HISTORY OF MODERN BIOTECHNOLOGY IN BURKINA FASO AND EXPERIENCE OF BBA

ISAAA Network MeetingApril 4-5, 2013

Le Soleil de Boracay, Alkan, Philippines

Dr Roger G. ZANGREBBA founding member

BURKINA FASO

Identity card- Population: 13,730,000inhabitants (census 2006) andprobably more than 16 million

(now).- Area: 274 200 km².- Capital: Ouagadougou.- Official language is French- More than 60 dialects but

the main national languagesare Mooré, Dioula and Fulfulde- The main activity isagriculture and the cottonremains the most importantcash crop.

Sindou pics

BURKINA FASO

GeographyLocated in the Sudanian zone of WestAfrica, Burkina Faso is a landlockedcountry surrounded by : NigerRepublic(East), Mali (West and North)Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana, Togo and Benin(South).Burkina has several game reserves,national parks and other protectedareas scattered around the country.Many rivers have dams that help bringeven more greenery and freshness

MALINIGER

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Guinea Gulf

BURKINA FASO

Climate

The most part of the country belongsthe Sudanian tropical zone. TheNorth is a Sahelian zone.Two distinct seasons: the dryseason, about 8 months, and therainy season from mid-June to mid-October and peaked in August. Thehottest months are March, April andMay, when the temperature exceeds40 ° C.November to remains the pleasantmonths where temperature isbetween 25 and 30 ° C.

BF international commitments for biotech and biosafety

Founding member in 1992 in Algiers of the African Agencyof Biotechnology (AAB) envolving 15 other African countries:Algeria, Burundi, Cameroon, Côte d'Ivoire, Egypt, Ethiopia,Gabon, Ghana, Mauritius, Kenya, Morocco, Nigeria, Senegal,Tunisia and Zimbabwe.

The AAB works to strengthen the capacity of membercountries to promote biotechnology and biotechnologybusiness. But actualy its activities remain week in countriesmembers.

BF international commitments for biotech and biosafety

Party since 1993 to the Convention on BiologicalDiversity (CBD) adopted in May 1992 in Nairobi CBD is the main international instrument in chargeof biodiversity issues, Biosafety constitutes also itspriority CBD developed an international instrumentdeveloped (2000) for biosafety known as the CartagenaProtocol on the prevention of biotechnological risks(PCB).

BF international commitments for biotech and biosafety

Participation in various stages of negotiation of theCartagena Protocol through the National Center of Scientificand Technological Research (CNRST) with the activeparticipation of ANVAR and MEDD/CONEDD from: Cairo (Egypt) in 1995:

. group of 15 experts meeting who recommended theestablishment of an international protocol on biosafety

. UNEP consultation for the adoption of transitionalguidance for biosafety during the PCB negociations to Aarhus (Denmark), Montreal (Canada) from 1996 to2000 on the Cartagena Protocol on biosafety

BF international commitments for biotech

and biosafety

Ratification in 2003 of the PCB adopted in 2000 by BurkinaFaso and his Additional Protocol on Liability and Redress known as theNagoya-Kuala Lumpur Protocol adopted in 2010Ratification in 2004 of the legal instruments of the AfricanAgency of Biotechnology (AAB) Implementation and adoption of national biosafetyregulatory in 2002-2004

Cotton challengein Burkina and toward the Bt

technology of MONSANTO

In Burkina Faso, cotton is an effective tool to fight againstpoverty, especially in rural areas, but also an instrument ofcreation and distribution of wealth.Significant crop losses annually due to pests (caterpillarscapsules) despite insecticide applications, the need oftransgenic cotton.Bt cotton is an interesting alternative that can help restorethe competitiveness of the cotton sector in Burkina Faso.

But cotton production in Burkina was in a difficult situation sincethe 1990s mainly due to pest Lepidoptera (Helicoverpa armigera)attacks and the resistance of this insect to insecticides ANVAR met with Monsanto technology on cotton (GM)Bollgard at the Yaoundé Workshop in 1999 on the development ofthe National Biosafety Framework of CameroonBt technology enabled cotton itself to control the pestsparticularly Lepidoptera ANVAR and Cotton Research Program of INERA interested intechnology, invited MONSANTO to come and present thistechnology to cotton stackholders in Burkina Faso

Cotton challengein Burkina and toward the Bt

technology of MONSANTO

Main stages of the introduction of Bt cotton in Burkina Faso

After several workshops have been organized atOuagadougou (2000 to 2001) on the Bt cotton targeting keyactors in cotton (Researchers, Teachers, governmentministries, cotton farmers, cotton companies, civil society)with the participation of MonsantoWhen the cotton farmers found that the technology can bebenefit for them, they required INERA to make every effortfor its acquisition and experimentation.

Main stages of the introduction of Bt cotton in Burkina Faso

For responding the demand of the farmers, Burkina Fasoimplemente is national biosafety framework by : Implementation and adoption of regulatory frameworkon biosafety 2002-2004 Implementation and adoption of the law on biosafetyand biosafety framwork whith ANB, CSB, ONB in 2006Revisiting the law in 2012

Main stages of the introduction of Bt cotton in Burkina Faso

2003: Introduction of Bt cotton (Monsanto) and Vip (Syngenta)for experimentation by INERA2003 to 2005: Experimentation confined in INERA researchstations of Farako-Ba (Bobo) and Kouaré (Fada)2006-2007: Conclusive results and early gene transfer of Bt geneto INERA (Burkina) cotton improved varieties by a series ofbackcrosses (backcross)2007-2008: conclusive experimental station and in farmers' fields2008-2009: Early commercial seed production of GM Bollgard IIcotton and outdoor croping (128 563 hectares planted GMcotton in 2009)

Main stages of the introduction of Bt cotton in Burkina Faso

Since the Superficies and the production of GM cotton growing year by year.

Tables below shows the production 2011 & 2012

YEAR CGM/ton No CGM/ton TotalCGM rate/%

2011 260,680 156,447 417,127 62,49

2012 313,781 302,016 615,796 50,96

BBA ExperienceMissions and objectives

Burkina Biotech Association is founded in 2004 by a group ofpeople from different backgrounds constituted a major part ofScientistsMission: Participate in the promotion of biotechnology and thecontrol of biosafety in Burkina Faso and in the West African subregionObjectives: Better information on and understanding of theapplication of biotechnology to agriculture to better enjoy thebenefits to the people.Including through capacity building by:- Public Awareness- Training- Dissemination of information on biotechnology (GMOs) and

biosafety- Support for the scientific research- Setting up the infrastructure and scientific equipment.

ACTIVITIESMAJOR POLICY ACTIONSBBA was all important actions taken by Burkina Faso and the sub-region for the advent of biotechnology and biosafety. Among the main we can retain the following:- Participation in the development of national rules on safety in biotechnology in Burkina Faso, adopted (2004)- Participation in the organization of the International Ministerial Conference of Ouagadougou on agricultural science and technology held in 2004-Participation in regional initiatives ECOWAS CORAF, CILSS / INSAH on Biotechnology and Biosafety (Abuja, Bamako)-Participation in the development of the biosafety Law in Burkina Faso, adopted in 2006

ACTIVITIES

EDUCATION AND TRAINING Lighting and awareness of the National Assembly on issues ofGMOs and biosafety decision support in light of the adoption ofthe Law on BiosafetyParticipation in the training of journalists in the West Africanregion communication in biotechnology. Awareness of members of the Malian government and localNGOs are not conducive to GMOs in MaliOrganization in 2007 visits Bt cotton plots by electedrepresentatives (Members of Parliament from Burkina Faso,Mali and Benin)

ACTIVITIES

EDUCATION AND TRAINING Regional workshops on biotechnology, biosafety, Btcotton, sorghum biofortified project and Bt cowpea (2009-2010) Regional workshops on biotechnology, biosafety, Btcotton, sorghum biofortified and Bt cowpea projects (2012) Rotating assignments in the C4 countries (Benin, Mali,Chad) to call for establishment of associations for accurateinformation on biotechnology and biosafety, based onscientific knowledge

ACTIVITIESEstablishing a communication strategy:- Creation of Biotech Bulletin Echo (2006)- Organization of press conferences since 2004 on ISAAA worldplant GM annual situation. The beneficiaries are : members ofparliament , other policy makers, journalists and differentactors of civil society- Use of local languages

- Participation in the creation (2005) of West AfricanBiotechnology Communicators Network (RCOAB)

PARTNERSHIPS

As part of its mandate BBA has partnership, sometimesformal, with a number of actors sharing the same objectives.They are :INERA (Institute of Environment and Agricultural Research)SOFITEX, Monsanto, Syngenta, ISAAA, WACIP (Programme forStrengthening the Cotton Sector in West Africa andCentral), CORAF (West and Central African Council for AgriculturalResearch and Development), Agro Biotech Support Project II(ABSPII) from Cornell University, NAB, ABNE, Member of OFABBurkina recently.

BBA is open to any organization who share its vision

Partnership with ISAAA

Since 2004 : BBA organizes ISAAA press conference forthe journalists and also others actors in informalmannerSince 2013 we have implemented an MOU toimplement WABIC activities and to supporte someBBA activities.We wish a fruitful collaboration and ask otherspartners in this room and over, to supporte BBA in hismissions.

BBA stakeholdersWorkshope in Bobo

Zone 2 : 2009

Participants

Field visite

Interview

BBA stakeholders Workshope in DedougouZone 2 : 2009

Field visite

InterviewBollgard II harvesting

THANK YOU!