Asian Regional Conference Workshop on
'Local Management of Agricultural Biodiversity"
28 October – 1 November 2001
Nakornayok Province, Thailand
Synthesis
1. Introduction:
Asia is home to more than half of the world's population. Because of the fast growth rates among many Asian countries, there is high population pressure that redounds to the fast degradation of the natural resource base. In many areas in the region, the water crisis is a reality and this will continue to be a region-wide threat. It is in Asia where the greatest numbers of food insecure and malnourished people (over 300 M) lives. In this region, the food chain moves faster than in any other regions, hence, reliance in grain imports is increasing with time.
In a rush towards modernisation to feed its increasing population, millions of hectares of valuable crop lands in the relatively flat fertile plains are being cleared up to allow the construction of roads, industrial estates (factories and buildings), housing facilities and other 'modern' amenities. Local peoples are being pushed further up to the more fragile uplands where they have to produce food for their families. The end result, environmental degradation in the uplands that eventually also affects the lowlands and the marine and coastal agroecosystems. Annual flooding is a common occurrence in many Asian countries. At present, many of Asia's so-called 'rice bowls' are now importing cereals.
In the mid-1990's Asia became the mecca for biotechnology investment. This is expected since Asia is a very large market. This is contrary to the altruistic reasoning of the biotech proponents (mainly the industry and their cohorts in the governments and the academe) that "we need biotechnology to feed the hungry people of Asia".
Asia is a haven for agricultural biodiversity . This is because of the regions' unique biogeography, geographic isolation of many countries, variable climate and altitude, and a large number of diverse and isolated islands. The region includes the second largest tropical rainforest complex in the world (Indonesia) and thousands of islands (Philippines and Indonesia and Malaysia).
The ancient civilisations (e.g. China and India) and the diverse cultures have also enriched the agricultural genetic resources in the region. For centuries farmers raised and selected a wide range of crops and livestock to suit their unique agricultural production systems under highly variable climatic regimes. Genetic diversity had given an edge to farmers in the constant struggle between crops and stresses, both biotic and abiotic. In numerous traditional farming systems, several species are planted together as a hedge against crop failures.
2. Challenges for Local Management of Agrobiodiversity
It is under this context that the Asian Regional Conference-Workshop on "Local Management and Control of Agricultural Biodiversity" was conducted in Nakornnayok Province in Thailand from 28 October to 1 November 2001. Sixty-one (61) participants representing twenty-one organizations from seven Asian countries (Australia, Bangladesh, Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Japan, Philippines and Thailand attended the conference-workshop. There was one representative each from Brazil and Sweden. They were farmers/peasants/fishers, NGOs and academics. The organizations represented were:
PUSSPAINDO (Centre of Study and Development of Indonesian Rice/Indorice), ILFA (International Life and Food Association), MASIPAG, The Sloth Club/The Seed Savers’ Network, UBINIG-Policy Research for Development Alternative, CEDAC (Centre d’Etude et de Developpement Agricole Cambodgien), METSA Foundation, CEFRA (Campagao Farmers Production and Research Association), SEARICE (Sountheast Asian Regional Institute for Community Empowerment), IRDF (Integrated Rural Development Foundation of the Philippines), CFO (Calamcam Fisherfolk Organization), SIBAT, CART, GRAIN, Green Foundation, Gram Vikas, Northern Farmer Network of Thailand, RRAFA (Rural Reconstruction Alumni and Friends Association), AAN - Thailand (Alternative Agriculture Network-Thailand), BioThai (The Thai Network on Community Rights & Biodiversity), and UPLB-College of Agricuture.
In this conference, the participants were unanimous in declaring that the Asian farmers are losing control of seeds. This situation was due to to the widespread promotion of industrial agriculture (chemicals, hybrids, GMOs, etc) and large-scale monocropping of agricultural lands. Because of this, the control by big businesses/TNCs-MNCs to biodiversity, particularly the seed, is increasing. Also, many government policies are against farmer control of biodiversity. There is very little or no support from governments to protect biodiversity and initiatives from grassroots on biodiversity conservation and management. Instead, governments are co-opted and/or are conspiring with some threat elements (e.g. MNC, Universities). Genetic contamination by GMOs and hybrids that are widely promoted by the industry and by the governments are threats to biodiversity conservation that needs to be addressed, Bioprospecting for local genetic resources is widespread in Asia.
All over Asia, there is unequal/inequitable distribution of lands and farmers are heavily indebted. Widespread denial/violation of indigenous peoples' rights are very common. In general, the public denied access to information. For example, legal instruments and multilateral agreements concerning biodiversity (that directly affects the people) adhered to by governments are complex and are not known to farmers and local communities.
In many deliberations concerning biodiversity conservation and management, there is a strong perception that governments represent foreign and industry, rather that people's interest. Discussion/discourse on highly political issues (e.g. biodiversity, IPR GMOs, etc) that directly threatens local management of biodiversity are confined to economic, technological/scientific and environmental frameworks. The vital link between control of biodiversity and food consumption, rural livelihoods, poverty and food security is largely overlooked. Those who present views opposing those of the governments and the industry are subjected to pervasive negative propaganda and are persecuted.
From the 15 case studies presented at the regional conference-workshop, the participants concluded that farmers are capable of breeding important food crops (e.g. rice, corn, fruit crops, etc.) and this should be encouraged, supported and promoted. Also, it is important to link food processing/preparation and its promotion, farming practices and systems to biodiversity conservation and management. The important roles of farmers and their production systems (agroforestry, aquaculture, agriculture), their local knowledge and materials, are important in biodiversity conservation and management and must be emhasised.
Threats to biodiversity conservation and management (e.g., TNCs/MNCs, introduction of hybrid varieties, government policies, GMOs, green revolution, etc.) must be addressed. In many instances, direct action must be resorted to. To be able to do this effectively, the important role of active organising of people's/farmers/fishers/IPs and mass organisations is necessary. The active participation of women in activities such as community seed banking, organising, campaigns and lobbying are very important and should be fully encouraged and supported.
To be able to address these issues and be more effective in their work, the participants identified the following information needs:
- International policies that impact on biodiversity; policy issues related to genetic resources and biodiversity
- Patenting procedure/IPR
- Techniques in improving productivity in sustainable way
- Farmers’ and community initiatives; farmers’/IPs participation in policy making
- Farmers experiences (techniques) on genetic resource management – national and regional; strategies and lessons learned by peasant on overcoming obstacles
- Problems of other countries and solutions to overcome problems
- Networking initiatives on agrobiodiversity conservation and management and other related issues
- GMOs (What they are, status, spread, utilisation, mobilisation of farmers against genetic engineering/GMOs in food and agriculture)
- Food quality standards (e.g. IFOAM, Codex etc.)
The participants also expressed the need for more venues for sharing of experiences at regional and international levels on: upland (including agroforestry) and lowland farming systems, strengthening consumer networks, strengthening grassroots networking, sharing of experiences focused on root cause of the problem, advocacy and networking, exchange of information, and boycott/lobbying/direct action, rally.
The need for support to, and from scientists, policy-makers, funders was also emphasised. Farmer to farmer exchange, the linking of farmers to consumers and strategies to promote organic food and traditional food should be encouraged and supported. Strategies to recover endangered biodiversity should be shared and effective networking at both regional levels should be established.
3. Proposals
The participants suggested a number of mechanism(s) and strategies to strengthen in-regional sharing of information and to synergize local (national) and regional activities. The proposed the establishment of listserver/mailing list (internet, website, etc.), regional newsletter (hard and electronic copy), information clearinghouse mechanism and Asian seed database. The conduct of study trips/tours/travel for farmers, NGOs and sympathetic members of the academe and policy makers was considered important. The also suggested the simplification and localisation (i.e., translation of materials to local languages, local new releases) of information/issues related to biodiversity conservation and management to enable information empowerment among them. They proposed regular for a and conferences to bring together POs, farmers, scientists. In these activities, they feel that farmers/fishers/peasants/IPs should have greater participation and be more represented. In addition, they proposed the promotion and conduct of farmer-to-farmer exchange/cross visits, seed exchange (with technical information and uses), and local knowledge. As a sign of oneness in purpose, they proposed the conduct of joint solidarity activities, i.e. simultaneous and coordinated rallies and mobilisations within countries and among countries within regions (e.g. against IRRI, Monsanto and otherTNCs/MNCs). To further strengthen these activities, they proposed that there should be efforts towards networking and work with Northern countries groups to lobby industries and their governments. The importance of the media in all these activities was emphasised when it was proposed that there should be systematic activities to work towards greater media coverage in all these activities.
4. Expectation and Issues to discuss during the international workshop
The Asian participants expect that there will be active sharing of knowledge and practical experiences on seed conservation and management, farms and farming systems, peasant/IPs struggles, organisation building, and methodlogies and strategies to address threats to biodiversity conservation and management.
The participants were expecting that they will be able to learn more about threats and constraints on biodiversity management at the international level and that the participants can come up with common strategies and action plan. They wish that they can establish more formal farmer linkages, forge alliances and cooperation at the international level on biodiversity conservation and management. Through these, they hope that common strategies could be developed to dismantle oppressive/destructive paradigm and create countervailing force.
Since not all or not too many Asian could be at the international meeting, they hope that mechanisms could be developed to feedback to regional members learnings from international workshop. Also, as funding for local farmer initiatives on biodiversity conservation is becoming very little, they hope that they could mobilise funds through the international meeting. Hence, they will expecting that some selected funding agencies could be invited at the international meeting.
And finally, they were expecting that at least two days of the whole international conference-workshop should be devoted to field visit.