Cartagena Protocol: Biosafety Cartagena Protocol: Biosafety Imperatives for Biodiversity Imperatives for Biodiversity Conservation with particular Reference Conservation with particular Reference to GMOsto GMOs

Abiodun A. Denloye, PhDDepartment of Zoology and Environmental BiologyLagos State University Ojo, Lagos.

Staff Seminar, 21st August 2014

www. denloye.com

F O R T R U T H A N D S E R V I C E

Plan of PresentationPlan of PresentationIntroduction of Cartagena protocolGlobal biodiversity The need to conserve biodiversityBiodiversity of Africa and NigeriaGMOS and alteration of biodiversityBiosafety Imperatives for conservation of

biodiversityImplications and ChallengesConclusion and Recommendation

Introduction to Cartagena ProtocolIntroduction to Cartagena ProtocolIt is a product of the 1992 Convention on Biological

Diversity

One of the issues addressed by the CBD is biosafety.

Biosafety is a concept that refers to the need to protect human health and the environment from the possible adverse effects of the products of modern biotechnology.

CARTAGENA CARTAGENA PROTOCOLPROTOCOL

Focuses on trans-boundary movement of living modified organisms arising from modern biotechnology processes

Came into force on Montreal Canada on 29th January 2000

It provides a regulatory framework for trade and environmental protection.

It creates an enabling environment for environmentally sound application of modern biotechnology

Conventional Technique

Recombinant DNA Technique

GraftingHybridizationBudding

Gene TransferGene splicing

Nigeria - Distinct vegetation zones endowed with vast biodiversity

What is biodiversity? The totality of all life forms What is biodiversity? The totality of all life forms within a geographical spacewithin a geographical space

Nigeria is rich in animal and plant biodiversity

Many species are already threatened , endangered or extinct.

Nigeria has unique species that need to be protected

Examples of GMOsExamples of GMOsCrops – GM Cassava, BT cotton, drought

resistant sorghum, biofortified corn, etc

Animals – Insects – eg mosquitoes

Pharmaceuticals -

Examples of GM CropsExamples of GM Crops

Examples of GM AnimalsExamples of GM AnimalsEnviroPig. A construct containing phytase gene from Escherichia coli under the control a promoter of the mouse secretory parotid was added to the geneome. EnviroPig gives less environmental polution.

GM Mosquitoes. Engineered to produce more males which are sterile.

Trade in GM productsTrade in GM products32 Seed companies already registered in

NigeriaIt is anticipated that there will be a flurry

of GM products in Nigeria within a short time. This sets the tone for regulation within our national boundry.

Biosafety Imperatives - CommencementBiosafety Imperatives - Commencement

Regulations must fit into Cartagena Protocol.

Nigeria is a signatory to the protocol.The National Competent Authority is the

Federal Ministry of EnvironmentThere is national Biosafety Office in

Department of ForestryThere is no enabling law in the country,

but there is a draft bill.

Biosafety ImperativesBiosafety ImperativesNational Biosafety Regulations Biodiversity DatabaseMonitoring for GMOsInstitutional Biosafety CommitteesEnvironmental Risk Assessment

Biosafety imperativesBiosafety imperativesInstitutional Biosafety Committee (IBC)

Institutional Biosafety Officer (IBO)

Principal Investigator (PI)

All stakeholders including representatives of the community.

Main issues in biosafety monitoringMain issues in biosafety monitoring .. a, Environmental safety . gene flow (of GMOs will contaminate our indigenious crops) . invasiveness (of GMOs might become predominant) . non-target organisms . other effects on ecology and dynamics b.Food/feed safety/Human health . Nutrition . Allergy . Toxicity . Substantial equivalence c. Agricultural sustainability . Weediness . pest resistance development . chemical imputs . Higher Costs . Others ( Socio-Cultural , acceptability etc)

Biosafety Imperatives – Actions Biosafety Imperatives – Actions RequiredRequired1. Collation of biodiversity resources at

the local government, state and national levels.

Coordinated cooperative multidisciplinary and multiloci research into GMO production, safety and evaluation.

Documentation and awareness of products and effects.

AcknowledgementsAcknowledgements 1. African Biological Safety Association (AfBSA)

2. Sandia Laboratories, United States of America.

3. Government of Italy

4. Office of the President of the United States of America.

5. International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB), Trieste, Italy.

6. African Centre for Integrated Laboratory Training (ACILT), South Africa.

7. Federal Ministry of Environment

8. Federal Ministry of Health

9. Nigerian Biosafety Association (NiBSA)

THANK YOU.THANK YOU.