BioSafety, Volume 3, Paper 3 (BY97003) March 15th, 1997
Online Journal, URL - http://www.bdt.org.br/bioline/by
Field Testing and Commercialisation of Genetically Modified
Plants in Developing Countries - Biosafety Aspects
Ivar Virgin
Received March 3rd, 1997
Accepted March 12th, 1997
Code Number: BY97003
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ABSTRACT
The application of biotechnology research in developing
countries has to a large extent occurred in the agricultural
sector. In many of these countries traditional agriculture and
plant breeding programmes are now being supplemented by
genetic engineering techniques. These include tissue culture
techniques to produce disease free seedlings, new formulations
for animal vaccines, and more recently the development of
transgenic plants. An often used benchmark for the progress of
agricultural biotechnology is the number of field tests done
to date. World-wide more than 3600 official field trials of
genetically modified plants were conducted between 1986 and
end of 1995 in more than 30 countries. More than ninety per
cent of the field trials have been performed in North America
and Europe.
Many developing countries have to a large extent served as
winter nurseries for various international seed companies.
However, a larger number of developing countries are now
building significant capacities in biotechnology. As a result,
more and more of these countries will test transgenic crops
constructed in their own national laboratories and in
collaboration with research institutes in the North or
International Agricultural Centres. Judging from the current
development these will be crops with transgenic traits which
to a greater extent address specific national needs. While the
large majority of industrialized countries have biosafety
regulatory procedures in place, the situation in developing
countries is dramatically different. The results of a 1995
Biotechnology Advisory Center survey showed that only roughly
ten percent of the developing countries had any established
biosafety regulations. The situation is improving and the
establishment of an international biosafety protocol under the
Convention on Biological Diversity will probably increase the
pressure on developing countries to establish biosafety
regulatory procedures.
However, it is important to note that neither an international
biosafety protocol nor national regulations will of themselves
facilitate the safe development of biotechnology. There must
also be the national capacity to implement the regulations.
THus, the capacity to regulate biotechnology through risk
assessment and management is as important as the regulations
themselves. Even though much of the work in building a
biosafety regulatory capacity has to be done by the developing
countries themselves, there is a clear need for continued
assistance from international organisations.
Keywords:Agricultural biotechnology, biosafety,
regulations, capacity building, developing countries,
transgenic plants, field trials, risk assessment.
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