Position
Statements on Biotechnology
Asian
Development Bank (ADB) Website: http://www.adb.org
In July
2001, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) published a report entitled "Agricultural
Biotechnology, Poverty Reduction, and Food Security." The report
is based on the study conducted by international experts under the
joint financing of ADB, the Australian Centre for International Agricultural
Research, and the Australian Agency for International Development.
Briefly, it says that governments and funding agencies should continue and
increase their investments in biotechnology as a means of achieving their goals
of poverty reduction and food security in Asia over the next 25 years.
To ensure
that agricultural biotechnology will help Asian farmers, the following
general recommendations were forwarded:
- Address
problems of small farmers in the rainfed and marginal areas as well
as in irrigated areas
- Focus
on economically important orphan crops, high value crops, and livestock
to increase their productivity
- Develop
low cost, appropriate technologies for small farmers, particularly
the development of high yielding technologies adapted to rainfed
and marginal areas
- Develop,
test, and release technologies that will pose minimal or no risks
to human health and the environment
- Strengthen
the extension, delivery and regulatory systems to ensure that improved
varieties and technologies will be disseminated widely to small farmers.
Governments
in Asia were urged to show a strong commitment to agriculture and rural
development and establish clear policies in biotech R&D. They were
also asked to set up effective biosafety regulatory and enforcement
systems to ensure that risks are minimized. Likewise, governments were
encouraged to organize dialogue with non-government organizations,
consumers and farmers on the benefits, risks, and opportunities in
the use of new biotechnology.
For the
full report, click
here. |
International
Support:
- International
Organizations
- Africa
- Asia
- Europe
- North
America
- Latin
America
- Oceania
International
Organizations
- Food
and Agricultural Organization
- Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development
- World Health Organization
- United Nations Development Programme
- United Nations Environment Programme
- Third World Academy of Sciences
- Agenda
21
- Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation
- Vatican Pontifical Academy on Life
- International
Council for Science Union
- International
Life Sciences Institute
Africa
- International
Society of African Scientists
- United Nations Economic Commission for Africa
- Africabio
- South African Minister Ngubane's statement at WSSD
- National Biotechnology Strategy for South Africa
- Former Kenyan President Moi's letter to US President Clinton
- Nigerian
President Obasanjo's Statement
Asia
- Asian
Development Bank
- Chinese Academy of Sciences
- Indian National Academy of Sciences
- National Academy of Science and Technology (Philippines)
- Former Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir's Speech
at BioMalaysia 2002
- Policy Statement on Biotechnology (Philippines)
Europe
- Royal
Society of London
- Prime
Minister Blair's speech
- European
Commission
- French
Academy of Science
North
America
United
States of America
- American
Medical Association
- American Society for Microbiology
- National Academy of Sciences
- National Research Council
- American Society of Plant Biologists
- Federation of Animal Science Societies
- American Midwest Farmers
- American
Agri-Women
- American
Soybean Association
- National
Chicken Council
- National
Corn Growers Association
- National
Cotton Council
- National
Milk Producers Federation
- National
Potato Council
- National
Turkey Federation
- United
Soybean Board
Canada
- Canadian
Biotechnology Advisory Committee
- The
Royal Society of Canada (The Canadian Academy of the Sciences and Humanities)
- Industry
Canada (Federal Department of Industry)
- The
1998 Canadian Biotechnology Strategy: A Ongoing Renewal Process
Latin
America
- Brazilian
Academy of Sciences
- Mexican Academy of Sciences
Oceania
- New
Zealand Royal Commission
- Commonwealth
Scientific and Industrial Research Organization
- Australia New Zealand Food Authority
- Australian Biotechnology: A National Strategy (2000)
- National
Farmers' Federation |
