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Agricultural Biotechnology |
Agricultural biotechnology is a revolutionary tool that is transforming the agricultural sector. It has the potential to spur economic growth, increase productivity in the agricultural sector, reduce hunger and malnutrition, and lessen the environmental impact of agricultural production.
APEC's High Policy Level Dialogue on Agricultural Biotechnology (HPLDAB) is a recognition of the importance APEC Ministers and Leaders place on member economies' work on the safe introduction of biotechnology products, and on obtaining public acceptance of these products.
The 2007-2009 HLPDAB Work Plan focuses on the following areas of interest:
- Policy information exchange on agricultural biotechnology;
- Public perception and understanding of agricultural biotechnology;
- Legal considerations related to the use of agricultural biotechnology;
- Public and private sector relationships in agricultural biotechnology; and
- Effective collaboration with other APEC fora
The HLPDAB works closely with the APEC Agricultural Technical Cooperation Working Group's (ATCWG) Sub-group on Research, Development and Extension of Agricultural Biotechnology (RDEAB). RDEAB is focused on developing transparent, science-based approaches to agricultural biotechnology. It's work includes capacity building activities and research on the effects of gene flow and genetically modified crops; and it encourages dialogue between the private and public sectors to promote research and the development of biotechnology.
The first high level policy dialogues on agricultural biotechnology took place in 2002.
Achievements
The 7th Meeting of the APEC High Level Policy Dialogue on Agricultural Biotechnology was held in February, 2008 in Lima, Peru. The main issues for discussion included: commodity trade and the low-level presence of regulated recombinant DNA plant materials in trade; the implications of transparent policies and regulations for the use of agricultural biotechnology; and key concerns on liability and redress in research and trade. It was agreed that the HLPDAB would undertake work complementary to that proposed by the RDEAB with respect to harmonising the technical aspects of regulation.
Throughout 2008, many bilateral exchanges on agricultural biotechnology also took place under the auspices of the HLPDAB:
- Chile and Australia looked at the issues limiting development of the biotechnology sector in Chile.
- Vietnam and the Philippines focused on the policy development process in the Philippines and the way the regulatory community interacts with the developers of technology. And in a second exchange, key policy figures in the Vietnam National Assembly met with Filipino farmers who are deriving benefits from the adoption of GM technology, with policy makers and regulators who oversee the regulatory framework, and with researchers targeting production issues with GM solutions.
- Peru and the Philippines covered the whole process of taking a biotech crop product from the lab to market, emphasising the key role that a sound regulatory environment plays.
The 8th Meeting of the APEC HLPDAB was held February 19-21, 2009 in Singapore, and was attended by 16 economies. The main issues for discussion included regulatory harmonisation with respect to the Codex Alimentarius Annex on Food Safety Assessment in Situations of Low-level Presence of Recombinant-DNA Plant Material in Food (LLP), and technical approaches to global challenges such as food and energy demand and environmental challenges. It was preceded by a Private Sector Day that brought together representatives of agricultural businesses, the public sector and academia to learn more about new studies and developments in the biotech industry and the agricultural sector throughout the Asia-Pacific region.
Current Activities
In 2009, the HLPDAB will continue to play a key role in addressing the issue of food security. Policy makers use the HLPDAB to develop regulatory frameworks, facilitate technology transfer, encourage investment and strengthen public confidence regarding biotechnology in order to increase agricultural productivity and protect the environment, with the ultimate objective of promoting food security,
The HLPDAB also undertakes significant capacity building work to improve economies' understanding and implementation of the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety, an international treaty governing the movements of living modified organisms resulting from biotechnology from one country to another.
Work on assisting APEC members to make use of the Codex Alimentarius Annex will proceed in 2009, and the second roundtable discussion on the LLP is scheduled for July 13-14 in Singapore. The discussion will centre on case studies that show how economies have dealt with situations of LLP, and how they have resolved them under their own domestic regulatory environments. Later in the year capacity building activities will be undertaken in the areas of risk assessments and testing methodologies for product specific identification.
The HLPDAB will also continue to promote the APEC Toolbox which assists APEC economies to create a positive investment environment for agricultural biotechnology, and will focus in particular on the areas of public policy development, public awareness and perception and risk communication.
Agricultural Biotechnology - Key Contact
Co-ordinator, High Level Policy Dialogue on Agricultural Biotechnology
Acting Chair
Mr. Michael Schechtman
U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)
2101-L Street, NW
Washington, DC 20037, USA
Tel : (1202) 720 3817
Email: priscilla.joseph@usda.gov
APEC Secretariat
Mr Phanpob Plangprayoon
Director (Program)
Email: pp@apec.org
Reviewed on: 19 June 2009