6-Regulation: The National Biosafety Framework (NBF) of Yemen

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TITLE:  The National Biosafety Framework (NBF) of Yemen
SOURCE: Yemen Observer
        http://www.yobserver.com/news_7292.php
DATE:   25 Jun 2005

------------------- archive: http://www.genet-info.org/ -------------------


The National Biosafety Framework (NBF) of Yemen

SANA'A - The National Biosafety Framework (NBF) of Yemen is a product of
the National Biosafety Project funded by the United Nations Environment
Program, the Global Environment Facility and implemented by the
Environmental Protection Authority.

The main objective of the project is to evaluate existing national
policies on modern biotechnology and biosafety issues, and to integrate,
update and revise all policies to produce a national biosafety framework
that is consistent with the relevant provisions of the Cartagena Protocol
on Biosafety of the Convention on Biological Diversity.

The legal basis of this framework is existing laws, policies and
administrative issuances related to modern biotechnology and biosafety
issues. The article below is the first in a series of issues discussed by
the NBF.

Agro-biodiversity of Yemen Historically, Yemen was a good example in the
economic and sustainable use of available natural resources, where
consideration of crop, soil and rangelands were part of its traditional
systems and agricultural terraces were mainly built for conserving water
and preventing soil erosion. Production systems have already approached
their maximum potential, with the full use of limited resources, such as
water and natural vegetation.

The development policy in the past 30 years has focused on short-term
objectives which provided immediate economic benefits, while the impact
of this development process on the environment was ignored.

As a result, destruction and degradation of natural resources have
reached a critical level. If Yemen is to achieve sustainable development
in the future, agricultural biodiversity and conservation projects must
be included in the development and socio-economic plans of the government.

The imperatives of sustainable development necessitate a re-orientation
in the fundamental values of the society. Hence, the formulation and
implementation of a comprehensive information, education and
communication advocacy plan is an indispensable part of the efforts to
mainstream the principles of biodiversity conservation of various efforts
of all stakeholders in the overall development process.

The legal protection and enhancement of traditional indigenous knowledge
and skills and the improvement of people's attitude in participation for
the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity and related natural
resources are very important steps towards the rehabilitation of the
natural resources base and man-made agricultural, pastoral and fishery
systems.

The introduction of the knowledge and skills of the ancestors will be a
process of relearning, testing and adapting sometimes forgotten systems
to the present-day situations.

The public will need to be convinced of the advantages, economy and
rationality of looking into the past to help guide the county's future
development.

Genetic Resources Yemen



 Yemen is characterized by large biodiversity and various species.
Varieties of all types adapted to different ecological zones. Crops such
as wheat, lentil and millet are examples of local varieties whose yield
and quality added to deteriorating as a result of introducing homogenous
high yielding varieties. Yemen is characterized with rich genetic
resources as a result of its rich biodiversity and natural resources
base; associated with different climatic conditions in agro-ecosystems.
Historically, the ancient Yemenis developed traditional practices to
preserve the genetic resources.

However, in the recent period, and due to the increased demand for
foodstuff, mechanical systems and new alien species were introduced to
agricultural practices. There was no efficient or proper attention given
to indigenous genetic resources. There are no programs to improve local
strains, collect data, characterize, research and evaluate them.
Sustainable use of biodiversity depends largely on the inherited
knowledge and experience and understanding of natural resources.

Indigenous genotypes are the result of a long selection process by
ancient local farmers that were inherited by successive generations. They
used indigenous breeding methods for selections of new genotypes to
improve species productivity and adaptability to different economic-systems.

Examples of such selections were in sorghum, which had been practiced to
improve seed's colour and size with super early maturation and free of
pests. New varieties of sorghum were developed as a result of such
processes, which are still widely used in Tihama, Taiz, Ibb and Lahj.

Although Yemen hosts rich biodiversity in genetic resources, the progress
made in this respect is meagre compared to other countries that don't
have large genetic resources. This had an impact on the productivity of
many varieties. For example, the introduction of chicken breeds caused
large reduction in local strains. In addition, there haven't been any
breeding programs to research, evaluate, characterize and improve local
strains.

Some research centres use breeding processes for species improvement.
However, most of their activities have been limited to certain verities
such as sorghum, wheat and onion. Their research work has focused on
production of synthetic varieties. An excellent achievement in this
respect is the improved onion variety called Bafatim, which was developed
from mass selection in Seyoun Research Center. The variety was later on
released to many regions in the country.

Some genotypes of the endogenous species have excellent unique genetic
characters. Research needs to be done to assess the potential of
utilizing these resources along with modern knowledge to improve the
sustainable use of agro-biodiversity.

Improvement of genetic resources depends on research and selection of
breeding methods based on such evaluation process. The academia and
research centres have an important role in such research work,
particularly in the collection and conservation of genetic materials.

The establishment of genetic resources centres such as in the faculty of
agriculture of Sana'a University is an important step toward genetic
resources conservation and assessment in Yemen. These centres have
initiated the processes of preserving genetic resources for vegetables
and other crops in order to study genetic behaviour of the collected
species and their potential for species improvement.

Biotechnology and Biosafety



Given that biotechnology and biosafety are relatively new issues in
Yemen, there is poor understanding and knowledge on the extent of the
risks on biodiversity associated with the transfer of biotechnology and
use of biotechnologically modified organisms GMOs.

Furthermore, there is no specific entity responsible for handling safe
use and transfer of biotechnology and GMOs. There is still an urgent need
to develop guidelines of safe application and to control the impact of
modification operation on human health and agro-biodiversity. These
deficiencies combined with the unavailability of policy and legislation
framework for regulating biotechnology and biosafety issues are likely to
cause higher level of risk on the country fragile ecosystem and its
endemic species.

Therefore, in order to foster this situation and halt any further
biodiversity destruction, this NBF has been developed to regulate their
application. There is however no legal instrument for the safe
application of GMOs. There is no research work on GMOs at the national
level and no such crops are produced locally. The awareness level is low
and presently no authority has been assigned to regulate or research and
monitor the safe applications of biotechnology.

Biotechnology can play an important role in addressing agricultural
research and contributing to agricultural development. Presently, there
are facilities and capacities for biotechnology at academic research
centres. Technical capacities and institutional capabilities need to be
further improved and public awareness needs to be enhanced.

Policies and new systems need to be developed and put in place to
regulate biotechnology and biosafety. There is a need to develop adequate
policies and legal frameworks as well as international cooperation in
institutional, technical, social and other aspects, as follows:

- Policies need to be developed to address research work giving due
attention to challenges and priorities, capacity building needs and
awareness raising. Due attention should be given to intellectual property
rights and links with regional and international efforts. - On the legal
aspects, legal framework guidelines and instruments of biotechnology and
biosafety need to be developed to regulate use and monitor safe applications.

- On research aspects, there is a need to improve scientific capacities
and technological infrastructure to integrate biotechnology risk
management into existing environmental, health and agricultural regimes.
Funds, incentives and facilities need to be provided.

- Of institutional aspects, there is a need to assign an authority to
oversee, monitor and enforce biotechnology and biosafety issues.

- On the technical level, there is a need to develop technical capacities
through the training of experts and equipping research facilities.

- Of social aspects, targeted awareness programs need to created and
implemented. Due attention should also be given to stakeholders and
community participation.



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