Transcript India: Biosafety Capacity Building

Public participation and awareness on
genetically engineered technologies of
crops in India
Desh Deepak Verma
Joint Secretary
Ministry of Environment an Forests
Manila
21-25 June, 2004
• The Ministry of Environment and Forests is
the focal point for Convention on Biological
Diversity and all biodiversity related matters
including biosafety; and
• Ratified the Cartagena Protocol in January,
2003.
Biosafety Framework in India:
Government Commitment
• Government of India has committed to
biosafety issues by framing Rules for
Manufacture, Use, Import, Export and
Storage of Hazardous Microorganisms/
Genetically engineered organisms or cells
under the EPA (1986).
• The 1989 Rules cover the entire spectrum
of activities relating to research,
development and use of Genetically
Modified Organisms (GMOs) and their
products.
• Four principal facets of the biosafety
regulatory framework namely, institutional,
legal, environmental and public information
are in place.
• In accordance with Article 8(g) of the
Convention, India is committed to establish
or maintain means to regulate, manage or
control the risks associated with the use
and release of LMOs resulting from
biotechnology.
Current Regulatory Mechanism for
GMOs: Statutory Bodies
1. Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBSC)
2. Review Committee on Genetic Manipulation
(RCGM)
3. Genetic Engineering Approval Committee
(GEAC)
4. State Biotechnology Coordination
Committee (SBCC)
5. District Level Committee (DLC)
BENEFITS OF GMOs IN
AGRICULTURE
•
•
•
•
Increased production to ensure food security
Reduced need for clearing more land for farms
Improved productivity of marginal lands
Fall in the irrigation and agrochemical
requirements
Weed infested
Weed resistant
Soyabean
Golden rice with Vitamin A
POTENTIAL ENVIORNMENTAL AND
RELATED PROBLEMS


Development of insect resistance
Effect on non target herbivore insects, pollinators
etc.

Gene flow to wild relatives leading to gene
contamination

Health hazard for human beings and cattle
Possible transfer of antibiotic resistant genes to
other soil
bacteria
Loss of local biodiversity
Capture of market by GMO seed-Monopoly



ONGOING FIELD TRIALS IN THE
WORLD
Red: countries that are growing GM crops ; Yellow: countries that are field testing GM crops
MAJOR GM CROPS, THEIR TRAITS AND AREA
(MHA)
Crop
Trait
Area in 2001
1.
Soybean
Herbicide-tolerant
2.
Corn
Insect resistant (Bt)
5.9
3.
Canola
Herbicide-tolerant
2.7
4.
Cotton
Herbicide-tolerant
2.5
5.
Cotton
Insect resistant (Bt)/
Herbicide-tolerant
2.4
6.
Corn
Herbicide-tolerant
2.1
7.
Cotton
Insect resistant (Bt)
1.9
8.
Corn
Insect resistant (Bt)/
Herbicide-tolerant
1.8
TOTAL
33.3
52.6
GM CROPS APPROVED IN INDIA
Only one crop i.e. Bt cotton approved recently
with various conditions for a period of three years
by GEAC based upon recommendations of the
Monitoring and Evaluation Committee (MEC),
ICAR and biosafety evaluation.
Results of insect infestation on Bt (right) and
non-Bt (left) cotton bolls
Information sharing and
data base management
• Networking with various institutes and
agencies.
• Development of databases.
• Web management for information
dissemination to various stakeholders.
Involvement of stakeholders
• Societal acceptance is the key element for
successful implementation of various
polices and adaptation of technologies.
• Introduction of public consultation
mechanism.
• Public Awareness programs.
Institutions and Public
participation
• Indian R & D institutions have expertise for
conducting research in this area. However,they
need to be strengthened meet the challenges that
are emerging with the rapidly changing biosafety
scenario.
• Information sharing protocols and additional data
capacity are needed to keep pace with the
expected increase in trans-boundary movement of
LMOs.
• Increasing public participation and
awareness building programmes for all
stakeholder groups play an important role.
• Knowledge and methodologies on Biosafety
will be shared and transferred to the state
agencies through training and awareness
programmes.
• Strengthening institutional capacity for
coordination and decision making across
ministries, specialized agencies and in state
government in areas related to biosafety and
the CP.
• strengthen technical capacity to assess,
manage and monitor risks associated with
biosafety through the provision of training
for core capacity development in relevant
stakeholder ministries, specialized agencies
and in state governments.
Training cum awareness
workshops in India
• To share the experience of the industry and
farmers with scientists, policy makers, state
governments and NGOs.
• To sensitize and train state government
officials and other stakeholders for effective
monitoring of transgenic crops and review
their performance.
• To demonstrate monitoring techniques to the
agriculture related officials in the states
where Bt cotton has been introduced.
• To create a better understanding of the rules
and regulation related to biosafety of
transgenic crops and apprise about
developments related to transgenic crops in
India.
The complexities of
controversy
• Recent developments in the agricultural
biotechnology arena claim different degrees
of trust in regulatory institutions.
• Risks are not resolved easily once they
become public controversies.
• Public risk perception is influenced as much
by social relations and feelings of power.
• There is a need for developing integrated
information systems through networking of
institutions, databases, and establishment of
a biosafety-clearing house that would
interalia cover information on transboundary
inventories of GMOs.
• In addition to the scientific assessments,
socio-economic evaluation is also important
for acceptance of GMOs.
• In this regard, creating awareness amongst
various stakeholders is extremely important.
Capacity Building in Biosafety
in India
• Efforts are being made towards capacity
building within the country with the key
thrust on training and awareness.
• Currently two such projects are
underway:
– FAO Regional Capacity Building Project on
Biosafety of GM Crops in Asia and;
– GEF-World Bank aided Capacity building
project.
Thank You