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Moderated conference on GMOs in the pipeline, hosted by the FAO Biotechnology Forum in 2012

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Biotech-Mod2 <[log in to unmask]>
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Biotech-Mod2 <[log in to unmask]>
Date:
Mon, 26 Nov 2012 10:25:32 +0100
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I am Dr Yusuf Zafar, Director General Agriculture & Biotechnology of the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC), Islamabad, Pakistan. I served 32 years in agri-biotech sector of the country and presently have an official assignment in Vienna, Austria. I was part of the team which developed and released Biotech cotton (Bt cotton) in the country which now cover nearly 3.0 million hectare and readily accepted by farmers. 



I wish to respond to the specific questions that people were asked to address in the conference in Section 4 of the Background Document:



"4.1 What new GMOs are likely to be commercialized in developing countries within the next five years (i.e. before the end of 2017) in the crop, forestry, livestock, aquaculture and agro-industry sectors?"



The following crops are already approved by the national biosafety committee for contained field testing in Pakistan: Cotton, wheat, sugarcane and corn



"4.1.1 Which species will they be?"



Gossypium hirsutum (cotton), Triticum aestivum (wheat), Saccharum sps (sugarcane) and Zea mays (hybrid maize) 

 

"4.1.2 Which traits will they have?"

 

- Virus (Gemini) resistant cotton, insect resistant cotton, herbicide tolerant cotton, drought/salt tolerant cotton – single or stacked forms

- Herbicide and drought/salt tolerant wheat

- Drought/salt tolerant sugarcane

- Insect resistant/herbicide tolerant hybrid corn

 

"4.1.3 Will they be developed by the public sector, the private sector or through public-private partnerships?"

 

All GM crops except GM corn have been developed by the public sector. In few cases public sector obtained support from the foreign universities/ research organization. The private sector (multi-national corporations) conducted field evaluation of insect/herbicide tolerant GM corn and waiting for final approval. Private sector is also conducting contained field evaluation of insect resistant and herbicide tolerant hybrid cotton.

  

"4.1.4 Will they be produced in the developing countries themselves or, alternatively, will they be developed elsewhere (and then imported by developing countries for commercialization purposes)?"

 

GM corn is exclusively imported and so is hybrid cotton. All other GMOs i.e. open-pollinated variety (OPV) cotton, wheat and sugarcane have been developed indigenously by the public sector.

 

"4.1.5 What kind of intellectual property management options will be exercised by the bodies commercializing these new GMOs?"

 

Private sector patented their technology in the country while public sector also managed their technology assets by following national patent laws.

 

"4.2.1 What are the likely implications of these new GMOs on food security and nutrition in developing countries?"

 

Wheat, corn and sugarcane are among top five major crops of Pakistan. If field performance would as per claim, it will boost productivity in marginal lands.

 

"4.2.2 What are the likely implications of these new GMOs on socio-economic conditions in developing countries?"

 

Epidemic of cotton leaf curl virus is one of the major challenges to cotton production and virus resistant GM cotton have been vigorously pursued for nearly 2 decades. Expected to realize cotton vision of 2015 of 20 million bales of cotton. The textile is the major (65%) export commodity.

 

"4.2.3 What are the likely implications of these new GMOs on sustainable management of natural resources in developing countries?"



It is expected to stop migration from the marginal rural areas (salt and drought affected villages) to fertile lands/urban areas.



"4.2.4 What are the likely implications of these new GMOs on adaptation to climate change in developing countries?"



The major thrust is on salt and drought tolerance which are emerging threats in the backdrop of climate change. These attempts will contribute to mitigate adverse effects especially drought and salt tolerant wheat, sugarcane and cotton. 



Pakistan has ratified the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety and is founding member of WTO/TRIPS. All statuary bodies (though weak) are in place. National biosafety committee already approved 108 cases of GM crop development (labs., greenhouse, contained field testing) and several cases are now pending for commercial release especially GM hybrid corn. 



Dr. Yusuf Zafar

Minister (Technical)

Permanent Mission of Pakistan to the IAEA

Hofzeile 13, A-1190

Vienna

Austria

Ph No. 0043-1-3687381 (Office)

Ph No. 0043-1-3205220 (Home)

Fax No. 0043-1-3671831

Cell No. 0043-676-6509752 (New)

e-mail: y_zafar (at) yahoo.com



[To contribute to this conference, send your message to [log in to unmask] For further information on this FAO Biotechnology Forum, see http://www.fao.org/biotech/biotech-forum/]



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