Report | Opening | Participants

Experts Group meeting on Biotechnology for Africa's Development ECA , Addis Ababa, Ethiopia 3-5 July 2002

Opening Speech

By Josué Dioné
Director, Sustainable Development Division (SDD)

Distinguished Experts,
Dear Colleagues,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Mr. Chairman,

It is indeed my pleasure to welcome you to the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) and to this first meeting of experts on Biotechnology issues and their implications for Africa. On behalf of the Executive Secretary of the Commission, Dr. K.Y. Amoako, I wish to express our sincere appreciation to you all for honouring our invitation despite your very busy schedules.

The theme of the meeting “Biotechnology for Africa’s Sustainable Development” is very appropriate at a time when the continent is in search of new ways and means to battle its long-standing development problems. The New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) recently adopted by African Heads of State is the most vivid example of the new development. NEPAD is a wake-up call, a pledge by African leaders to face up to the pressing duty to eradicate poverty and to place their countries on a path of sustainable growth and development, and to participate actively in the world economy and body politic. NEPAD is also a strong reminder that most of the past development strategies have failed to achieve their objectives, as Africa remains plagued with rampant poverty; hunger and famine; poor health; degradation of natural resources and loss of biodiversity, de-industrialization and profound energy crisis.

Africa’s economy is heavily based on agriculture, which accounts for about 35% of the continent’s GDP, 40% of its exports and 70% of its employment. The sector, however, is characterized by the lowest productivity in the world due to several factors including inappropriate policies, biotic factors -- such as drought, high temperatures, poor soil fertility, abundant marginal lands; -- and biotic stressors – such as insect pests, weeds, diseases; -- and high costs of inputs such as pesticides, herbicides, chemical fertilizers and irrigation.

Since independence, African agriculture has failed to keep pace with population growth. In most cases, the sector has under-performed the pre-independence period. In the few cases where high per capita production was observed, growth was mostly a result of area expansion with yield increases accounting for less than 2 percent. The average yield of major crops (maize, rice, sorghum) in the region stands at 1.2/ha, compared to 4.9 tons/ha for China and 6.6 tons/ha for the USA. In fact, Sub-Saharan Africa is the only major developing region where per capita food-grain output has declined over the last 30 years. As a result, Africa now imports 25 percent of its grain requirements. More than half of African countries need food aid.

No doubt, the direct translation of the continuous under-development of agriculture is at the heart of the long-standing disappointing growth of African economies with its negative implications for people’s livelihood. Rural people strive to only feed themselves while most urban residents spend more than 70% of their earnings on food, leaving only 30% for other basic needs such as health, education and shelter.

Mr. Chairman, Distinguished Experts

First, let’s talk food. Today, over 180 million people in Sub-Sahara Africa live below the poverty line, and the number is expected to exceed 300 million by 2020. More than 200 million people of this region suffer from chronic under-nutrition. Sub-Saharan Africans consume 2100 kilocalories per person per day, that is, about 9% less than the recommended minimum daily nutritional requirement of 2300 kilocalories, 40 to 41% less than West Europeans and North Americans. Twelve million Africans are presently threatened with starvation in six countries.

Acute malnutrition is high as evidenced by the rates, among children under five, of underweight (27%), stunting (39%) and wasting (8%). The prevalence rate of vitamin A deficiency stands at nearly 50% and that of iron deficiency ranges from 20 to 70%. About a third of African population is at risk of suffering from iodine deficiency syndrome.

Second, let’s look at health. The continent also leads the world statistics of major health problems as 80% of the infectious diseases are found in sub-Saharan Africa. Each year, malaria alone reduces the GDP of Sub-Saharan Africa by 1%, kills two million people and accounts for about 10 and 25% of direct and indirect child mortality, respectively. The HIV/AIDS pandemic has worsened the situation. Tuberculosis, a disease of the poor, has re-emerged and is causing havoc throughout the region along with infectious diarrhoea, pneumonia and whooping cough, poliomyelitis, measles, river blindness, sleeping sickness.

Third, let’s consider natural resources. Africa’s natural resources and exquisite biological diversity is under fast degradation, which highly threatens its economic and physical survival. Escalating soil erosion, declining soil fertility, salinization, soil compaction, soil pollution by agro-chemicals and desertification are some of the factors underlying this degradation.

Some five hundred million hectares of land in Africa have been affected by soil degradation since 1950. An average of 5.5 million hectares of land resources are lost every year, and at least 65% of the reported degraded areas are agricultural land. Increasing deforestation is caused by expansion of cultivated area, commercial harvesting, overgrazing and increasing firewood utilization on which at least 90% of Africans depend on their energy needs. Africa has lost 66 million hectares of forest due to deforestation between 1980 and 1995, with 65% of this deforestation occurring in the 1990s.

To make matters worse, Africa remains essentially a producer of primary goods for the rest of the World. The transformation of the continent’s natural resources – most of which are easily exposed to international piracy – and of agricultural raw material into added value products is limited. To date, no single country in Sub-Saharan Africa has achieved the 25% manufacturing share in gross domestic product (GDP) projected by the UN. On the contrary, de-industrialization has taken a toll in this region where manufacturing share in GDP has fallen from 10.1 per cent in 1970 to 9.8 percent in 1995. This alarming situation may justify why the industrial processing of the region’s enormous biomass into bio-energy, a valuable economic alternative to costly fossil fuel, has not received the deserved attention.

Mr. Chairman, Ladies and Gentlemen,

Despite the catalogue of woes, there is still some silver linen in the horizon. Africa has great challenges, but also great opportunities, which must be exploited to turn the fortunes around. Despite the deterioration in the natural resources, Africa still have substantial undeveloped stock of resources including water bodies, forests, minerals, arable land and other rare biodiversity. Most of the uses of this wealth of natural resources are still unknown. Hence, there is still time and opportunity to exploit them sensibly for the benefit of African people. And it is here that appropriate policies and Science and Technology in general, and biotechnology in particular, can be of immense help.

There are also positive developments in economic policy reforms and towards good governance in Africa. These, we all know, are sine qua none for any progress towards sustainable development in the Region. Several countries are at different stages of democratization, while some have established democratic systems and institutions. Participation at various levels is improving. Free press, women participation and empowerment, civil society and multi-stakeholder involvement in policymaking are being actively promoted in most countries. Notwithstanding the fact that these developments are taking place at various levels, stages and speeds in the different countries, there is an increasing conviction that once started, there will be a momentum in their progress.

Mr. Chairman, Ladies and Gentlemen,

These challenges and opportunities must be recognized and nurtured. Obviously, many of the problems highlighted above are difficult to solve. Yet, they are not impossible to solve if all of us, especially you the experts, get organized and defend the cause. Proper remedies for others are in your hands. However, success will come only if we opt boldly to face up to the challenges and sieze the great opportunities that lay before us.

Modern biotechnology, a multi-disciplinary tool, is increasingly recognized as a potentially powerful driver for Africa’s economic development. It provides us with opportunities and challenges that should not be neglected or overlooked if we want to help Africa reverse the alarming situation depicted earlier.

Mr. Chairman, Distinguished Experts,

We know that biotechnology should not be conceived as a panacea. This is why you are kindly invited to provide, during the three days of this meeting, answers to the following questions:

1. How can modern biotechnology best contribute to poverty reduction in Africa?
2. How can the ECA best help African countries reap the benefits of biotechnology for their sustainable development?

Mr. Chairman, Ladies and Gentlemen,

In line with the above questions, you are kindly requested to:

· provide a good understanding of the potential role, benefits and risks associated with the use of modern biotechnology for economic development;
· review the progress made by African countries in addressing the issues related to realization of the promises of biotechnology;
· assist in the formulation and provide guidance for the implementation of an ECA Programme on Biotechnology for the Sustainable Development of Africa; and
· Formulate recommendations aimed at increasing the contribution of modern biotechnology to the sustainable development of the region.

I have no doubt that, given your vast knowledge and experience, the task before you, will be fully accomplished. Let me simply conclude by wishing you all fruitful deliberations and a pleasant stay in Addis Ababa for those who come from outside Ethiopia.

I now declare the First ECA Expert Meeting on Biotechnology for Africa’s sustainable development opened.

Thank you.