Biosafety Risk Assessment Training Workshop 2 by Carol-Faye Bynoe-George
The conclusion of the week-long Biosafety workshop came to a resounding success according to the workshop facilitators. From 2nd to 5th December 2024 participants from different countries along with local technicians from several government ministries undertook vigorous technical training in Biosafety and Biotechnical matters and Risk Assessment. This training was timely, well organized, insightful, impacting and to simply put it indeed a ‘WORKSHOP’.
Bearing in mind that around 1995/6 the terms Biosafety and Biotechnology newly emerged from the science and technological realm and was officially introduced to the public through the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and Cartagena Protocol. Thirty years later with more and more Living/ Genetically modified organisms (LMO/GMO) being created and in existence it was decided that this revised training on Risk Assessment of LMOs was imperative.
According to the United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP) – The definition of Living Modified Organism is:
- Living modified organism” means any living organism that possesses a novel combination of genetic material obtained through the use of modern biotechnology;
- “Modern biotechnology” means the application of:
- in vitro nucleic acid techniques, including recombinant deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and direct injection of nucleic acid into cells or organelles; or
- fusion of cells beyond the taxonomic family;
that overcome natural physiological reproductive or recombination barriers and that are not techniques used in traditional breeding and selection.
Additionally, the term “Biosafety” refers to the protection of human health and the environment from potential harm due to biological agents. Further, it essentially refers to safety procedures aimed at regulating, managing or controlling the risks associated with the use and release of LMOs resulting from biotechnology which are likely to have adverse environmental impacts that could affect the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity, taking also into account risks to human health. Biosafety comprises multidisciplinary scientific fields including, but not limited to biology, ecology, microbiology, molecular biology, animal and plant pathology, entomology, agriculture and medicine as well as legal and socio-economic considerations, and public awareness.
The Conference of the Parties reconvened and adopted the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety on 29 January 2000 in Montreal, Canada. The Protocol entered into force on 11 September 2003 upon ratification by the fiftieth Party. As of September 2011, 161 Parties had acceded/ratified the Protocol. However, other conferences of such were held but during the seventh conference held in South Korea during 29th September to 3rd October 2014, It was decided then that training in LMOs Risk Assessment must be considered and achieved. This process was financed by the South Korean Government.
The workshop held here last week was the last of its kind and the training was delivered in accordance with the understanding established amongst participating parties. Some key topics and areas discussed and presented were the importance and historical background/facts of LMO/GMO, the Biosafety protocol, the Biosafety Clearing House (BCH), the responsibilities of the National Agencies, risk Assessment/analysis and making competent decisions.
We are all are not oblivious to the high demands for more food globally, many are proactively involved in food production however, countries/governments expect that this must be done in a sustainable manner and not at the expense of human health nor the eradication of the biodiversity that exist the environment.
Words to the wise “Agriculture is big business making it everyone’s business from producers, consumers to scientists therefore each one MUST teach one about sustainable achieving our FOOD PRODUCTION, BIODIVERSITY PROTECTION GOALS and certainly not MONETARY GOLDS”.