Communicating Plant Biotechnology Perspectives from the Plant Science

Communicating Plant Biotechnology: Perspectives from the Plant Science Industry

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’ Crop. Life Asia- a plant science industry association

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

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

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

Global biotech crops production Biotech Crops Cultivation in Asia Countries Cotton 3. 5 Cotton, tomato, poplar, papaya, sweet pepper Pakistan 2. 4 Cotton Australia Source: Clive James, 2010 9. 4 China In 2010, global area of biotech crops was 148 million hectares, representing an increase of 10% over 2009, equivalent to 14 million hectares. Crops India 29 countries planted biotech crops in 2010 Area(Mhas) 0. 7 Cotton, canola Philippines 0. 5 maize Myanmar 0. 3 Cotton Total 16. 8 M has ; 11% of global area of biotech crops

Asia is a key market of biotech crops Importing Corn Country Soybeans (meal, oil, grains) Japan 15. 98 5. 54 South Korea 8. 46 3. 25 Taiwan 4. 6 2. 49 Malaysia 2. 8 1. 81 Indonesia 1. 3 3. 92 Thailand 0. 31* 4. 17 Vietnam 1. 6 3. 12 Philippines 0. 35* 1. 21 China 1. 3 51. 94 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//2010 s/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//2010 s/2011/oilseed-trade-0112 -2011. pdf; Accessed Jan 24, 2011 *Global Trade Atlas, 2009

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 22 nd 2010 |

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

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

Regional Outlook • Outcomes of COP-MOP 5 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 UTC 2010 Thus, the need to step up efforts in public acceptance outreach and sustain political support

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

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-MOP 6 to be held in India on Oct 2012

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

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

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

Thailand • Revised stack guideline • Biotech corn (NK 603) and PRSV-papaya— granted permit to conduct confined field trial • Food safety approval framework by TFDA • Election

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?

Supporting continued global adoption of biotech crops: CLA technology access initiatives Knowledge Sharing and Dissemination Continual Dialogue Government Society Partnership/Collaboration Networking Strategies Value Chain/Intl trading partners

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

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

Technology Access Initiatives Outreach for Informed Decision Making Information Sharing to Support Public Acceptance Crop. Life 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

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.

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: Ø From teaching and training researchers Ø Information-sharing about technology platforms Ø Negotiations around access to patent-protected technology Ø Funding • There is a long history of public-private partnerships in plant biotechnology around the world

Conclusion ◊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 ◊ Social benefits of biotech crops • Food security • Sustainable agriculture • Alleviating poverty and hunger • Adaption to and mitigation of climate change-associated challenges

Conclusion • Increasing Challenges in Acceptance and Regulatory Environment • But, there also windows of opportunities • Crop. Life 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.