Number 89 April 2013 CropLife Africa Middle East Newsletter Representing the Plant Science Industry Stewardship CropLife Egypt signs Stewardship Protocol with MOA Egypt The practical training for 1000 applicators (spray men) through 25 training interventions. The establishment of 20 spray units (private associations) to be licensed by the Ministry of Agriculture and Land Reclamation (MALR). The official launch of the project to be under the auspices of MALR. A workshop assessment covering the project to be undertaken. Supporting IPM and Responsible Use programs Train an additional 15 Master Trainers. Organize 4 workshops at farmer / retailer /exporter level covering the Responsible Use of pesticides. Management and alleviation of counterfeit pesticides and the respective illegal trade The increase of the public budget allocation for use against counterfeiting and illegal trade. To intensify the monitoring and surveillance of the Duty Free Zones and border control points. To empower the National Anti-Counterfeiting Council with greater executive powers. The issuance of stricter legislation to incriminate counterfeiting and illegal trade in relation to IPR infringement. This subject is currently in progress through Cabinet. The protocol covers a period of one year, to be renewed annually. The official event to launch the project and media an- nouncement will be in the first half of April 2013. Attendance will include CLE members and APC management in addition to senior authorities of the MoA, invitations will include media and newspapers. Sarwat Sakr / Said Abdella CropLife Egypt L – R, Prof. Dr. Mohamed Abdel Meguid, Chairman, Agricultural Pesti- cides Committee (APC), HE Prof. Dr Salah Abdel Moomen, Minister of Agriculture and Land Reclamation Egypt, Sarwat. Sakr, Chairman, CropLife Egypt and Prof. Dr. Yehya Abdel Hamid, Vice Chairman APC. CropLife Egypt (CLE) and the Agricultural Pesticides Committee (APC) of the Egyptian Ministry of Agriculture signed a Memoran- dum of Understanding to setup and operate stewardship activities at national level. Sarwat Sakr, Chairman, CLE and Prof. Dr. Mohamed Abdel Meguid, Chairman, APC signed the MoU, under the auspices and endorsement of Dr. Salah Abdel Moomen, Minister of Agriculture. The protocol outlines the framework of the partnership between CropLife and the MoA in the following activities: The sustainable execution of training and certification of pesticide operators, applicators and growers in Egypt based on GlobalGAP To recognize and regulate the protocol developed by CLE and APC. The official certification of the 56 Master Trainers. The training and certification of 200 operators through 7 training programs (groups of 30) from March 2013.
Transcript
CropLife Africa Middle East Newsletter
Number 89 April 2013 CropLife Africa Middle East
Newsletter
Representing the Plant Science Industry
Stewardship CropLife Egypt signs Stewardship Protocol with MOA Egypt
The practical training for 1000 applicators (spray men) through 25 training interventions.
The establishment of 20 spray units (private associations) to be licensed by the Ministry of Agriculture and Land Reclamation (MALR).
The official launch of the project to be under the auspices of MALR.
A workshop assessment covering the project to be undertaken.
Supporting IPM and Responsible Use programs
Train an additional 15 Master Trainers.
Organize 4 workshops at farmer / retailer /exporter level covering the Responsible Use of pesticides.
Management and alleviation of counterfeit pesticides and the respective illegal trade
The increase of the public budget allocation for use against counterfeiting and illegal trade.
To intensify the monitoring and surveillance of the Duty Free Zones and border control points.
To empower the National Anti-Counterfeiting Council with greater executive powers. The issuance of stricter legislation to incriminate counterfeiting and illegal trade in relation to IPR infringement. This subject is currently in progress through Cabinet.
The protocol covers a period of one year, to be renewed annually. The official event to launch the project and media an-nouncement will be in the first half of April 2013.
Attendance will include CLE members and APC management in addition to senior authorities of the MoA, invitations will include media and newspapers.
Sarwat Sakr / Said Abdella CropLife Egypt
L – R, Prof. Dr. Mohamed Abdel Meguid, Chairman, Agricultural Pesti-cides Committee (APC), HE Prof. Dr Salah Abdel Moomen, Minister of Agriculture and Land Reclamation Egypt, Sarwat. Sakr, Chairman, CropLife Egypt and Prof. Dr. Yehya Abdel Hamid, Vice Chairman APC.
CropLife Egypt (CLE) and the Agricultural Pesticides Committee (APC) of the Egyptian Ministry of Agriculture signed a Memoran-dum of Understanding to setup and operate stewardship activities at national level.
Sarwat Sakr, Chairman, CLE and Prof. Dr. Mohamed Abdel Meguid, Chairman, APC signed the MoU, under the auspices and endorsement of Dr. Salah Abdel Moomen, Minister of Agriculture.
The protocol outlines the framework of the partnership between CropLife and the MoA in the following activities:
The sustainable execution of training and certification of pesticide operators, applicators and growers in Egypt based on GlobalGAP
To recognize and regulate the protocol developed by CLE and APC.
The official certification of the 56 Master Trainers.
The training and certification of 200 operators through 7 training programs (groups of 30) from March 2013.
Representing the Plant Science Industry
CropLi fe Af r ica Middle East Newslet ter Number 89 Apr i l 2013
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CropLife Sudan (SAGA) Obstocks Assessment
Hans Dobson of CropLife International visited Sudan 15-20 Marsh to meet with various authorities and concerned stakeholders on the issue of the large quantities of obsolete stocks of pesticides in the country.
His activities covered the following:
Meeting with the Executive Board of the Sudan Agrochemicals Association (SAGA) and the Registrar of the National Pesticides Council (NPC).
Visiting two depots in the Wad Medani, of Gezira State and meetings with the officials and stakeholders in the region.
Meeting with the Federal Minister of Agriculture and Irrigation and the Federal Minister of Health.
Participating at a workshop on obsolete stocks held at the Grand Holiday Villa on 19 March and addressing the issue of obsolete stocks with a CropLife perspective. This visit was highly valued by SAGA and viewed as a serious start of a Sudanese strategy to deal with obsolete pesticides in the country.
Mohamed Abdella Ali, SAGA
Above Right:: R-L Dr.Abdelahim, Federal Minister of Agriculture and irrigation, Mr.Sirlkhatim, Chairman SAGA and Mr. Khidir Gibreel, Registrar of the NPC, attending the obstocks workshop at the Grand Holiday Villa-Khartoum.
Professor Nabil Bahseer expert on Obstocks and Hans Dobson of CropLife
CropLife Uganda: IPM / RU Training
A “4 day” training of the Field Coordinators and staff of member companies in Uganda took place week commencing 18 March. The training covered both IPM / RU as a follow-up to last years December meeting, and anti-counterfeit training.
Participants underwent both, a pre, and post evaluation. They also prepared a training on IPM and “scouting for farmers. Results were particularly good for the written tests. Evelyn Lusenaka
Group Participants Calibration Exercise
Representing the Plant Science Industry
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CropLife Côte d’Ivoire and Directorate of Plant Protection Discuss Training Activities
On 10 March, members of CropLife Côte d’Ivoire together with Bama Yao met with the Director General of Agriculture and Food Security, Director and Deputy of Plant Protection, Min Agric, in Abidjan, to discuss elements of training.
The prime topic covered hinged on;
The follow up on the dealers training activities, and the strengthening of the dealer training scheduled for December 2013.
CropLife Côte d’Ivoire presented to the meeting the training modules targeting dealers, applicators, extension officers and agents. Joint debate led to the following recommendations:
That an impact assessment needs to be undertaken.
That CropLife Côte d’Ivoire and Min Agric should jointly consider introducing a training brochure.
That trainees and newly appointed officers of the Plant Protection Directorate of Min Agric should attend the training course.
That CropLife Côte d’Ivoire should consider organizing training sessions in cities or regions of high pesticide usage.
That the participation of pesticide control agents be used in the training of customs officers, particularly those assigned for control at country borders.
That a national seminar, with the commitment of a ministerial committee, should be considered to strengthen the fight against the illegal pesticide trade. Prior to such an event-taking place, CropLife Côte d’Ivoire and Min Agric needs to embark on a communications program.
Bama Yao
Above Left: R. Yeboué, Executive Secretary, CropLife CI, reading the conclusions of the meeting : Above Left: Following the presentation of the report on the 2012 training session by M. Dosso, President, CropLife CI, to the Director of Agriculture and Food Security.
Representing the Plant Science Industry
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SSP Training of Trainers for WCF Project
Training dates were 26 Feb – 6 March in Akure, Ondo State, Nigeria and 18 – 22 March, in Bassam, Côte d’Ivoire and Kumasi, Ghana. The objective was to train field officers from member companies of the national associations to serve as SSP trainers for the implementation of WCF-ACI program.
Nigeria: 18 participants (two female) attended the theoretical session during the first week; they then facilitated a practical session for 15 lead farmers during the second week.
Côte d’Ivoire & Ghana: 16 participants (including one female) attended the first week for the theoretical session in Côte d’Ivoire, and 15 in the session in Ghana.
In Côte d’Ivoire a one-day ToT was conducted, as most of the participants had never participated in a regular ToT program. This introduction was found very useful as reported in the course evaluation.
The practical field sessions in Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire are scheduled for 8 – 12 April and 22 – 26 April respectively, this to meet the needs of the member companies. Bama Yao
A group exercise session (L) followed by a demonstration on a mist blower (R) (cou r tesy: CropLife Nigeria)
A group working on a mist blower (L) to identify different parts and their func-t i o n s ( R ) ( c o u r t e s y : CropLife CI).
A part ic ipant fac i l i ta t ing a session on prepa-ration before the application of p e s t i c i d e s ( c o u r t e s y : CropLife CI).
Representing the Plant Science Industry
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Workshop on the Practical Approaches to IP Utilization and Protection in Africa – Dar es Salaam 19 – 21 March
IPR Anti-Counterfeiting
The Hon. Dr. Abdallah Kigoda (MP), Minister of Industry, Trade, and Marketing, undertook the Opening Address.
There were in excess of 150 delegates, which provided the opportunity for networking. CLAME was suitably represented with 5 participants.
Presentations of professional interest included:
The IP and Development Question: How intellectual property and development intersect in Africa.
Investment, Commerce and Intellectual Property: Robust IPR protection and enforcement are crucial to facilitating commerce, and attracting investment.
Consumer Protection and the Dangers of Counterfeit Goods: Combating counterfeit products that pose a threat to public health and safety on the African Continent.
Establishing African Brands: Exchange of experiences in trademark branding, value capture and commercialization.
Counterfeits and Pirated Goods: Trans-Border Issues: Tackling the issues involved in the interdiction of counterfeit and pirated goods across borders.
Organized by: The Africa Intellectual Property Group (AIPG) & The U.S. Department of Commerce
Commercial Law Development Program (CLDP)
In coordination with: The Government of Tanzania
The East African Community (EAC)
U.S. Embassy Dar es Salaam
Hon. Dr. Abdallah Kigoda (MP), Minister of Industry, Trade, and Marketing
Ambassador Dr. Konji Sebati, Director, Department of Traditional Knowl-edge and Global Challenges, WIPO
Representing the Plant Science Industry
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Scoring with IP: The juncture of sports and IP – well-known trademarks, sports broadcasting and related issues in Africa
Promoting African Culture Through IP: Exchange of experiences concerning the protection and monetization of traditional knowledge and traditional cultural expressions in Africa.
Agricultural Innovation in Africa: Harnessing agricultural innovation in Africa through IPR, as well as dealing with issues in counterfeiting of agricultural inputs.
Facilitating Innovation and Entrepreneurship: Public and Private Sector Efforts: Increasing African competitiveness through innovation policies, franchising, licensing and commercialization of R & D, entrepreneurship and effective technology transfer.
Practical Keys to Effective Criminal IPR Enforcement: Best practices, experiences, and trends in addressing IPR infringement through investigative, prosecutorial and judicial measures.
Les Hillowitz
Marie-Flore Johnson, Attorney-Prosecutor, Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section, U.S. Department of Justice
CropLife, represented: L-R, Richard Sikuku, Wynand van der Walt , Harish Dhutia and Ernest Massae
Representing the Plant Science Industry
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Minor Use Registration workshop, Rabat, Morocco, February 12-13, 2013
Regulatory
On February 12-13, 2013 a multi-stakeholder workshop focusing on minor use / minor crop registration issues, was held in Rabat, Morocco. This workshop was planned as a result of in-country pesticide consultations held in Morocco in April 2012 with Morocco’s National Food Safety Office (ONSSA), the National Institute for Agronomic Research (INRA), the Autonomous Establishment for Export Control and Coordination (EACCE), vegetable and strawberry export trade association (ASPEM and AMCEF), and pesticide trade associations (CropLife and PROTECO). The key and unanimous recommendation from those consultations was that a multi-sector workshop be held to develop a minor use strategic plan in Morocco. ONSSA (the Food Safety Authority) was particularly focused on the need to “resolve” the minor use situation in Morocco and communicated a sense of urgency for technical assistance efforts on this topic.
*Debra Edwards (USDA Pesticide Consultant) and Elizabeth Johnson (FAS/USDA) facilitated the workshop
CropLife Morocco successfully contributed and actively participated at this workshop.
Discussion Points:
As during the consultation in 2012, mint is a focus of concern for the lack of pesticide registrations in Morocco, illegal pesticide residues, and lack of MRLs in export markets. Though some new low-risk products have come onto the market (e.g., spinosad and Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt)), these are more expensive than the more toxic organochlorine and organophosphate products currently in use and for which no clearances exist (chlorpyrifos, dimethoate, endosulfan, etc.).
ONSSA continues to be very engaged in the minor crop registration issue and has shown considerable initiative in seeking ways to extrapolate efficacy data for minor crops from other countries with similar pest control problems and climatic conditions (e.g., southern Europe).
Group Participants
Representing the Plant Science Industry
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Minor Use Registration workshop, Rabat, Morocco, February 12-13, 2013 cont..
The EACCE and ASPEM participants both spoke of a proposal in the works to establish a technical center to assist small acreage growers. The technical center would consist of three sections (1) Nursery/Certified seedlings, (2) Pilot farms for experimentation on small acreages, and (3) A training center to provide technical support to growers, including in the area of marketing. The proposal has been in the works for two years. These groups voiced a clear need for more information transfer from government sources.
CropLife Morocco suggested that future event planners should work to include crop producers and pesticide distributors. The CropLife presentation focused on: (1) need for better communication with and training of small farmers, (2) problems with counterfeit/smuggled pesticides, (3) the need to update the pesticide regulatory laws, and (4) the need for a National Multi-Stakeholder Committee to review the list of minor crops annually.
A continued emphasis on the need for extension efforts and awareness programs for small growers was mentioned multiple times by many of the stakeholders. There are current efforts by USAID, FAO, and ONSSA in collaboration with Moroccan government and research organizations to train small farmers, but better communication is needed to ensure awareness of the trainings to the pertinent audience.
At the close of the workshop, ONSSA committed to coordinate the selection of priorities for the Global Minor Use Field Trial Project (tropical fruit) as well as for mint. The consensus was that it would benefit Morocco to be involved in the project and associated training and that training in risk assessment would also be useful.
On 22 March in Yaoundé, Mrs Catherine Azouyangui, Director, and Benoît Bouato, Permanent Secretary of CPAC, Jean Biakath, Chairman of Stewardship Committee, CropLife Cameroon and Bama Yao, Regional Coordinator met to plot progress of, and planned activities of CPAC, since the last meeting in December. The following was noted:
That Mrs Catherine Azouyangui, appointed as Director General has taken up her post.
That no progress has been made on the relationship between CPAC and the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MINADER).
That CPAC should take the first step by contacting the Minister to settle the situation and provide a sound regulatory environment and policies to attract products.
That both the Director General and the Permanent Secretary will attend the annual workshop in Accra. This will be the right opportunity for the planned support (registration procedures, GAP/PoR) to the CPAC initiative to be implemented.
Bama Yao
L - R, J. Biakath, Chairman Stewardship Committee CropLife Cameroon, B. Yao, CropLife AME, Mrs. C. Azouyangui, Director General, and B. Bouato, Permanent Secretary CPAC during t h e m e e t i n g i n Yaoundé, Cameroon
Representing the Plant Science Industry
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Association Management
Agrochemicals Association of Kenya holds Annual General Meeting (CropLife Kenya)
The Agrochemicals Association of Kenya, the umbrella organization of manufacturers and distributors of crop and pest control products in Kenya held its Annual General meeting on the 27 March at the Serena Hotel Nairobi.
Kuria Gatonye who is the current Chairman was re-elected for a further term.
The Chairman’s speech highlighted the areas that the incoming Executive Committee will address during their term and included the following:
Anti-counterfeiting activities with a focus on CropLife Kenya’s “3 pillars” namely; training and awareness, development of a clean supply chain and law enforcement and collaboration.
Management of obsolete pesticides and empty pesticide containers by:
1. Developing and improving systems to help manage obsolete pesticides.
2. Continue with container collection and disposal programs in the pilot area with a view of gradually developing the same in other parts of the country.
Kuria highlighted the fact that the success of activities will only work if other stakeholders, both the public and private sectors, are involved. This is more particular to obsolete pesticides and container management programs.
Richard Sikuku, CropLife Kenya
L-R, Raphael Kiguta, Treasurer and Kuria Gatonye, Chairman
Representing the Plant Science Industry
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CropLife Uganda holds AGM
CropLife Uganda held their 7th Annual General Meeting on 26 March 2013 at the Fairway Hotel, Kampala. Attendance included 8 CropLife member companies and 6 observers. Michael Odong, Principal Agriculture Inspector, officially opened the meeting, and who welcomed the strong partnership between MAAIF and CropLife Uganda. Hon. Deus Bikwasizehi, Patron of CropLife Uganda, later closed the meeting.
The newly elected Executive Committee is as follows;
Stephen Matovu (Chairman)
Anastase Rubangura (Secretary)
Godfrey Ongom (Treasurer)
Major points highlighted during the meeting included;
The need to establish a levy system on all imported crop protection products and fertilizers. This would support the national Safe Use program, the management of empty pesticide containers and the eradication of counterfeit products. It was agreed that the new committee should come up with a firm proposal on the establishment of a levy system to be presented to the Commissioner, Ministry of Agriculture Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF), Crop Protection Department.
The meeting was informed that for the year 2012 /2013; CropLife Uganda’s main activities depended solely on donors’ funding, namely:
The SMS Scratch Pilot supported by CropLife Africa Middle East.
The anti-counterfeiting campaigns funded successfully by the Agri-Business Initiative Trust with the support from CropLife Africa Middle East.
The meeting tasked the new committee to identify mechanisms of generating more income into the Association in order to be less dependent on donor funding.
A proposal was made that CropLife Uganda should develop a “business plan” covering the next five years and in the event that funds were available, to hire a consultant to handle this undertaking.
A further proposal was made in that CropLife Uganda should take up the spray Service Provider (SSP) concept. This would be a good tool to expand stewardship practices.
The meeting tasked the new committee to amend the CropLife Uganda constitution.
Betty Atto, CropLife Uganda
From right: Anastase Rubangura, Godfrey Ongom, Hon Deus Bikwasizehi, Stephen Matovu, Betty Atto and Michael Odong
Front row: (from right) Paul Kyabaggu, Michael Odong, Hon Deus Bikwasizehi, Stephen Matovu and Anastase Rubangura
Representing the Plant Science Industry
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CropLife Mauritius holds AGM
CropLife Mauritius held their AGM on 21 March.
The new Executive Committee for 2013 is as follows:
Philippe Le Vieux President
Dani Joseph Vice President
Clifford Dove Secretary
Bernard de Robillard Asst Secretary
Dineshing Goburdhun Treasurer
Murveen Ragobar Asst Treasurer
At the meeting it was announced that Mukesh Rughoo would replace Serge L’Ecluse as Executive Secretary of the association.
Mukesh retired from the MSIRI as Head of the Foodcrop Department. He was very active in development projects and recently participated in the TOT run by Manon Dohmen.
Dani Joseph, CropLife Mauritius
L-R, Philippe Le Vieux and Mukesh Rughoo
CropLife South Africa Holds AGM
CropLife South Africa held their AGM on Tuesday 26 March and the following were elected to serve on the Executive Committee:
Kobus Steenekamp Monsanto SA (President)
Marius Boshoff Enviro Crop Protection (Vice President)
Antonie Delport Syngenta SA
Henk van der Westhuizen Philagro SA
Rod Foran Dow Agrosciences SA
Marcel Dreyer Arysta Lifescience SA
Johan du Plessis Makhteshim-Agan SA
Hugo Minnaar Nulandis
Leon Smith Klub M5
Jacques du Preez Nexus AG
Roy Cackett Farmers-Agricare
Chris van Eeden Novon Retail Company
Tom Mabesa CropLife South Africa
Kobus Steenekamp
Representing the Plant Science Industry
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Partners and Stakeholders’ Coordination Meeting on Biosafety Capacity Development in Africa 5 – 6 March and CLI Africa Partners Meeting: 7 – 8 March, Accra, Ghana.
Plant Biotechnology
Mr. Fredua Agyman, Director for Environment Science, and Technology & Innovation on behalf of the Hon. Minister, undertook the keynote address for Environment Science, Technology & Innovation, Ghana.
A second prominent guest was Mr. Ouro-Djeri, Director du Cabinet, Ministry of Environment & Forest Affairs, Togo.
The objectives of the workshop were:
To bring together leading biotechnology and biosafety stakeholders and providers of technical assistance to share experiences and analyze the key capacity building needs and emerging challenges regarding the development and implementation of workable regulatory frameworks at the national and sub-regional levels
To strengthen the alignment among biosafety service providers and stakeholders to build future collaborative efforts in biosafety capacity development
To identify action steps and responsibilities to move biotechnology and biosafety agenda forward in Africa
Key points:
Program updates and plans for the following selected countries were covered:
Kenya
Ghana
Malawi
The following emerging “country opportunities” were addressed:
Cameroon
Ethiopia
Zambia
Zimbabwe
Progress towards sub-regional frameworks for biotechnology and biosafety were addressed covering:
COMESA
ECOWAS / WAEMU
SADC
Sudan became the fourth country in Africa to commercialize biotechnology with the planting of 20,000 ha Bt cotton.
By 2015, at least 10 countries will have commercialized biotechnology in Africa.
With regard to the CLI Africa Partners Meeting, the following was addressed:
Malawi PBS and AfricaBio (AfricaBio led the development discussions)
Uganda PBS, AATF and UBBC (UBBC led the development discussions)
Ghana PBS, Africa Harvest, AATF (PBS led the development discussions)
Kenya ABSF, Africa Harvest, ISAAA, AATF (ABSF led the development discussions)
Zimbabwe AfricaBio, AATF (AATF led the development discussions)
South Africa AfricaBio (AfricaBio led the development discussions)
Representing the Plant Science Industry
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Other country analysis covered the following:
Mozambique
Tanzania
Ethiopia
Zambia
Southern Sudan
Mali
Togo
Cameroon
Niger
Nigeria
The opportunity was taken to present an “Introduction to CLAME” and to explore synergisms where the crop protection network in Africa could assist in promoting the benefits plant biotechnology. This area needs to be explored further.
Les Hillowitz
Mr. Ouro-Djeri, Director du Cabinet, Ministry of Environment & Forest Affairs, Togo
Group Participants
Representing the Plant Science Industry
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TOP TEN FACTS about Biotech/GM Crops in 2012
FACT # 1. 2012 was the 17th year of successful commercialization of biotech crops. Biotech crops were first commercialized in 1996. Hectarage of biotech crops increased every single year between 1996 to 2012 with 12 years of double digit growth rates, reflecting the confidence and trust of millions of risk-averse farmers around the world, in both developing and industrial countries.
FACT # 2. Biotech crop hectares increased by an unprecedented 100–fold from 1.7 million hectares in 1996, to over 170 million hectares in 2012. This makes biotech crops the fastest adopted crop technology in recent times – the reason – they deliver benefits. In 2012, hectarage of biotech crops grew at an annual growth rate of 6%, up 10.3 million from 160 million hectares in2011. Millions of farmers in ~30 countries worldwide, have made more than 100 million independent decisions to plant an accumulated hectarage of ~1.5 billion hectares, equivalent to 50% more than the total land mass of the US or China; this reflects the fact that biotech crops deliver sustainable and substantial, socioeconomic and environmental benefits.
FACT # 3. For the first time in 2012, developing countries planted more hectares than industrial countries. Notably, developing countries grew more, 52%, of global biotech crops in 2012 than industrial countries at 48%. In 2012, growth rate for biotech crops was at least three times as fast, and five times as large in developing countries, at 11% or 8.7 million hectares, versus 3% or 1.6 million hectares in industrial countries.
FACT # 4. Number of countries growing biotech crops. Of the 28 countries, which planted biotech crops in 2012, 20 were developing and 8 were industrial countries; two new countries, Sudan (Bt cotton) and Cuba (Bt maize) planted biotech crops for the first time in 2012. Germany and Sweden could not plant the biotech potato "Amflora" because it ceased to be marketed. Stacked traits are an important feature – 13 countries planted biotech crops with two or more traits in 2012, and notably, 10 of the 13 were developing countries – 43.7 million hectares, or more than a quarter, of the 170 million hectares were stacked in 2012.
FACT # 5. Number of farmers growing biotech crops. In 2012, a record 17.3 million farmers, up 0.6 million from 2011, grew biotech crops – remarkably over 90%, or over 15 million, were small resource-poor farmers in developing countries. Farmers are the masters of risk-aversion and in 2012, a record 7.2 million small farmers in China and another 7.2 million in India, elected to plant almost 15 million hectares of Bt cotton, because of the significant benefits it offers. In 2012 over one-third of a million small farmers in the Philippines benefited from biotech maize.
FACT # 6. The top 5 countries planting biotech crops. The US continued to be the lead country with 69.5 million hectares, with an average ~ 90% adoption across all crops. Brazil was ranked second, and for the fourth consecutive year, was the engine of growth globally, increasing its hectarage of biotech crops more than any other country – an impressive record increase of 6.3 million hectares, up 21% from 2011, reaching 36.6 million hectares. Argentina retained its third place with 23.9 million hectares. Canada was fourth at 11.8 million hectares with 8.4 million hectares of canola at a record 97.5% adoption. India was fifth, growing a record 10.8 million hectares of Bt cotton with an adoption rate of 93%. In 2012, each of the top 10 countries planted more than 1 million hectares providing a broad foundation for future growth
FACT # 7. Status of biotech crops in Africa. The continent continued to make progress with South Africa increasing its biotech area by a record 0.6 million hectares to reach 2.9 million hectares; Sudan joined South Africa, Burkina Faso and Egypt, to bring the total number of African biotech countries commercializing biotech crops to four. Five countries, Cameroon, Kenya, Malawi, Nigeria and Uganda conducted field trials of biotech crops, the penultimate step prior to approval for commercialization. The lack of appropriate, science-based and cost/time-effective regulatory systems continue to be the major constraint to adoption. Responsible, rigorous but not onerous, regulation is needed, particularly for small and poor developing countries.
FACT # 8. Status of biotech crops in the EU. Five EU countries, (Spain, Portugal, Czechia, Romania and Slovakia) planted a record 129,071 hectares of biotech Bt maize, up 13% from 2011. Spain led the EU with 116,307 hectares of Bt maize, up 20% from 2011 with a record 30% adoption rate in 2012.
FACT # 9. Benefits offered by biotech crops. From 1996 to 2011, biotech crops contributed to Food Security, Sustainability and the Environment/Climate Change by: increasing crop production valued at US$98.2 billion; providing a better environment, by saving 473 million kg a.i. of pesticides; in 2011 alone reducing CO2 emissions by 23.1 billion kg, equivalent to taking 10.2 million cars off the road for one year; conserving biodiversity by saving 108.7 million hectares of land; and helped alleviate poverty for >15.0 million small farmers and their families totaling >50 million people, who are some of the poorest people in the world. Biotech crops are essential but are not a panacea and adherence to good farming practices such as rotations and resistance management, are a must for biotech crops as they are for conventional crops.
FACT # 10. Future Prospects. Cautiously optimistic with more modest annual gains likely due to the already high rates of adoption in the principal biotech crops in mature markets in both developing and industrial countries.
Clive James, ISAAA
Representing the Plant Science Industry
CropLi fe Af r ica Middle East Newslet ter Number 88 Apr i l 2013
