1

REGIONAL APPROACH TO BIOTECHNOLOGYAND BIOSAFETY IN SADC:

MALAWI, MAURITIUS, SOUTH AFRICA

REGIONAL APPROACH TO BIOTECHNOLOGYAND BIOSAFETY IN SADC:

MALAWI, MAURITIUS, SOUTH AFRICA

FANRPAN STAKEHOLDERS MEETING,

KEMPTON PARK, SOUTH AFRICA, 20 JUNE 2008

REPORT BY

DR. WYNAND J. VAN DER WALT + MARNUS GOUSE

ON BEHALF OF STUDY GROUP

FOODNCROPBIOwynandjvdw@telkomsa.net

Tel (+27)-12-347-6334 / 083-468-3471

2

COMPELLING REASONS FOR BIOSAFETY FRAMEWORKS

COMPELLING REASONS FOR BIOSAFETY FRAMEWORKS

GM CROPS ON ALL CONTINENTS CARTAGENA PROTOCOL ON BIOSAFETY PRESENT FOOD CRISES FARMER CHOICE OF PRODUCTION NEPAD & FARA PROMOTE BIOTECH ENABLE FARMERS TO EVALUATE GM CROPS DEVELOP OWN BIOTECHNOLOGIES

3

SADC MEMBERS CARTAGENA PROTOCOL ON BIOSAFETY

SADC MEMBERS CARTAGENA PROTOCOL ON BIOSAFETY

BOTSWANA, DRC, LESOTHO,MADAGASCAR, MALAWI, MAURITIUSMOZAMBIQUE, SEYCHELLES,SOUTH AFRICA, SWAZILANDZAMBIA, ZIMBABWE

4

MALAWIMALAWI

MAIZE, COTTON, CASSAVA 2001, GM MAIZE IMPORTS, NO BIOSAFETY 2002 BIOSAFETY BILL, 2004 REGULATIONS EX ANTE STUDY: INCREASE GROSS INCOME 95% Bt COTTON CONSTRAINTS: SEED COST, FINANCING, BREEDERS RIGHTS,

STAKEHOLDER ARRANGEMENTS

5

MAURITIUSMAURITIUS

AGR. = 7% GDP, SUGAR MSIRI: STARTED GM RESEARCH 1993, BIOSAFETY COMM. 1996 2002 GMO BILL > 2004 ACT MSIRI > BASTA TOLERANCE TRAIT GREENHOUSE TRIALS ONLY EX ANTE: NEW WEED CONTROL LESS COST THAN

BASTA DEPENDS ON CHEMICAL COSTS

6

SOUTH AFRICASOUTH AFRICA

1978: SAGENE 1990 BIOSAFETY GUIDELINES, Bt COTTON TRIALS 1997: GMO ACT 1999: GMO REGULATIONS ALL GEN. MOD., ALL ORGANISMS, GMO EXEC COUNCIL, 6 DEPTS (8) ADV. COMM., REVIEWERS PERMITS

7

SOUTH AFRICASOUTH AFRICA

GM MAIZE: 10.6% AV YIELD INCREASE ECONOMIC BENEFIT 8 YEARS US$250 MILLION GM COTTON: S-SCALE= US$46/HA, DRYLAND L-SCALE= US$25/HA, DRYLAND L-SCALE= US$202/HA, IRRIG. GM SOYBEANS: ?

8

RECOMMENDATIONSRECOMMENDATIONS

LEARN FROM OTHERSEXPEDITE BIOSAFETY FRAMEWORKSHARMONIZE LEGISLATIONESTABLISH CAPACITYREGIONAL CLEARING HOUSEPUBLIC AWARENESS

9