REVISED TRAINING MANUAL ON RISK ASSESSMENT OF LIVING MODIFIED ORGANISMS by Carol-Faye Bynoe-George

A regional Conference being held in Antigua and Barbuda during 2nd to 6th December was hosted by the Secretariat of the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety to the Convention on Biological Diversity under the auspices of the Department of Environment in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture. This forum attracted regional technicians from Barbados, Grenada, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, St. Kitts and Nevis, Trinidad and Tobago.  Additionally, Columbia and Mexico were also represented.

This weeklong event will be facilitated by Ms Wadzanayi Goredema-Mandivenyi, Mr. Zakir Jafry, Mr. Autein McLoughlin, Ms Marja Ruohonen-Lehto.

At the opening ceremony Mr. Walter Christopher/Permanent Secretary welcomed the visiting colleagues and assure all that Antigua and Barbuda for several decades had been working on matters pertaining to Bio-Safety and Biotechnology and this has been since 1994.  “Agriculture is widely regarded as one of the oldest and most essential activities in human Civilization, serving as the foundation for our sustenance and survival.  From the dawn of humanity, the cultivation of crops and the domestication of animals have been critical to developing societies.  As populations grow and the pressure to produce more food intensifies, farmers have turned to various strategies to enhance productivity and ensure food security. One of the most significant responses to the challenges posed by pests has been the widespread use of pesticides.  These chemical substances play a vital role in controlling pest populations, protecting crops and livestock from damage, and ultimately increasing yields.  However, the reliance on pesticides also raised concerns about potential environmental impacts and the health implications for consumers.  Modern biotechnology has emerged as a transformative force in Agriculture, offering innovative solutions to enhance food production.  Given the rapid advancement in biotechnology and the introduction of LMOs into the agricultural landscape, there is an essential need for robust safety protocols to ensure responsible usage. This necessity has led to the establishment of the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety. I implore all participants to undertake this exercise with focus and diligence.  It would allow you to be better prepared to assess the potential risks resulting from newly developed organisms and to support the global biodiversity framework’” remarked Mr. Christopher.

The Director of Agriculture, Mr. Gregory Bailey expressed that “There is no shortage of skepticism and controversy when it comes to the governance of LMOs for use in agriculture. This is partly due to ideological differences across cultures and business interests. It is my understanding that the implementation of this workshop was borne out of requests made through the Cartagena Protocol on biodiversity to the Convention on Biodiversity, to increase regional capacities in the area of risk assessment on Living Modified Organisms (LMO), which is an essential and invaluable aspect of Risk Management, in this regard.  I wish you all the best during your deliberations over the next few days,” said the Director.

Following the Opening Ceremony, the conference went into full work mode with presentations pertaining to an Overview of biosafety –

  • Introduction of the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety
  • Techniques used in modern biotechnology
  • National Biosafety Frameworks
  • Overview on risk assessments

This was a very interactive session where participating countries exchanged on their National Biosafety Frameworks and experiences.  This activities and training will continue until Friday 6th December.