'Biotechnology must come with accountability'

By G. Venkataramani

BANGKOK, JULY 12. Governments and the biotechnology industry should prepare dossiers not just to satisfy the regulatory process but as part of an exercise in accountability to civil society, countries and the environment, indeed to all stakeholders. This was one of the major conclusions that emerged at the closing session of the international conference on ``New Biotechnology Food and Crops: Science, Safety and Society,'' organised here by the U.K. Government in co-operation with the OECD and the Government of Thailand.

``This implies a complete review of not how the data is collected and presented but what use is made of it to engage in a dialogue. The recommendation has implications for inter- governmental organisations, governments, industry and those who advise on communication. It has set the trend for international processes for consensus-building with more openness and inclusiveness,'' said the Earl of Selborne, Chairman of the conference.

Addressing a media conference here today, the Earl said the need for transparency in consultations with all stakeholders was emphasised and it was observed that greater transparency by all parties would help to promote more constructive and meaningful dialogue. There is need for an accelerated, internationally co- ordinated programme of capacity- building activities which, in turn can help speed up the implementation of biosafety protocol.

The Earl stressed the need for high quality, accessible and relevant science throughout the world to support risk assessment. ``Several speakers drew attention to the decline in publicly funded research, and the increasing dependence that society has on research data that might not be considered impartial. Publicly funded research provides greater confidence and might be easier to channel into regions for which no financial return on the research investment can be expected. National governments are invited to ensure that there is an acceptable balance between public and private research funding for biosafety applications,'' he said.

In a statement signed by some non-government organisations (NGOs) from developing countries which participated in the three-day conference, their representatives said though they were not of the view that the conference reached consensus, it provided an opportunity to isolate contentious issues for further considerations. Lofty claims that GM foods and food production would address the problems of hunger and malnutrition in developing countries should be debated. These claims were made by developed countries and industry in developing countries. ``We welcome their concern for hunger and malnutrition in developing countries. However, the solutions for these problems, as indeed other developmental challenges of the South, must be decided by the South,'' the statement read.

The problems of hunger in developing countries must be seen in all their complex ramifications. Without considering these and other factors, GM foods will not address these issues. ``For us, biotechnology and GM foods may have a role in addressing hunger and malnutrition only if embedded in the wider matrix of economic and development policy of the South. We oppose the idea that any technology and products arising out of that technology, on their own and outside of policy variables answer humanity's development needs,'' said the signatories.

The NGOs called for a fresh debate on the strategies for combating world hunger and what role, if any, GM foods could have in such an endeavour. Such a debate should consider the current global socio-economic and political environment. ``It is crucial that such a debate is freed from the manipulative arts of public relations and marketing,'' they said. Now the research and development of GM food is concentrated in the hands of private industry and developed countries. Their claims that it would benefit developing countries give raise to suspicions that existing field trials may well be designed as testing grounds for future commercial production. Besides, the industry-based research initiatives in developing countries are closely linked to bio-piracy.

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Section  : International
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