Biotechnology for Sustainable Development

1. Biotechnology for Sustainable Development Africa review report on progress in the implementation of SD commitments related to biotechnology in Africa 22-23 November 2012 UN Conference Centre, Addis Ababa David Wafula Program for Biosafety Systems (PBS)

2. Presentation outline • Introduction 2. Concrete actions taken and progress made/achievements 3. Implementation challenges and constraints 4. Inter-linkages with other review topics 5. Conclusions/recommendations/way forward

3. Terms of Reference • Review progress in the implementation of sustainable development commitments related to biotechnology contained in • Agenda 21 • Plan for Further Implementation of Agenda 21 (PFIA21) • Johannesburg Plan of Implementation (JPOI)

4. Background- Agenda 21, PFIA 21& JPO1 • Agenda 21- recognizes the potential of biotechnology as a tool for sustainable development in increasing availability of food, feed and raw materials, improving human health, enhancing environment and safe and environmental sound use of biotech. • PFIA 21- facilitating transfer and handling of biotechnology and its benefits and biosafety capacity building • JPOI- • Promote access to biotechnology and its benefits • Enhanced scientific and technical cooperation on biotechnology and biosafety

5. Concrete actions taken and progress made/achievementsThe application of biotechnology R and D in Africa cuts across cuts across agriculture, environment, health and the industry. African countries are embracing biotechnology R and D at various levels to cope with the increasing demands for food, feed, fibre and fuel.

6. Regional trends • Political will to integrate biotech policies within the programmatic structures of AU • AU-NEPAD S&T technology consolidated plan of Action (CPA) has a focus on safe development and application of biotechnology (programme 1.2) and building a common African strategy for biotechnology (programme 5.4). • In 2004 AU-NEPAD established a high level panel of eminent experts to give guidance on the matters related to biotechnology • AU-NEPAD African Biosafety Network of Expertise (ABNE) was established and endorsed by AMCOST in 2008 to build/strengthen capacity of African countries in managing biotechnology

7. Biotechnology commitments within RECS • Biotechnology & SD nexus has become a regional priority - interdependence among countries and transboundary implications biotechnology • RECS- COMESA, ECOWAS and SADC programmes on regional cooperation & coordination in biosafety decision-making • Drivers- promotion of intra-regional trade and economic integration goals may be jeopardized if countries have divergent approaches to biotechnology and biosafety

8. Biotechnology commitments within RECS • COMESA- draft regional biosafety policies & guidelines (2010) and a biotechnology and biosafety unit created • ECOWAS- regional action plan for biotechnology & biosafety development (2006-2010) • In 2003- SADC advisory committee on biotechnology and biosafety launched and guidelines on handling GM food aid developed • EAC Protocol on Environment and Natural Resources management covers biosafety and biotechnology under article 26. • The need to develop and adopt common policies and laws that would harness the potential benefits of biotechnology and prevent harmful effects of the technology

9. Achievements in the application of biotechnology • Various applications of biotechnology have contributed towards achievement of Agenda 21 goals which recognizes biotechnology as a tool for sustainable development • Increasing availability of food, feed, fibre and renewable raw materials • Biotechnology has contributed to increased food security, household incomes and broader social-economic welfare benefits • Significant benefits associated with adoption of technologies such as Tissue culture banana, NERICA, insect and pest resistant varieties of maize and cotton

10. GM crop adoption in SA - % of total crop area • Cumulative farm income gains from adoption of biotech crops for the period 1998-2010 amounted to US$ 809 million • Increasing availability of food- Bt maize yield increase of 11% • Increased availability of fibre -95% of the area under cotton is Bt

11. Burkina Faso • 2.2 million people in Burkina Faso depend on cotton • Over 58% of the area under cotton is Bt • Benefits of adopting Bt cotton include • Yield increase of about 20%, • labour and insecticide savings resulting to a net gain of US$ 66 per hectare compared to conventional cotton • BENEFIT SHARING - Farmers receive 60% of the benefits, Monsanto 28% and research and seed companies get 12%

12. Conventional cotton and Bt cotton in Burkina Faso Bt cotton Conventional cotton

13. Additional examples • Banana is an important food security and cash crop in E. Africa • Adoption of early maturity, high yielding and disease free-banana planting materials using TC technology by 10, 000 farmers in Kenya has resulted increased household incomes –by 38% • NERICA rice has been adopted in about 30 countries in SSA which has contributed towards self sufficiency . • In W. Africa 240 M pple depend on rice as staple food • NERICA has contributed towards reducing annual rice import bill of US$ 1 billion • Increased use of biofertilizers has minimized use of chemical fertilizers • Govt commitment towards development of the biofuels sector in Ghana- tax incentives

14. Improving human health • Progress in medical biotechnology and cutting edge developments in genomics and bioinformatics has made it possible for development of drugs, diagnosis and early treatment of many diseases and disorders such as insulin for the treatment of diabetes • Clinical trials and efforts to develop HIV/AIDS vaccine using modern biotechnology are underway • Animal health and livestock experts are using biotechnology discoveries to improve animal health and production. In Uganda, recombinant vaccines for east coast fever and new castle diseases have been developed • East coast fever kills 1 million cattle yearly in East, Central and Southern Africa

15. Enhancing protection of the environment • Biotechnology helping African countries in the conservation and sustainable use of forest resources • Tree Biotechnology Project Trust has the largest single forest tree clonal nursery in ECA which has produced over 19 million improved fast growing and early maturing seedlings • Pest and disease resistant biotech crops such as Bt cotton and Bt maize resulted to positive impacts on protection of biodiversity and reduction of the amount of agrochemicals released to the environment (e.g in Burkina Faso reduction of Bt cotton sprays from 6 to 2) • Projects on biogas production from sisal waste – supported by BIO-EARN (transformed to Bioinnovate with focus on product development through biosciences)

16. Mechanisms for the development and environmentally sound application of biotechnology- agenda 21 • 49 African countries have ratified/acceded to the Biosafety Protocol which is an obligation/commitment to ensure sound application of biotechnology • Majority of African countries have made remarkable progress in development of NBFs- a package of policy, legal and administrative mechanisms for governing modern biotechnology • African countries participated in the negotiations that led to adoption of the Nagoya-Kuala Lumpur Supplementary Protocol on Liability and Redress in 2010. • The protocol provides a mechanism for addressing damage that may result from GMOs

18. Facilitating transfer of technologies including biotechnology PFIA-21 –facilitating transfer and handling of biotech and its benefits and biosafety capacity building • Establishment of African institutions dedicated to technology transfer • AATF created in 2002 -mandate of negotiating access to proprietary technologies • Successfully negotiated royalty free biotech cowpea and drought tolerant maize (WEMA)

19. Scientific & technical cooperation in biotech &biosafety -JPOI • In 2005- • AU/NEPAD launched Africa Biosciences Initiative- focusing on harnessing biological applications in agriculture, environment and health and capacity building (common regional challenges) • ABI offers opportunities for cooperation in cutting-edge biosciences research in the regional centres of excellence

20. Implementation Challenges & constraints • Political commitment & priority setting-progress in biotech has been dictated by the policy/political landscape. Many countries have not yet integrated biotechnology into national dev. policies • Funding and capacity building- biotech is knowledge & capital intensive with hefty financial implications. Short-term erratic and low level financing of biotechnology R&D is a major constraint. • Biosafety regulation-Strict liability laws and regulations that stifle biotechnology scientific and technological innovations in any country pose a major threat SD aspirations. • Communication, awareness and public participation-polarized debates and negative public perceptions impedes biotechnology uptake. Misinformation remains one of the key factors that have hindered the adoption of biotechnology in Africa.

21. Biotechnology interlinkages with biodiversity, forests, tourism and mountains • Biodiversity • Biotech- a tool for adding value to biodiversity through plant and animal breeding involving the transfer of genetic information • Biodiversity provides biotechnology with raw materials. e.gBacilicusthuringensis (Bt) that has been extensively used in plant transformation and development of transgenic plants. • Potential gene flow from GM crops to wild relatives. It can be a major issue for crops where Africa is a centre of origin(Ethiopia centre of origin of Sorghum) • Loss of biodiversity reduces opportunities for biotechnology development

22. Biotechnology interlinkages • Forests and mountains • Technologies for forest species improvement through fast maturing, disease resistant and climate change resilient tree species. • Clonal propagation for restoration and vegetation replenishment of denuded mountains • Forests and mountains ecosystems form an important source of biological resources biotechnology R &D • Tourism • Biotechnology based tourism including ‘seeing is believing tours’ • Application of biotech tools for conservation of flora and fauna for tourist attractions (endangered species)

23. Recommendations • Political commitment and priority setting-sustained political will and commitment from African governments to prioritize and support and biotechnology is indispensable. • Funding and capacity building-national investment plans in research, including biotechnologies; need to be increased to ensure adequate and consistent funding of biotechnology R&D. • Biosafety regulation- Countries should be careful about imposition of strict liability provisions which could undermine advancements in biotechnology R and D. • Technology transfer and IPRs-African countries should strengthen the capacity of the IP systems that reconcile the need to reward inventors and promotion of freedom to innovate. • Communication, awareness and public participation-African Governments should take leading responsibility in promoting and improving the understanding of biotechnology. This crucial in building public confidence, trust and acceptance.

24. Conclusion • Global trends indicate that a biotechnological divide is emerging between Africa and the rest of the world • African countries are encouraged to adopt proactive strategies that will ensure harnessing the benefits from biotechnology and management of any potential risks • Policy decisions and actions on adoption of biotechnology should be informed by science-based evidence taking into account domestic realities and challenges. • Regional cooperation in biotechnology and biosafety matters should be pursued strongly • To deal with transboundary challenges • Harness and leverage the limited national and regional capacity, resources and facilities

25. 1. !. Dr Acknowledgements Dr. Margaret Karembu Dr. Dan Kiambi Dr. Francis Nangayo Dr. Faith Nguthi