Communicating Plant Biotechnology: Perspectives from the Plant Science Industry

1. Communicating Plant Biotechnology: Perspectives from the Plant Science Industry

2. Our Vision: Food Security Enabled by Innovative Agriculture Mission: Advocates a safe, secure food supply ‘A region where productive food and agriculture systems-enabled through innovative crop science and technologies-contribute to improving food security and the living standards of all in an environmentally, economically and socially sustainable manner’ CropLife Asia- a plant science industry association

3. CropLife Asia-Regional Network 8 R&D Corporations Korea China Japan Pakistan Bangladesh Taiwan Vietnam India Thailand Philippines Sri Lanka Malaysia Indonesia Associate Members: Arysta Life Science Isagro Asia Australia 15National Associations New Zealand

4. Working in a Global Federation of regional and national associations in 91 countries Asia Regional associations • Africa Middle East • America • Asia • Europe • Japan • Latin America 3

5. Targeting Food Security for Asia Pacific • Presently 52% of the world’s population • 63% of the world’s hungry and malnourished • The growing pressure of water scarcity, the arable land squeeze, climate change, and increasing food prices

6. Global biotech crops production Biotech Crops Cultivation in Asia 29 countries planted biotech crops in 2010 In 2010, global area of biotech crops was 148 million hectares, representing an increase of 10% over 2009, equivalent to 14 million hectares. Source: Clive James, 2010

7. Asia is a key market of biotech crops Major corn and soybean importing countries in Asia (volume in million metric tons): Grain: World Markets and Trade, 2011. USDA-FAS. http://usda.mannlib.cornell.edu/usda/fas/grain-market//2010s/2011/grain-market-01-12-2011.pdf; Accessed Jan 24, 2011 Oilseeds: World Markets and Trade, 2011. USDA-FAS. http://usda.mannlib.cornell.edu/usda/fas/oilseed-trade//2010s/2011/oilseed-trade-01-12-2011.pdf; Accessed Jan 24, 2011 *Global Trade Atlas, 2009

8. China’s economy will have become bigger than America’s in 2027 Huge opportunity for Chinese people and the rest of the world as they consume more BRIC and US economies major drivers http://www.economist.com/node/17493408, Nov 22nd 2010 |

9. Regional Outlook • Food security, rising food prices, climate change, and environment integrity-top priority concerns • Range of applications/approvals will grow; more stacked traits; create large workload to regulatory system treating stacks as new events • Significant influence of US/ EU/Japan regulations in the region

10. Regional Outlook • Anticipate increased anti-GMO activities: • --- in countries where biotech crop as food is planned for field trials for possible cultivation: Australia (wheat), China (rice, corn), India (corn, eggplant ), Philippines (eggplant, rice), Indonesia (corn), Vietnam (corn) • ---as anti-GMO NGOs make noise to call attention of Parties to ratify the Nagoya-KL Supplementary Protocol on Liability and Redress

11. Regional Outlook • Outcomes of COP-MOP5 issues may stir some changes in the regulatory environment • Continue tracking of Proposed LMO Risk assessment and management guidelines in ASEAN • Leverage on Emerging Developments-Global Agriculture Gets the Walmart Sustainability Treatment Reuters Thu Oct 14 05:00:00 UTC 2010 Thus, the need to step up efforts in public acceptance outreach and sustain political support

12. Cultivating China • Improving regulatory approaches • Increasing interest of Min of Agriculture to engage in public information and awareness in agribiotech (govt issue biosafety certificate to public-sector developed products: Bt rice and phytase corn

13. India Cultivating • Parliamentary approval: Biotechnology Regulatory Authority of India • From Genetic Engineering Approval Committee to GE Appraisal Committee, with name change-its mandate and its statutory powers as a scientific body remain uncertain. • Uncertainties exist but chances for commercial approval of Bt brinjal are not ruled out • Recent ‘freeze’ on biotech corn trial: incoherent government signals • Possible release: Guidelines on GM Foods’ by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) and Bt cotton IRM • COP-MOP6 to be held in India on Oct 2012

14. Philippines Cultivating • Guidelines in progress on: LLP, discontinued product, Bt corn IRM, Halal food guidelines • Bt eggplant and golden rice: (a) field trials and food safety assessment; (b) more heated debates; (c) some local governments may impose ban on field trials. • Local anti-biotech groups to push for legislation on a strict-based liability and redress (L&R) regime for LMOs

15. Cultivating*** Indonesia • Plant biotech enjoys political support; public-sector GM sugarcane in limited field trial • Environment and food safety approval for limited field trials of HT-and IR-corn • Limited field trials of HT-and IR-corn • Step up acceptance efforts to support field trials

16. Cultivating*** Vietnam • Implementing guidelines for food/feed safety approval • Multilocation field trials • Biosafety certificates for environmental release of biotech corn • Step up acceptance efforts to support field trials

17. Thailand • Revised stack guideline • Biotech corn (NK603) and PRSV-papaya—granted permit to conduct confined field trial • Food safety approval framework by TFDA • Election

18. Malaysia •Soft outreach on understanding regulatory issues-capacity building and public acceptance • Field trials GM mosquitoes-impact? • Representation in CBD’s RA/RM group for GM mosquitoes?

19. Supporting continued global adoption of biotech crops: CLA technology access initiatives Knowledge Sharing and Dissemination Continual Dialogue Partnership/Collaboration Networking Strategies

20. Technology Access Initiatives Outreach for Informed Decision Making • Information Sharing/Educational Outreach Towards Science-Based Regulations • New countries considering adopting plant biotechnology or evolving regulations • Outreach to regulators and government agencies • Providing factual information about the technology and potential frameworks for regulating plant biotechnology, from research to commercialization • Discussions are focused on sharing information about existing transparent, science-based, and timely regulatory frameworks that may serve as a foundation for developing regulations • Local workshops on a variety of topics, such as environmental risk assessment, detection methods, combined events, and areas of stewardship, such as field trial compliance

21. Technology Access Initiatives Outreach for Informed Decision Making • Information Sharing to Achieve Further Plant Science Advancements • Experts and leading researchers in plant biotechnology continually share information and knowledge through: • Publication of research/scientific findings in peer-reviewed journals • Presentations at conferences/meetings, such as BIO and ASEAN • Serve as resources in various capacity-building activities • Training sessions • Workshops • Policy briefings

22. Technology Access Initiatives Outreach for Informed Decision Making Information Sharing to Support Public Acceptance CropLife supports projects and activities which make information and knowledge accessible to various audiences: • Proactive media outreach – press conferences, press briefings, exchange programs • Farmer Exchange • Multi-media publications • Biotech benefits database • Farmer profiles/success stores • New social media strategies

23. Technology Access Initiatives Outreach for Informed Decision Making • Information Sharing to Encourage Value Chain Support • Continuous discussions with the value chain — at local, regional, and international levels — are essential to ensuring acceptance of plant biotechnology • Dialogue with the value chain helps to identify concerns that may exist about the technology and its impact of stakeholder groups or trade, as well as enable work towards mutually agreeable solutions.

24. Partnerships and Collaboration • Cooperation and collaboration - vital to progress in science and innovation, and its adoption, no matter what technology • Partnerships come in a wide variety of forms: • From teaching and training researchers • Information-sharing about technology platforms • Negotiations around access to patent-protected technology • Funding • There is a long history of public-private partnerships in plant biotechnology around the world

25. Conclusion • ◊ Social benefits of biotech crops • Food security • Sustainable agriculture • Alleviating poverty and hunger • Adaption to and mitigation of climate change-associated challenges • ◊Farm benefits of biotech crops: • Flexible crop management • Lower costs of farm inputs • Higher farm productivity • Increased farmer income • Health and social benefits • Cleaner environment • ◊ Future benefits of biotech crops • Consumer benefits – increased nutritional quality, healthier oils • Abiotic stress tolerance

26. Conclusion •Increasing Challenges in Acceptance and Regulatory Environment • But, there are also windows of opportunities • CropLife is committed to knowledge sharing and the dissemination of information through networking, partnership, and collaboration to ensure that plant biotechnologies are an available choice to farmers around the world.