Green Biotechnology, the Lisbon goals and beyond

 In March 2000, the European Union set itself the ambitious goal of “becoming the most dynamic and competitive knowledge-based economy in the world, capable of sustainable economic growth with more and better jobs and great social cohesion, and respect for the environment, by 2010.” To underline the importance of science and research, Europe’s political leaders launched a “knowledge for growth” initiative in 2005 recognising that Biotechnology plays an essential role and reiterating the importance of the 2002 EU Strategy on Life Sciences and Biotechnology, stating ‘ Life sciences and biotech can foster growth, create new jobs and benefit a wide range of sectors such as health and agriculture, while at the same time contributing to broader goals, such as sustainable development.4”  
 
The specific role of green biotechnology was emphasized by the Commission in 2004: “Life science research can help European agriculture tackle its three main challenges: the shift in economic power away from primary producers (countries); the huge changes needed in agricultural infrastructure and systems; and the effect of trade globalisation and liberalisation that could lead to a 20% to 30% cut in EU agricultural output in the very near future.5” 
 
The European Commission and the Member States have put in place the world’s most stringent regulatory system for the assessment, the approval and monitoring of agricultural biotech products of which the main features are:

1. the safety assessment of biotech crops is carried out by an independent European authority, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), and is a continuous process which remains in place even after the authorisation of a product, through careful monitoring and the requirement to renew the approval of a biotech product every ten years;
 
 2. the tracing and labelling of biotech crop-derived ingredients is required throughout the food chain for maximum transparency towards consumers thus guaranteeing freedom of choice;
 
 3. a set of European level recommendations (known as coexistence guidelines) on how to cultivate biotech crops alongside conventional and organic crops to ensure no discrimination against any type of agriculture;
 
 4. Member States competent authorities are fully involved in the safety assessment of biotech crops.

Notwithstanding the above, the authorisation for the cultivation and use of agricultural biotech products is facing a number of substantial hindrances.
 
These hindrances are setting the sector back in Europe with respect to the rest of the world and are impeding the contribution of agricultural biotech to Europe’s Lisbon goals.
 
This Manifesto aims to present the practical hindrances in the five main areas in need of urgent attention and action, as well as suggested solutions.
4 Eduardo J. Trigo (FORGES Foundation), Eugenio J. Cap (Institute of Economics and Sociology of the National Institute of Agricultural Technology), December 2006
5 European Commission, “Life Sciences and Biotechnology – A Strategy for Europe”, 2002
Green Biotechnology Manifesto [Print version] PDF