Biotech Science Communication B ridging Science & Society

1. Biotech Science Communication Bridging Science & Society Ingenuity, Innovation & Implementation

2. My world, your world & our world • Indomitable task of feeding global society in the near, mid & long term • Growing # of food-deficit countries • Imbalance in demand-supply of food • Population growth vs food production • Growing appetite vs pervasive poverty • Knowledge-information divide - rights or wrongs, pros & cons and for & against • Science illiteracy vs societal engagement • Adversarial vs consensual approach

3. New world order • Cleaner and greener world • Key priorities include climate change, sustainability and bio-security • Advances in economy, environment and ecology to be driven by innovative approaches • Technological intensive sectors including food & agriculture • Trade and development to be measured on a new scale such as carbon emission, pest residue, child labor, SPS and traceability etc

4. Changing market dynamics • Increased interdependence among countries particularly in the area of food, agriculture, S&T, trade and security • Capital intensive R&D and product development • Crop & trait specific products with global appeal • Increased S&T collaboration & technology transfers • Seamless market interface among countries • Standardized biosafetydata and harmonisation of global regulatory practices • Country specific regulatory approvals and technology stewardship • Technology-safety-ownership-societal context to dominate approval & adoption

5. Biotech Adoption & Acceptance M hectares 1200 1 Billion Hectares = USA land area 1000 800 600 500 Million Hectares 10 years 5 years 400 200 0 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010

6. Pakistan Myanmar Sweden Chronology of Countries Approving Planting of Biotech Crops, 1996 to 2010 Costa Rica USA Argentina Canada China Australia Mexico India Colombia Honduras Bolivia Burkina Faso Egypt South Africa Spain Portugal Romania Uruguay Germany 1 Billion Hectares Chile Poland Slovakia Paraguay Czech Republic Brazil Philippines

7. In pursuit of excellence in food & agriculture • Technological innovation • Business innovation • Entrepreneurial innovation • Social enterprise innovation • Competitiveness based on the national comparative advantages to drive frugal innovation • Innovation to achieve inclusive development- producing more from less for more

8. Scientific excellence vs environmental activism • The World is full of erroneous information which is confusing the public about the attributes, and the significant economic & environmental benefits of biotech crops • Growing volume of scientifically un-validated and misleading information in the popular media, particularly on the internet, is a cause of concern, because of its potential to negatively influence policy makers • Untimely and unjustified delays in the introduction of well-tested, safe and proven biotechnology applications in crop production • These delays are particularly important at a time of rising food prices which now preclude and threaten poor people’s right to affordable food

9. Scientific excellence vs environmental activism • 2002-Bt Cotton: NGOs, Organic groups etc • 2009-Bt Brinjal: NGOs, Organic Groups, Safe Food Groups, Consumer Groups, A Breed of New NGOs (My Right to Safe Food, I am no lab Rat, Safe Food Alliance, UNCAGE, Woman and Child welfare groups etc), Farmer wings of political parties, Socialites, Actors, Celebrities, Movie Directors, Spiritual Gurus.... • 2011-Bt/HT Maize: List is growing.... • 2013-Golden Rice: How long do we have to wait for these products to reach those who need them the most today.

10. Bridging the knowledge gapThree-layer complex societal framework for knowledge absorption Familiarization Absorption

11. Institutionalize (bio)science communicationComparison matrix of biotech communication models

12. Biotech science communication in India

13. Bridging the knowledge gap between science & society ISAAA : A year long engagement • Annual briefings on the global status of commercialized biotech/GM crops • ISAAA Knowledge Center “Crop Biotech Updates (CBU): Reaching more than 1 million subscribers weekly, growing by 5000 per month. • ISAAA, KC and BICs websites: 25 country specific and a user-friendly, easy to navigate and interactive websites http://www.isaaa.org/ and www.isaaa.org/kc • Country specific knowledge resources & publications

14. ISAAA Knowledge Campaign“A Million Healing Hands to Help a Billion Hungry”

15. ISAAA India BICA one-stop-shop for reliable information on biotech crops

16. ISAAA India BICA one-stop-shop for reliable information on biotech crops

17. ISAAA India BICA one-stop-shop for reliable information on biotech crops

18. Bridging the knowledge gap between science & society • ISAAA Knowledge Campaign “A Million Healing Hands to Help a Billion Hungry” and “Biotech Agriculture is Sustainable Agriculture” • Documentary videos – minimum two videos every year • Capacity building programs with public sector institutions • A series of biotech science communication publications • Engagement with media, farming groups & regulatory agencies • Facilitate exchange of the experience of farmers growing biotech crops; Bt cotton • Educational efforts on biotech crops targeting learning institutions

19. Bridging the knowledge gap –New Approach –Next Generation • Conceived, authored, illustrated & produced World’s first, ISAAA’s first & ours first “An Educational Cartoon Publication on Biotech/GM Crops” • “Mandy & Fanny –The Future of Sustainable Agriculture” • Mandy & Fanny are the new generation educational cartoon of biotech crops • Mandy, a masculine character impersonates biotech maize whereas feminine figure 'Fanny' mimics biotech cotton

21. Bridging the knowledge gap –New Approach –Next Generation • The World is full of erroneous information which is confusing the public about the attributes, and the significant economic & environmental benefits of biotech crops • Growing volume of scientifically un-validated and misleading information in the popular media, particularly on the internet, is a cause of concern, because of its potential to negatively influence policy makers • Untimely and unjustified delays in the introduction of well-tested, safe and proven biotechnology applications in crop production • These delays are particularly important at a time of rising food prices which now preclude and threaten poor people’s right to affordable food

23. Bridging the knowledge gap –New Approach –Next Generation • The publication aims to address the knowledge divide that precludes society in developing countries access to authoritative knowledge on biotech crops • Multiple products including Promos, short/long duration animated videos & publication • Promotional material includes Stickers, t-shirts, panels, posters, hats/caps, flags, bookmarks • Targeted to adults & learning institutions, policy makers & general public • Worldwide market - translations & reproduction to suit country specific requirements • Penetration in new generation internet based social media

24. Bridging the knowledge gap –New Approach –Next Generation

25. Bridging the knowledge gap –New Approach –Next Generation