Canada and Agenda
21Canada and Agenda
21
CHAPTER 16
Environmentally Sound Management of Biotechnology
This chapter is incomplete. It has been contributed to by a number of different stakeholders. The views presented in this chapter do not necessarily represent the views of the Projet de Société.
THE NATURE OF THE PROBLEM
Biotechnology is a set of enabling techniques for bringing about specific man-made changes in genetic material in plants, animals and microbial systems, leading to useful products and technologies - the practical utilization of microbial, plant and animal cells.
It integrates new techniques emerging from modern technology with traditional knowledge. Biotechnology is an emerging field, which is very knowledge intensive. It holds a lot of potential for resolving many environment and development problems, but at the same time has risks associated with its development and application. It holds promise in helping to develop better health care, enhanced food security, improved supplies of potable water, more efficient industrial processes, sustainable methods of afforestation and reforestation, and detoxification of hazardous wastes.
In addition, it offers much potential for cooperation and partnership between developing nations who are rich in biological diversity and the developed nations who have developed the technological expertise to transform these biological resources into products and processes which can serve the needs of sustainable development.
The challenge is to ensure that biotechnology is developed and applied safely without damaging the environment or threatening human health, and it must be done equitably, taking advantage of the opportunities it offers for global cooperation and sharing.
PROGRAM AREAS AND OBJECTIVES
The chapter identifies five major program areas, each with a number of objectives. These are briefly outlined below.
(1)Increasing the availability of food, feed and renewable raw materials.
increase the yield of major crops, livestock, aquaculture species and forest products by using a combination of modern biotechnology and conventional means;
improve the nutritional value(composition) of source crops, animals and micro-organisms;
increase use of integrated pest, disease and crop management to eliminate dependence on agrochemicals;
expand application of biotechnology in forestry;
increase efficiency of nitrogen fixation and mineral absorption by the symbiosis of higher plants with micro-organisms.
(2)Improving human health.
develop programs to combat major communicable diseases;
develop programs to protect from and treat major non-communicable diseases;
promote good health among people of all ages.
(3) Environmental protection.
adopt production processes which make optimal use of natural resources;
promote the use of biotechnologies, with emphasis on bio-remediation of land and water, waste treatment, soil conservation, reforestation, afforestation and land rehabilitation;
apply biotechnologies and their products to protect environmental integrity with a view to long-term ecological security.
(4)Improving safety through the development of international cooperation mechanisms.
consider safety at all stages including the development, application, exchange and transfer of biotechnologies;
promote safety through internationally agreed upon principles on risk assessment and management.
(5)Establishing enabling mechanisms for the environmentally sound application of biotechnology.
promote the development and application of biotechnologies by providing support for research and product development, raising public awareness, encouraging exchange of scientists among all countries and discouraging the "brain drain" , recognizing and fostering traditional methods and knowledge of indigenous peoples and ensuring their participation in the benefits arising from biotechnologies;
enhance current efforts, and determine where new enabling mechanisms are needed;
establish mechanisms for safety appraisal and risk assessment.
CANADIAN PARTICIPATION AT RIO
1. Official Canadian Position
The Canadian objectives with regard to biotechnology included: promoting substantive discussion of the human and environmental health and safety issues related to biotechnology; promoting biotechnology research in areas where it can be used to reduce stresses on the environment and contribute to environmental mitigation; minimizing the linkages between biotechnology and biodiversity except where biotechnologies are directly related to conservation of biological diversity.
The resulting chapter was consistent with the general thrust of what the Canadian delegation was putting forward.
2.Non-Governmental Organizations
3.Business and Industry
4.Indigenous
Indigenous Peoples have brought to the attention of the international community that they have not been consulted until very late in the process. There is a need for the development of protocols which require the involvement of Indigenous Peoples at all levels of discussion and decision making since international activities always affect Indigenous Peoples. Under agenda 21, Indigenous Peoples were to be informed, consulted and allowed to participate at the national level for decision making. Support is required from all levels of government, industry and other NGOs to assist Indigenous Peoples to maintain their own NGOs.
This supports the need for establishing Indigenous NGOs, Indigenous knowledge, institutions and financial institutions to support sustainable development.
COMMITMENTS MADE BY CANADIANS
1.Legally-Binding Documents
None.
2.Political Pronouncements
None.
3.Alternative NGO Treaties and Kari-Oca
Citizens' Commitments On Biotechnology.
Under the Citizens' Commitments on Biotechnology, an international convention on biotechnology is called for. Outlined in this document are 13 principles which should be incorporated into the biotechnology convention.
Some of these principles include:
biotechnology research should be oriented towards publicly defined needs, the common good and the good of future generations;
prior to the use of biotechnology full social, cultural and economic predictive assessments of the impact should be publicly performed;
regulation procedures should be based on the "precautionary principle";
companies and research institutions responsible for these biotechnologies should be held to strict financial and criminal liability for any damages or consequences;
prior consent and notice by the affected public must be held before genetic manipulation of organisms and their products are undertaken by governments and companies;
natural genetic structure of biota should not be viewed as an economic resource therefore all kinds of patenting of life forms should be prohibited;
biotechnology should never be developed or used for military purposes.
Kari-Oca
The Indigenous Peoples Earth Charter contains a number of commitments related to Culture, Science and Intellectual Property. Article 102 refers directly to biotechnology and rights of Indigenous Peoples over their intellectual property.
"As creators and carriers of civilizations which have given and continue to share knowledge, experience and values with humanity, we require that our right to intellectual and cultural properties be guaranteed and that the mechanism for each implementation be in favour of our Peoples and studied in depth and implemented. This respect must include the right over genetic resources, gene banks, biotechnology and knowledge of biodiversity programs".
Statement No. 99 stated that "the usurping of traditional medicines and knowledge from Indigenous Peoples should be considered a crime against Peoples".
DEFICIENCIES, GAPS AND CONSTRAINTS WITHIN CHAPTER 16
The organization of the Chapter is weak, as it lists all the possible areas where biotechnology could be applied, many of which overlap with other Agenda 21 chapters, such as sustainable agriculture, biodiversity, deforestation, protection of human health, and management of wastes. In that all possible areas of applying biotechnology are simply listed, no attempt is made to prioritize the needs of or specific opportunities of lesser developed countries (LDCs) regarding the application of biotechnology. Also, some key elements are lost in the lists (e.g. the need for acceleration of technology acquisition, assessment of comparative costs and benefits of different technologies for a given purpose).
It would have been more useful for the Chapter to lead with Section E, "Establishing enabling mechanisms for the development and the environmentally sound application of biotechnology", as the major organizing framework. Into this could be incorporated an activity on prioritization of needs or opportunities for biotechnology in LDCs among the multiple topics listed in the first three sections of the Chapter (Sections A, B, and C)
There is no distinction made between biotechnology tools (e.g. genetic engineering techniques) and biotechnological processes (the production of products using biotechnology). The latter implies all of the downstream activities related to access, application, utilization of biotechnology by farmers, industry, legislators, consumers, etc. The former relates to techniques for researchers.
There are also a number of gaps in Chapter 16. The chapters emphasizes research and application of modern biotechnology (genetic engineering, etc.), but overlooks opportunities for traditional biotechnologies. There is no mention of the issue of intellectual property rights (IPR) and its significance as a limiting factor to the diffusion and access of technologies, processes and products. The role of multinational corporations in controlling the transfer of technology is not discussed. The high capital requirement for biotechnology research is also not mentioned, yet this is a major constraint for LDCs wanting to enter the field.
COMPARISON BETWEEN CURRENT CANADIAN GOVERNMENT POLICY AND COMMITMENTS MADE
Not available.
CANADIAN ACTIVITIES EVOLVING THROUGH THE SUSTAINABILITY PROCESS
Among organizations in Canada addressing the issue of environmentally sound management of biotechnology are: the Canadian Environment Network (CEN); Ocean Voice International; and the Unitarian Service Committee Canada (USC). CEN, for example, has been addressing the relevance and applicability of biotechnology to Canadian policy and regulatory framework. Three CEN members are currently participating in the Biotechnology Regulations under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act. They receive input from the caucus and regularly update the caucus on consultations.
OTHER RELEVANT INTERNATIONAL SUSTAINABILITY-RELATED FORA
United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development
SUGGESTED READINGS AND INFORMATION SOURCES
Government of Canada. Canada's Green Plan, (Ottawa: Environment Canada, 1990).
. Canada's Green Plan and the Earth Summit, (Ottawa: Environment Canada, 1992).
. Canada's National Report: United Nations Conference on Environment and Development Brazil, June 1992, (Ottawa: Environment Canada, 1991).
International Development Research Centre (IDRC). Agenda 21: Abstracts, Reviews, and Commentaries, (Theodora Carroll-Foster, editor), (Ottawa: IDRC, 1993).
Keating, Michael. Agenda for Change: A Plain Language Version of Agenda 21 and the Other Rio Agreements, (Geneva: Centre for Our Common Future, 1993).
World Commission on Environment and Development. Our Common Future, (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1987).
Cite as: Projet de société: Canada and Agenda 21.Winnipeg: IISD, 1995. Online. Internet. http://iisd.ca/worldsd/canada/projet/c16.htm.
