PACIFIC BASIN ECONOMIC COUNCIL
MAIN PAGE | EVENTS & PROGRAMS | 2002 | APEC AND BIOTECH

APEC and Biotech Communication and Cooperation   Agenda & Registration Form bioreg.pdf 4 pages, 279k bioreg.doc 4 pages, 65k Note: You need the free Adobe Acrobat Reader utility or Microsoft Word installed on your computer to download, view or print these files. This is a summary of the Pacific Basin Economic Council's conference, "APEC and Biotech: Communication and Cooperation" - an international conference on best practices in biotechnology to the members of the High Level Dialogue on Agricultural Biotechnology. It includes a summary of each of the panel presentations and a readout on the dialogue session held at the conclusion of the panel presentations. A strong supporter of the APEC Food System, PBEC has been a supporter of sharing experiences and best practices in liberalization and efficiency development. Along with the necessary policy changes to achieve an open food system, there are many business-to-business exchanges of information that can help achieve the goals of the open food system. It is only with continued dialogue not only between government and industry, but also among industry representatives that we can help to support economic growth on a local, national and regional basis. Our first conference took place in Hawaii in March 2000, bringing together representatives from over 10 economies. This conference's outcomes encapsulated the emerging regional debate on agricultural biotechnology. The Conference held on February 23, 2002 is part of this ongoing dialogue. Nowadays, there have been further discussion of the issues of agricultural biotechnology and there is a need to take stock of our successes and identify new areas of exploration. Biotechnology is widely recognized-even by APEC's Leaders-as one tool that can bring benefits to the region. However, this new technology, as with many other technologies introduced over time, has implications beyond that of each potential application. We all recognize the benefits of information technology in terms of increases in productivity. However we can also observe the gap between countries that widens as some choose to move forward while others move at a slower pace or choose not to move ahead technologically. As countries choose whether and how to adopt new technologies, there is a need for sharing information about three issues: What are the emerging applications and their benefits? What frameworks have worked to provide benefits while maintaining consumer safety and confidence? What are successful models for sharing this information? PBEC brought together a wide range of experts from the region to help fill in the answers to these questions yesterday during our conference". Our day-long conference hosted 71 representatives from industry, academia and government from over 10 economies, PBEC Mexico's Francisco GUTIERREZ and Jose VEZ moderated the day's proceedings. PANEL I Panel I focused on identifying the benefits of biotechnology. Jose Luis SOLLIERO, Executive Director of AgroBio Mexio, provided participants with an understanding of how biotechnology is a necessary response to the increasing population's needs, including food supply, health, cleaner environment, a basis for a competitive economic environment, and opportunities for employment. This growth will require an additional 8 millions of tons of grains, $1,500 millions of dollars in purchases of grain, and four million hectares of land. He also discussed the decision-making process of adoption of biotechnology. Alvaro GAITAN, a coffee researcher from Colombia, asked the question- how has research met the goals set 15 years ago. Biotechnology was viewed as the next solution to the food supply problem, with expected gains in yield, nutritional values; better resistance to diseases, improved adaptation to the environment, and better protection of biodiversity. Coffee research has focused on crop protection, yield, growing under stresses, post-harvest traits, supplemental nutritional values, and improved flavor and aroma. Mr. Gaitan concluded that there is more research to be undertaken to fully meet the goals established 15 years ago. Don HUTCHENS, a farmer from the US state of Nebraska, provided his views as a user of biotechnology. Mr. Huchens explained that farmers in the US like farmers across the APEC region are responsible people, they live of the land and they live off of what they produce on that land. No farmer wants to spend more money on a crop than what he actually needs to. Biotechnology use will be an economic, agronomic, environmental and socially conscious decision making process. Second, there is a need to prevent a "Franken Food" atmosphere and perpetuating these issues into a global food fight. He urged continued consideration of the science, using common sense, expanding agricultural horizons, and avoiding the creation of trade barriers. Mr. Hutchens reminded the group that we could reduce our use of fossil fuel and agricultural chemicals, while reducing the cost of production and improving the overall output. Finally, he underscored the need to give farmers the tools they need to produce the safest, cheapest and most abundant food supply. PANEL II The purpose of panel II was to get a sense of the existing, future and potential role of APEC in the area of biotechnology. Jane EARLEY, CSC Coalition Counsel (corn, soy and cotton producers and processors) and APEC expert, shared her views on the strengths of APEC and how they could be applied in the biotechnology arena. She noted that APEC is a unique institution whose modalities lend themselves very well to policy level discussion of difficult issues in the region, and biotechnology is exactly such an issue. APEC has a role to place in trade facilitation and there is a great need for an institutional venue in which trade in biotechnology products can be facilitated. APEC fully recognizes the importance of economic and technical assistance and hence the value of biotechnology to agricultural production and investment in the future. APEC Leaders, she noted, have already recognized the importance of technical cooperation and information exchange on new technology and capacity building in this area. APEC economies have already committed at the highest level to the importance of transparent and science based approaches to risk assessment and management in the introduction and use of biotechnology products. And finally, APEC's modalities are especially suited to support such discussions. David HEGWOOD, Special Advisor to the Secretary, US Department of Agriculture shared his views on the existing and emerging role of APEC in this discussion. Finally, Bart BILMER, Director, Office of Biotechnology Canadian Food Inspection Agency reviewed the existing work of APEC on the technical level as well as the Canadian role in regulating agricultural biotechnology and CFIA's regulatory role in Agricultural Biotechnology. Mr. Bilmer recognized that there are numerous challenges to be faced that need to be worked on together- both public and private sector- and that APEC does provide a good forum for such work. PANEL III Panel three was designed to better understand what is needed to best tap the benefits of biotechnology identified in panel I. Gustavo BUITRAGO, Instituto de Biotecnología de la Universidad Nacional, discussed the Colombian Agricultural Biotechnology Program which was undertaken in cooperation with resources from the Netherlands. This program is oriented towards making biotechnology tools available to small-scale farmers. Its organizational structure is participative, multidisciplinary and representative of the society. It is focused on short-term projects, with 20% focused on longer-view projects. He noted the need to promote cooperation and strategic alliances with industry as well as development organizations in order to help create and export the products developed. Rodrigo INFANTE, General Manager of the Association of Producers of Salmon and Trout of Chile shared with us the views of an emerging industry and how they perceive biotechnology. While the aquaculture industry sees significant benefit from biotechnology in the areas of feed, vaccines, and genomics, though currently their commercial strategy is not to consider transgenic salmon. Paul GREEN, Chair, NAEGA Biotech Committee shared with participants how the existing regulatory and diversity of domestic policies and regulations have created significant blocks in trade of agricultural commodities. He stressed that the potential risks include severe trade disruption of multiple regulatory requirements. PANEL IV Panel 4 provided participants with two case studies in communications strategies. Quentin B. KUBICEK, Biotechnology Manager, DuPont Agriculture and Nutrition explored in detail the three country educational campaign under the Council for Biotechnology Information. Karil KOCHENDERFER, International Council of Grocery Manufacturers Associations discussed the work of the Alliance for Better Foods as well as the work of industry in the context of Codex Alimentarius. DIALOGUE At the conclusion of the sessions, participants engaged in a lively discussion regarding messages to deliver to this body and to move forward the useful presentations provided at the conference. Participants emphasized the need for APEC to address both trade and investment in biotechnology. Liberalization and investment go hand in hand. These issues were determined to be linked, and should be considered at a policy, rather than technical, level. One example noted was a country that was actively working to use biotechnology in cotton production. If such an investment is made, then it is necessary to have concerns regarding labeling rules since the trade in the products is essential to the development of the product. Another common theme was the need for APEC to view itself as a whole, trying to build consensus through discussions with a view toward unified positions in Codex Alimentarius and other international fora. The need for open markets was strongly noted by many participants. If there is no market to export, then the development of new technologies will be stalled. Since all recognize the vast potential of biotechnology, it is important for continued dialogue to continue. The importance of stimulating dialogue and sharing of experiences, especially in the areas of communications, was actively mentioned by participants. Continued support for public/private partnerships was of specific importance to participants. Finally, it was clear to all participants that a single, once-off discussion would not be sufficient to address these very complex issues. The group seeks the guidance of the APEC High Level Dialogue on Agricultural Biotechnology in terms of areas of further dialogue in order to make more efficient use of the opportunities for discussion and cooperation. PBEC will create a CD-Rom with full conference proceedings. We look forward to continued cooperation with APEC. For more information, please contact: Suzanne L. Foti Deputy Director General PBEC US Member Committee 1819 L St. NW; 2nd Floor Washington, DC 20036 P: (202) 293-5730 F: (202) 289-1940 E: sfoti@pbecus.org