where the practice of agriculture is the only means of existence and/or opportunity for a better life, should not be denigrated. ARC LNR

10 ARC Opinions – GMO Debate 4.In the context of the operations of the ARC, biotechnology is essentially a tool to be used in the manipulation of plants, animals and other life forms in order to achieve a desired product or process. The recognition of biotechnology as a tool is essential to the ethic and rationale with which publicly funded bodies like the ARC should approach the use of biotechnology in the delivery of its founding mandates. 5.The ARC adheres to all the regulations of the GMO Act and has established a good working relationship with the office of the Registrar. All laboratories conducting any research governed by the Act are registered with the Department and permits to conduct any research are applied for according to specific regulations. Several personnel of the ARC serve as scientific advisors to the Registrar. 6.3.As a state funded science based institution with a mandate for the application of science and technology to address the challenges faced by agriculture, the ARC cannot ignore the opportunities afforded by biotechnology to resolve some of these challenges, nor can it shirk its duty to be at the forefront of ensuring the application of best practice in assessing the health and biosafety risks of this new technology. ARC LNR

11 ARC Opinions – GMO Debate 7.The ARC has been involved in the development and testing of GM products. All field testing of these products have been conducted under permits issued by the Registrar of the GMO Act. These have included strawberries and potatoes that have been developed by the ARC as well as other crops such as maize and tomatoes from commercial companies or other research institutions tested under contract. 8.The ARC wishes to embark on a sustained contribution to the IFSN Programme through acceleration of cultivar development with emphasis to significant resistance to pests and diseases and drought; accelerate the development of indigenous vegetables to higher levels of productivity and initiate the process of biofortification of staple crops to improve nutrient availability levels eg. Sorghum, maize, wheat, sweet potatoes. Post-harvest losses could also be addressed through this technology. 9.On the livestock side, the ARC would like to invent and manufacture new vaccines unique to Southern Africa, improve indigenous livestock breeds, perform immuno-diagnostics to detect multiple pathogens. ARC LNR

12 ARC Opinion Amendments - GMO BILL 10.The ARC will have to comply with regulations on transboundry movement of GMOs. 11.Research on public goods and 2 nd economy may be complicated due to the framework of liability: ARC may not be equipped or insured to take responsibility for the outcome of their research. 12.International exchange of experimental GMO materials among scientists is complicated by the regulations, and may cause a burden on research activities. 13.Effort has to be made to support research institutions to comply with the new regulations: training of researchers and technicians and new infrastructures are imperatives for the ARC. ARC LNR