Building Trust in Stakeholder Communication for Agbiotech Projects:

Lessons from sub-Saharan Africa

Obidimma Ezezika and Justin MabeyaSandra Rotman Centre, University Health Network and University of Toronto

Paper presented at the 16th ICABR Conference – 128th EAAE Seminar, Ravello, Italy, June 24-27, 2012

Overview

Introduction

Methodology

Results and discussion

Conclusions

Why trust and communication? Distrust between the public and the private

sector partners.

The public sector views the intentions of the

private sector with suspicion

The private sector views the public sector as

slow, inefficient and resistant to change

This has been attributed to limited

communication

Introduction

Introduction

Before After

• Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) eggplants under field trials uprooted by local authorities of Davao City in Philippines

The purpose Conducted 8 case studies across Africa to understand the

role of trust in the agbiotech partnership

Data collection and analysis Data collection (2009-2011) by stakeholder interviews,

project documents and literature and direct observations

Analysis was based on recurring emergent themes from the

interviews, documents and observations

Methodology

Bt Cotton, Burkina Faso

Bt Cowpea, Nigeria, Ghana

Virus Resistant Cassava for Africa,Uganda

Insect Resistant Maize for Africa, Kenya

Bt Cotton, East Africa

Methodology Here we present preliminary findings from 5 case

studies from East and West Africa• On “Building trust in stakeholder communication for

agbiotech projects”

Results and discussions

Challenges

Disagreement around the GM

technology

Limited understanding

Poor fundingLow priority

Media influece

Challenges to stakeholder communication

Challenges to stakeholder communication

1. Disagreement around the GM technologyo Between the proponents and opponents of the

GM technology , e.g. in IRMA

2. Limited understanding and or informationo “Even….the scientists and the researchers,

are having a hard time in understanding and trusting that this [GM crops] will be good” – An interviewee of Bt cotton EA

3. Poor funding for communication and outreach, which limits the amount and quality of information available to the public

4. Low priority -o “the communication and outreach

component is somehow weak....and a lot more emphasis has been laid on the product development” – An interviewee of VIRCA

Challenges to stakeholder communication

5. Media influeceo “people therefore perceive them [private

sector and the multinationals] the way...the media has portrayed them” – A scientist from IRMA

Kenyan under fire for allowing import of GMOsPublished on 03/07/2011 By David Musyoka and Peter Mutai

Challenges to stakeholder communication

Practices for effective agbiotech communication 1. Provide clear and correct information in the

public domaino “get enough correct information out there [in the

public]” – IRMA interviewee

2. In-build communication early in project life o communication and other components should

be brought “on board at ago [concurrently] and move consistently” – VIRCA interviewee

3. Communicate the benefits of the technology to the farmers o “tell them [farmers] the benefits you are getting

from this technology and the shortcomings, it will work” – Bt cotton EA

4. Present harmonized information to the farmerso For example: “the National

Biotechnology Awareness Creation Strategy (BioAware Kenya)

5. Use multiple channels to communicate with stakeholders

Practices for effective agbiotech communication

6. Provide training for stakeholderso Journalists and extension officers and scientists on how to

communicate – Bt cotton Burkina Faso and IRMA

Practices for effective agbiotech communication

7. Demonstrate transparencyo “Let them know what problems there are, the risks

there are and let them know what risk mitigation strategies are there” – A scientist from IRMA

Conclusions

Challenges to stakeholder communication were

observed, as practices to strengthen stakeholder trust

were overlooked

This contributes to distrust between the public and the

agbiotech partnership

Communication practices should be considered early

in project development to ensure trust is enhanced

among stakeholders and partnership is sustained

Thank you!

Additional funding partners listed at www.mrcglobal.org