Ethics in BiotechnologyEthics in Biotechnology

Y. Andi TrisyonoDepartment of Crop Protection

Faculty of Agriculture, GMU

AgendaAgenda

• Definition of ethicsDefinition of ethics

• Public perception regarding Public perception regarding biotechnologybiotechnology

• BioethicsBioethics

• Issues related with biotech foodIssues related with biotech food

EthicsEthics

• Ethics--from ancient Greek Ethics--from ancient Greek ethosethos, , meaning “character” or “custom”meaning “character” or “custom”

• Distinguishing between that which is Distinguishing between that which is unacceptable behavior and that which unacceptable behavior and that which makes us uncomfortablemakes us uncomfortable

I S A A A

IndoBiC

What Images does Animal Biotechnology Imply?

I S A A A

IndoBiC

Modern Classical Breeding

Desired Gene

X

Desired GeneDesired

Gene

Donor Gene Source

Compatible Donor Plant Commercial Variety New improved plant

Random, multi gene transfer

Commercial Variety New Improved Plant

Single Gene Transfer

Modern Breeding with Biotechnology

(Glick 2010)

CULTIVATED BIOTECH PLANTS

Biotech CottonBiotech Cotton

ControlCorn

Insect Protected Virus Protected

Control Soybean

Herbicide Tolerant

Biotech Corn

Control Maize

Biotech Maize

Biotech Soybean

Control Cotton

Control Soybean

Biotech Maize

Biotech Papaya

Control Papaya

Control Maize

(Glick 2010)

THE AGRICULTURAL CHALLENGE

INCREASE LOCAL FOOD PRODUCTION TO MEET INCREASING PROTEIN DEMAND

(Glick 2010)

Research is a must: in Research is a must: in biological fieldbiological field

• Seberapa jauh kita kita seharusnya Seberapa jauh kita kita seharusnya melangkah?melangkah?

• Seberapa jauh kita bisa melangkah?Seberapa jauh kita bisa melangkah?

The emergence of e new The emergence of e new discipline: bioethicsdiscipline: bioethics

• Sejak tahun 1970Sejak tahun 1970

• Mempelajari tingkah laku manusia Mempelajari tingkah laku manusia dalam lingkup ilmu pengetahuan yang dalam lingkup ilmu pengetahuan yang terkait erat dengan kehidupan terkait erat dengan kehidupan manusiamanusia

• UGM - adaUGM - ada

Tugas, Kewajiban dan Tugas, Kewajiban dan PeluangPeluang

• Manusia diberi kesempatan untuk Manusia diberi kesempatan untuk memenuhi dan mengelola bumi memenuhi dan mengelola bumi dengan dasar akal budi dan rasa dengan dasar akal budi dan rasa hormat serta dalam kendali pelayanan hormat serta dalam kendali pelayanan dan kecerdasan manusia (Bone 1985)dan kecerdasan manusia (Bone 1985)

How to deal: StrategiesHow to deal: Strategies

• Komisi etikaKomisi etika

• Peranan pengalamanPeranan pengalaman

• DialogDialog

• Peran pribadiPeran pribadi

Food Biotech Public IssuesFood Biotech Public Issues

• North/SouthNorth/South

• Global Food SecurityGlobal Food Security

• ResearchResearch

• International TradeInternational Trade

North-South World: ProblemsNorth-South World: Problems in the South in the South

• Kelaparan dan kekurangan giziKelaparan dan kekurangan gizi

• Ancaman tropis: kesehatanAncaman tropis: kesehatan

• Pertumbuhan pendudukPertumbuhan penduduk

• Pendidikan dan kesehatanPendidikan dan kesehatan

• Industri dan pembangunanIndustri dan pembangunan

• Lingkungan dan biodiversitasLingkungan dan biodiversitas

THE FOOD SECURITY CHALLENGETHE FOOD SECURITY CHALLENGE

World Population (B)

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

1981 1999 2015 2030

Transition NationsDeveloped NationsDeveloping Nations

3 BILLION MORE PEOPLE BY 2030

(Glick 2010)

THE FOOD SECURITY CHALLENGETHE FOOD SECURITY CHALLENGE

50% MORE FOOD BY 2030!

500

1000

1500

2000

2500

3000

1981 1999 2015 2030

Grain Demand (MT)Transition NationsDeveloped NationsDeveloping Nations

(Glick 2010)

IndonesiaIndonesia

• Food availability: 4.8% increase in 2008Food availability: 4.8% increase in 2008

• Food access: closed to 35 million live Food access: closed to 35 million live below the national poverty line in 2008below the national poverty line in 2008

• Nutrition: Underweight 18.4% and Nutrition: Underweight 18.4% and stunting 36.8% (2007)stunting 36.8% (2007)

(Food Security Council 2009)(Food Security Council 2009)

Food Biotech Public IssuesFood Biotech Public Issues

• North/SouthNorth/South

• Global Food SecurityGlobal Food Security

• ResearchResearch

• International TradeInternational Trade

Food Biotech Public IssuesFood Biotech Public Issues

• Food SafetyFood Safety

• LabelingLabeling

• Intellectual property Intellectual property

• EnvironmentEnvironment

Biotechnology and Food

Personal Choices & Public PoliciesPersonal Choices & Public Policies

Thomas M. ZinnenThomas M. ZinnenBiotechnology Policy & Outreach SpecialistBiotechnology Policy & Outreach Specialist

University of Wisconsin-Madison/ExtensionUniversity of Wisconsin-Madison/Extension

The Challenge of Perception is the Potential

for The Feeling of Deception

• How Consumers Think New Foods Are Developed, Tested and Regulated

• How New Foods Are Actually Developed, Tested and Regulated

"Is It Safe?" vs. "Is It Safe Enough?”

• Science can assess the riskScience can assess the risk

• Politics draws the threshold of Politics draws the threshold of acceptanceacceptance

• For example, what are the roles of For example, what are the roles of science and of politics in setting speed science and of politics in setting speed limits?limits?

Two Types of RegulationsTwo Types of Regulations

• Regulations to protect the public from Regulations to protect the public from the risks of biotechnologythe risks of biotechnology

• Regulations to protect biotechnology Regulations to protect biotechnology from the fears of the publicfrom the fears of the public

• What are the benefits and pitfalls of What are the benefits and pitfalls of such ‘reassurance regulations’?such ‘reassurance regulations’?

Labeling in US: The ProductLabeling in US: The Product

• CompositionComposition

• AdulterationAdulteration

Labeling in US: The ClaimsLabeling in US: The Claims

• TruthfulTruthful

• And Not MisleadingAnd Not Misleading

The Consumer Sovereignty Argument:

• The consumer has a right to know what goes in the consumer’s body.

• WWW2NO: Whatever We Want to Know

• Rights vs Remedies• The strength of the right is really

in the power of the remedy

Communicating with the publicCommunicating with the public

A key part of ensuring that consumers A key part of ensuring that consumers can enjoy the benefits of new tools can enjoy the benefits of new tools while minimizing risks and offering while minimizing risks and offering consumer choice.consumer choice.