ABS in Africa and the ABS in Africa and the “Quadruple Win” Goal“Quadruple Win” Goal

Workshop on Workshop on Embedding mutually supportive implementation Embedding mutually supportive implementation of the Plant Treaty and the Nagoya Protocol in of the Plant Treaty and the Nagoya Protocol in the context of broader national policy goalsthe context of broader national policy goals

Pierre du Plessis Pierre du Plessis ILRI, Addis Ababa, November 16-20, 2015ILRI, Addis Ababa, November 16-20, 2015

Nightmare 2050 …Nightmare 2050 … More than 9 billion people to feed, at higher More than 9 billion people to feed, at higher

levels of lifestyle aspirationlevels of lifestyle aspiration Significant increases in climate variability:Significant increases in climate variability:

– Less reliable rainy seasons: longer dry periods, Less reliable rainy seasons: longer dry periods, heavier storms, unseasonable frostheavier storms, unseasonable frost

– Shifting climate zones impact cropping optionsShifting climate zones impact cropping options More and worse natural disasters erode More and worse natural disasters erode

personal and national capitalpersonal and national capital Climate refugees destabilise neighbouring Climate refugees destabilise neighbouring

countries, war over natural resourcescountries, war over natural resources

… … or Vision 2063?or Vision 2063? "A global strategy to optimize use of Africa's "A global strategy to optimize use of Africa's

resources for the benefits of all Africans“ – resources for the benefits of all Africans“ – adopted by AU Assembly 2013adopted by AU Assembly 2013– 1. A prosperous Africa based on inclusive growth 1. A prosperous Africa based on inclusive growth

and sustainable developmentand sustainable development– 2. An integrated continent, politically united 2. An integrated continent, politically united

based on the ideals of Pan Africanism and the based on the ideals of Pan Africanism and the vision of Africa’s Renaissancevision of Africa’s Renaissance

– 3. An Africa of good governance, democracy, 3. An Africa of good governance, democracy, respect for human rights, justice and the rule of respect for human rights, justice and the rule of lawlaw

– 4. A peaceful and secure Africa4. A peaceful and secure Africa– 5. An Africa with a strong cultural 5. An Africa with a strong cultural

identity, common heritage, values and identity, common heritage, values and ethicsethics

– 6. An Africa, whose development is 6. An Africa, whose development is people-driven, relying on the potential people-driven, relying on the potential of African people, especially its women of African people, especially its women and youth, and caring for childrenand youth, and caring for children

– 7. Africa as a strong, united, resilient 7. Africa as a strong, united, resilient and influential global player and partnerand influential global player and partner

Agriculture will be modern and Agriculture will be modern and productive, using science, technology, productive, using science, technology, innovation and indigenous knowledgeinnovation and indigenous knowledge

Strong focus on technology transfer and Strong focus on technology transfer and human capacity development, aimed at human capacity development, aimed at a knowledge economy based on science, a knowledge economy based on science, technology, innovation, educationtechnology, innovation, education

Africa’s unique natural endowments, its Africa’s unique natural endowments, its environment and ecosystems, including environment and ecosystems, including its wildlife and wild lands are healthy, its wildlife and wild lands are healthy, valued and protected, with climate valued and protected, with climate resilient economies and communitiesresilient economies and communities

ABS and the “Quadruple ABS and the “Quadruple Win”Win”

Conservation and sustainable use of BD (key Conservation and sustainable use of BD (key role of on-farm selection)role of on-farm selection)

Benefit sharing, especially science, Benefit sharing, especially science, technology, knowledge and educationtechnology, knowledge and education

Contribution to climate change adaptation – Contribution to climate change adaptation – genetic and farming systemsgenetic and farming systems

Poverty alleviation through economic growth Poverty alleviation through economic growth and development, AND through increased and development, AND through increased access to resources, increased social and access to resources, increased social and natural capital natural capital

No time to waste…No time to waste… Scientific/technical capacity to manipulate Scientific/technical capacity to manipulate

genetics is doubling every six months genetics is doubling every six months (“Moore’s Law on steroids”) – e.g. DivSeek(“Moore’s Law on steroids”) – e.g. DivSeek

A very rapid “disruptive” move away from A very rapid “disruptive” move away from “genetic resources” to pure “genetic “genetic resources” to pure “genetic information” (analogous to other information” (analogous to other manifestations of “big data”)manifestations of “big data”)

In the Information Age it is futile trying to In the Information Age it is futile trying to control information flows – so how should control information flows – so how should Africa respond?Africa respond?

Two fundamental truthsTwo fundamental truths International environmental International environmental

agreements MUST BE IMPLEMENTED agreements MUST BE IMPLEMENTED NATIONALLYNATIONALLY

National development policies National development policies related to biodiversity (agricultural related to biodiversity (agricultural and “wild”) MUST BE IMPLEMENTED and “wild”) MUST BE IMPLEMENTED AT THE LOCAL LEVELAT THE LOCAL LEVEL

URGENT need to coordinateURGENT need to coordinate ABS must be integrated into national economic ABS must be integrated into national economic

development planningdevelopment planning Policies will ONLY work if translated into legal Policies will ONLY work if translated into legal

rights (over land, resources, traditional rights (over land, resources, traditional knowledge) supported by institutional and knowledge) supported by institutional and technical capacity at the level of local technical capacity at the level of local communitiescommunities

Purpose of innovative approach at this Purpose of innovative approach at this workshop: different national sectors stop workshop: different national sectors stop working in silos – plan and act together, with working in silos – plan and act together, with quadruple local impact as goalquadruple local impact as goal

Picture worth a thousand Picture worth a thousand wordswords