MANALO SocioEcon

Addressing the Socio-economic Issues on Modern Biotechnology: 

Abraham Manalo Biotechnology Coalition of the Philippines Addressing the Socio-economic Issues on Modern Biotechnology

Key Socio-economic Issues : 

Key Socio-economic Issues Socio-Economic Arguments AGAINST Socio-Economic Arguments FOR

Socio-Economic Arguments against Biotechnology: 

Socio-Economic Arguments against Biotechnology Control by multinational corporations and monopoly business Primarily benefits big business/ industries Genetic patenting; Farmers liable to be sued if seeds are re-used Shrinking world market

1a. Control by Monopoly  Business: 

1a. Control by Monopoly Business Access to technology is controlled by monopoly Not a valid concern inherent in new technologies that ownership is restricted to a few due to large initial investment costs; but eventually ownership access expands monopoly rents are restricted by competition for GM products: farmers have option to plant non-GMO seeds; consumers have option to buy non-GMO products Policy: importance of ensuring that farmers or consumers have the option to use non-GMO seeds or re-use own GMO seeds

1b. Control by MNCs : 

1b. Control by MNCs Access to technology is controlled by multinational corporations Not a valid concern Filipino scientists and business have the option to do a GMO business technology has lots of potential (e.g. papaya, rice, banana) Policy: importance of providing support to the indigenous development of the technology

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2. Primarily Benefits Big Business Not a valid argument; a detailed study of Bt cotton production in 1996 shows that the biggest share of benefits goes to farmers

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The same findings for other crops; a detailed study of RR soybean production in 1997 shows that the biggest share of benefits goes to farmers

3. Genetic Patenting: 

3. Genetic Patenting May be abused by some bioprospectors and patent-seekers Implementation of patents is stringent in some countries; note however that patents are territorial The Philippines has laws that safeguards against possible abuses: Patents Law: does not allow the patenting of plants and animals Plant Variety Protection (PVP) Act: allows farmers the right to save seeds, sell, re-plant

4. Shrinking world market: 

Source: International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-biotech Applications 4. Shrinking world market Global Area of GM Crops Million Hectares Not supported by hard data on the increasing hectarage planted to GM crops

Socio-economic Arguments for Biotechnology: 

Socio-economic Arguments for Biotechnology Actual and Potential Benefits: Private gains for the farmers Feeding the growing world population Healthier and more nutritious food Environmental protection; Better medicine and healthcare Cleaner and more efficient industrial production

1. Private Gains for the Farmers: 

1. Private Gains for the Farmers Additional income due to: Higher yield Reduced usage of chemical pesticides Reduced labor costs Safer to farmers due to less pesticide usage

Farmer Benefits in other Countries: 

Farmer Benefits in other Countries Higher productivity 8-10% higher yield for Bt corn (1999, USA) 14% higher yield for Bt cotton (1999, USA) Bt cotton: (mean yield increase) of .453 tons per ha. (South Africa) Reduced use of pesticides 2.7 M lbs less pesticide used for cotton (USA, 1999) 3.5 M lb less pesticide used for corn (USA, 1999) Reduced weed control costs of US$216 M (USA, 1999) Reduction of pesticide use by 5.8 sprays on average (South Africa)

Farmer Benefits in other Countries: 

Farmer Benefits in other Countries Higher income for farmers small farmers gained almost 2x as much income per unit of land as larger, wealthier farmers gained (China, Bt cotton) reduction in cost of production by 20-23% Net economic benefit to farmers 33.4 % over non-Bt cotton farmers (South Africa)

GM Crops Being Developed/Tested in RP: 

1. Banana resistant to bract mosaic virus 2. Banana resistant to bunchy top virus 3. Banana with antifungal genes 4. Banana with long shelf life 5. Coconut with enhanced quality oil 6. Corn resistant to Asiatic corn borer 7. Corn tolerant to herbicide glyphosate 8. Cotton resistant to bollworm 9. Eggplant resistant to pest insect 10. Mango with long shelf life GM Crops Being Developed/Tested in RP

GM Crops Being Developed/Tested in RP: 

GM Crops Being Developed/Tested in RP 11. Papaya resistant to ringspot virus 12. Papaya with long shelf life 13. Rice resistant to (GNA) insect 14. Rice resistant to bacterial leaf blight 15. Rice resistant to Tungro 16. Rice with enhanced Vitamin A precursor 17. Squash resistant to virus 18. Sweet potato resistant to mottle virus 19. Sweet potato resistant to weevil 20. Tomato resistant to virus

2. Feed the Growing Population By 2025, there will be another 2 billion mouths to feed - UNFP: 

2. Feed the Growing Population By 2025, there will be another 2 billion mouths to feed - UNFP Bt corn – 3.5 billion lb. yield increase and $125 million in additional income Bt cotton – 185 million lb. yield increase and $102 million in additional income Biotech soybeans – $1 billion additional income through production cost savings (USA, 2002 Figures) More food and animal feed with GE Source: National Center for Food and Agricultural Policy

3. CONSUMER BENEFITS: Healthier and More Nutritious food: 

3. CONSUMER BENEFITS: Healthier and More Nutritious food Vitamin A Rice Iron Enhanced Rice Tomatoes enriched with anti-oxidants Soybean and canola oils with higher levels of vitamin E Decaffeinated coffee Peanuts with lower levels of allergens others

4. Environmental Protection: 

4. Environmental Protection “The results clearly show that soil, air and water quality are enhanced through the responsible use of current biotech-derived soybean, corn and cotton crops.” Teresa Gruber, Director, Council for Agricultural Science and Technology (CAST)

5. Better Medicine & Health Care: 

5. Better Medicine & Health Care Focusing only on Functional Foods: Bananas to deliver a hepatitis vaccine Apples to protect against Respiratory Syncytial virus Potatoes to protect against cholera, E. coli and Norwalk virus UPLB and UP Manila are collaborating on a biotech project to develop bananas and tomatoes incorporated with edible vaccine against diarrhea, cholera, and HIV

Biotech Medicine in Development: 

Biotech Medicine in Development AIDS/HIV at al. Digestive Disorders Growth Disorders Heart Diseases Infectious Diseases Neuro Disorders Respiratory Disorders Skin Disorders Transplantation Others Genetic Disorders Diabetes, et al. Cancer, et al. Autoimmune Dis. Source: Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America

6. Cleaner and More Efficient  Industrial Production: 

6. Cleaner and More Efficient Industrial Production Bioremediation - use of plants, microbes to clean toxicants, oil spills Development of biodegradable plastics and other chemicals Utilization of renewable energy resources; e.g. biomass Use of substitutes for forestry products; e.g. wood, pulp, paper More efficient uses of fossil fuels

Philippine Actual Experience : 

Philippine Actual Experience

Yield Advantage: Results, 2004 dry season: 

Yield Advantage: Results, 2004 dry season

Profitability: Results, 2004 dry season: 

Profitability: Results, 2004 dry season

How Willing Are Farmers to Adopt Bt Technology?: 

How Willing Are Farmers to Adopt Bt Technology?

Will Farmers Plant Again?: 

Will Farmers Plant Again?

Policy Framework : 

Policy Framework Socio-Economic Arguments FOR and AGAINST Risk Assessment for Human,Animal and Environmental Safety Moral/Ethical Issues

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Thank you.