Inaugural Speech by Shri K.C. Pant, Deputy Chairman, Planning Commission & Chairman, RIS at International Conference on Biotechnology and Development: Challenges and Opportunities for Asian Region on 26th February, 2002 at Kanishka Hotel

Over the past two decades, new advances in frontier technologies such as Information Communication Technology (ICT), Biotechnology and new material sciences have thrown up many challenges not only for the science and technology experts in developing countries, but for policy-makers as well. Growth in biotechnology, in particular, has raised several hopes about its potential on the one hand and anxities its implications on the other.

At this point, almost all the developing countries have recognized the recent advances in the field of biotechnology and the possible economic advantages that could flow from them. A large number of countries have already set up an elaborate institutional infrastructure to develop and diffuse this premier technology at various levels of agricultural and industrial production.

In the field of agriculture, biotechnology has given new tools for effectively ensuring food security for the developing countries. Several of these tools are being widely explored. This has become more relevant, especially, as the Green Revolution varieties, widely used since the late sixties, seem to have reached a plateau in terms of crop productivity. In order to protect and increase agricultural productivity, more sustainable agricultural techniques have been introduced, including conservation agriculture to conserve soil and water while reducing time and labour in land preparation, consuming less fuel, and reducing the need for chemical inputs.

Another major success has been the development and adoption of integrated pest management techniques that have contributed to sustainable agricultural intensification while minimizing negative environmental impacts. By reducing the need for pesticide applications through the use of pest-resistant crop varieties, natural enemies and cultivation techniques, integrated pest management has increased the sustainability of farming and ecological systems at minimal cost. Another important challenge before policy formulating agencies across Asian countries is to create avenues for integration of traditional techniques like breeding processes and modern technologies for optimum economic gains.

In the field of medicine and pharmaceuticals too the potential of biotechnology is immense. Whether it is preventives, cures or drug delivery systems, I believe there is a revolution in the offing. Surgical procedures and organ transplants may be easier and more affordable in the future with biotechnology techniques.

Biotechnology also offers new opportunities for global partnerships, especially between the countries rich in biological resources (which include genetic resources) but lacking the expertise and investments needed to apply such resources through biotechnology and the countries that have developed the technological expertise to transform biological resources so that they serve the needs of sustainable development.

The success of the fourth ministerial meeting of the World Trade Organization (WTO), held in Doha in November 2001, in putting development at the centre of further trade negotiations, augurs well for the future of the trading system and the potential it offers to developing countries. One of the important issues which would be taken up at the next WTO Ministerial Meeting pertains to labelling of Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs). This issue has attracted diverse opinion and has also generated a vigorous debate. In next few months this issue would be addressed at various international fora. In this context developing countries would have to do a lot of homework and prepare themselves for an emerging regulatory regime so that the trade interest of developing countries are not adversely affected. Moreover, one would also have to see compatibility between WTO trade agreements and commitments at other international fora. For instance, the Cartagena Protocol refers to advanced informed agreement while agreements on sanitary and phytosanitary measures (SPS) and technical barriers to trade (TBT) at WTO still have to create scope for such provisions.

Most developing countries have yet to pass adequate legislations in this field of bio-safety. I believe, they all need not only technical support to identify genetical manipulation but also need financial support to upgrade their quarantine and other agencies to meet these challenges. In this regard cooperation among Asian countries becomes very relevant.

In August this year, the international community would meet at Johannesburg at the World Summit on Sustainable Development, which would bring together thousands of participants, including heads of State and Government, national delegates and leaders from nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), businesses and other major groups. They would focus the world's attention and direct action toward meeting difficult challenges, including improving people's lives and conserving our natural resources in a world that is growing in population, with ever-increasing demands for food, water, shelter, sanitation, energy, health services and economic security. As you all are aware, at the 1992 Earth Summit in Rio, the international community adopted Agenda 21, an unprecedented global plan of action for sustainable development.

The report from the Secretary General for Johannesburg Summit has rightly raised the concern that the financial resources required for implementing Agenda 21 have not been forthcoming and mechanisms for the transfer of technology have not improved. Since 1992, official development assistance (ODA) has declined steadily, the burden of debt has constrained options for poor countries, and the expanding flows of private investment have been volatile and directed only at a few countries and sectors. Therefore, at this point, it is very important to evolve mutually coherent policies or approaches in the areas of finance, trade, investment, technology and sustainable development.

I would like to recall that Agenda 21 advocates various mechanisms to support access of developing countries to biotechnology and their rights over their own genetic resources. In this regard, Article 19 of Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) becomes very relevant. It says, “Each Contracting Party shall take legislative administrative or policy measures, as appropriate, to provide for the effective participation in biotechnology research activities by those Contracting Parties, especially developing countries, which provide the genetic resources for such research”. It is against this background that I look forward to the deliberations and recommendations of these Conferences with great expectations.

I am very glad that RIS has thought of extending its focus of work on biotechnology so as to involve Asian countries in a policy dialogue. RIS has a strong background of research and analysis in this field. It was way back in 1988 that RIS brought out a seminal volume titled “Biotechnology Revolution and the Third World: Challenges and Policy Options”. And subsequently launched RIS Biotechnology and Development Review in 1992 which now has been relaunched as Asian Biotechnology and Development Review (ABDR).

I hope, ABDR would act as a forum to deliberate on policy challenges before Asian countries in terms of governance, financing and adoption. While doing so, adequate insights from experiences of other regions/countries may also be harnessed, so as to make diffusion a cost effective process.

I am sure, the scientist and policy makers who have gathered here from different countries and different parts of India for this two days conference, would not only come out with policy relevant recommendations for different public agencies but would also evolve a strong network of Asian institutions to regularly interact on various intricate issues pertaining to biotechnology.