Jun 9, 2010

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Third round table on plant genetics

Schavan: “Applying all research methods for safeguarding world food – also gene technology”

For the third time, the Federal Minister for Research, Annette Schavan held a round table discussion on plant genetics in Berlin. This time the topic was the safeguarding world food and the demands on agricultural and plant research that arose from this. A broad spectrum of scientific, economic and social groups was invited. In the discussion, basic agreement was seen on most questions – with one exception: for gene technology the difference opinions still seem irreconcilable.

Minister for Research Annette Schavan: “Taking responsibility for global and future generations also means talking about chances and possibilities of new technologies.”

Round table on plant genetics

The round table traces back to an initiative of the research minister Annette Schavan (CDU) and the agricultural minister Ilse Aigner (CSU), who in May 2009 had invited about 30 representatives from science, political economics, organisations and the church to debate the fundamental significance of green gene technology in Germany. The motivations were the imposed ban in Germany on cultivation of the genetically modified MON810 maize and the fierce social arguments that this caused.

Until now, two meetings of the round table have taken place. In the meantime the meetings are moderated by Annette Schavan alone, and the focus of the discussions has widened from green gene technology to plant and agricultural research. Gene technology is considered to be one of many methods.

Photos: biotechnologie.de

At the beginning of the session in Berlin, Prof. Joachim von Braun, Director at the Centre for Development Research of the University of Bonn, again summarised the major challenges: By 2030 the worldwide demand for food will have increased by 50% – and this by ever worsening basic conditions, since water and cultivation areas are becoming increasingly scarce. Added to this come the dramatic effects of climate change in some regions. During the economic and agricultural crises of the last few years the number of people living in absolute poverty has increased by 100 million.

Safeguarding the world food supply has, in the meantime, moved up the agenda of political summit conferences. In her introduction to the round table, Schavan stated that Germany too wants to direct agricultural and plant research more strongly to this goal, and in future work more closely with developing countries. A corresponding aid initiative, mapped out by the Research Ministry together with the Departments for Agriculture and Development, is to be presented in autumn 2010.

In principle, the announcement of the aid initiative was welcomed by all participants of the round table. The contributions from both “camps” – on one side the development organisations, organic farming and nature conservancy, on the other research organisations, and plant breeders and organisations – differed mostly in their accents and priorities. The latter emphasised the importance of classical plant breeding, including new molecular biological methods; for the others, safeguarding the fertility of the soil was paramount. Less controversial was acknowledging that these problems can not be solved with new technologies alone, but only through a broad systematic research approach. Many participants referred in this connection to the international agricultural research coordinated by the CGIAR (Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research), which is well positioned and has the correct mandate. For many years the CGIAR research centres all over the world have been working on sustainable, adapted solutions for local agriculture in the developing countries. For this, they are of course using technological innovations – including gene technology.

Green gene technology: Definite standpoints

Do gene technology approaches also have a place in agricultural and plant research aimed at safeguarding the food supply? On this question opinions are divided. The deep socially and politically loaded conflict over green gene technology left little space for discussion at the round table. For organic farming, gene technology contradicts the “fundamental principle to cultivate within the limits of ecosystem”. The non-governmental organisations concerned with development politics oppose gene technology because it drives farmers to become economically dependent on the agricultural companies and undermines the established practice of “open source” in plant breeding. In addition, genetically modified plants can not be contained, making “coexistence” – continued existence of a gene technology-free agriculture – “in principle impossible”. In short: “Green gene technology does not help to solve world hunger”.

It was not only Research Minister Schavan who disagreed with this. There is no justification for precluding a particular method from the first – whether that is gene technology or organic farming. “I am convinced that gene technology approaches can play a part in the world food supply, in developing more robust plants that can withstand droughts or cold snaps better than previously”. Representatives from research and business referred to concrete projects in developing countries in which work is going on with plants with a better water and resource efficiency. Also, with an estimated 30–70% postharvest loss – losses through diseases and pests – it cannot be justified to abandon gene technology approaches from the start, which could help to reduce these losses. A study of the joint research body of the European Commission (JRC, Joint Research Centre) has shown that developing and emerging markets in Asia and South America are intensifying their own development of genetically modified plants. By 2016, 57 types of GM-plants should be in use commercially that do not originate from the cooperations and research institutes of North America and Europe.

A current study from the agricultural economist Matin Qaim (Göttingen) was discussed at the round table. This showed that the cultivation of Bt cotton in India has markedly improved the economic situation, particularly in the extremely poor households. According to Matin Qaim “These findings cannot be extrapolated to all applications of gene technology, because they always depend on the respective conditions”.

“We will consider the results of the round table discussions” said Schavan drawing a first balance. “The goal of the new aid strategy is to build bridges between research and applications, and between using chances and acting responsibly with respect to safety for man, animals and the environment. Worldwide research on food safety, considering the potential of all research approaches, will play a key role in this.”

Another main topic that was on the agenda of the round table – biosafety research – could not be discussed. This is now to be debated in further session under the leadership of the state secretary Georg Schütte.