“ Transgenic Crops in East Asia: Status, Perception and Regulatory Challenges”

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

2. 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 Presentation Summary

3. Challenges • More people • Increasing demand for food and fiber • ~ 7 billion by 2015 • 80% in developing countries • 95% of all growth in developing countries

4. 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”

5. 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

6. 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

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

8. Role of Agriculture in Asia(CIA factbook)

11. Global area of GM crops, mha (1996 to 2002) 60 58.7 Total Industrial Countries 50 42.7 Developing Countries 40 30 16.7 20 10 0 2002 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 Source: Clive James, 2001 1998 1999 2000 2001 Industrial Developing 23.4 (84%) 4.4 (a16%) 32.8 (82%) 7.1 (18%) 33.5 (76%) 10.7 (24%) 39.1 (74%) 13.5 (26%)

12. Global Transgenic Crops, 2002

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

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

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

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

17. Crop biotechnology R&D Philippines • Crop biotech R&D program focusing on: Rice Corn Banana Papaya Mango Coconut • Multi-location field trials of Bt corn have shown very encouraging results; field trials for BB rice • Guidelines for GMO importation and commercialization issued by the DA (effective July 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

18. Transgenic crops being developed Crop Trait Papaya PRSV resistance, longer shelf life Tomato delayed ripening Cotton insect resistance (Bt) Maize insect resistance (Bt), herbicide tolerance Rice insect resistance, tungro resistance Chili virus resistance (CMV) Orchids longer shelf life, better flower color Crop biotechnology R&D Thailand

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

20. 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

21. Crop biotechnology R&D China • Funding for agri-biotech R&D comes entirely from the government • Now second to USA in agri-biotech R&D investment • US$112 million invested in 1999 - increase of 400% by 2005 • 141 GM crops developed • 45 approved for field trials • 65 approved for environmental release • 4 crops approved for commercialization

22. The China Bt Cotton Experience • 1.5 million hectares in 2001 - 1/3 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 $185-400/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

23. Crop biotechnology R&D India • Public sector investments of US$15 million per year; private sector spending US$10 million per year • R&D for transgenic rice, maize, wheat, cotton, brassica, mungbean, and potato • commercial planting of 3 Bt cotton cultivars approved by GEAC in March 2002 ~50,000 ha planted this 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

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

27. Public Perception / Acceptance Email gcairns@afic.org Website www.afic.org

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

31. Concerns about foodImportance rating Not at all important Very Important (Q3) Base: All respondents (600)

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

33. Perceived Advantages of Food Biotechnology

34. Perceived Disadvantages of Food Biotechnology

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

43. 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 Biosafety Regulations in ASEANA work in progress

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

45. Labeling Status

48. x Thank you Andrew D. Powell adpowell@pacific.net.sg