... in Pacific Region
Need of a state on GMOs in Pacific...
The development of GMOs throughout the Pacific region is contrasted
According to current knowledge, four situations can be described :
1) French Overseas Territories (New Caledonia and French Polynesia)
The competence to regulate on economic and agricultural matters was transferred to the local authorities of New Caledonia and French Polynesia from the previous control of France. Therefore,
French and European regulations have not been extended to these territories. The Cartagena Protocol, ratified by France, does not apply in New Caledonia and French Polynesia either.
However, despite their ability to put forth such an initiative, neither territory passed any regulations regarding GMOs.
In terms of trade, many products are imported from Europe, Australia, New Zealand, Asia and the USA. For example, New Caledonia imports 99 % of its wheat from Australia, a country that plans to
export genetically modified wheat in 2015 (which is being tested outdoors).
Additionally, very few seeds are produced locally, most of them come from Australia , Asia and Europe. New Caledonia imports its papaya seeds from Hawaii.
In both French Polynesia and New Caledonia, like in the other islands of Melanesia, Micronesia and Polynesia, traditional agriculture has a strong cultural dimension: the roots (Yams, Taro) take
part in the rituals of trade and cultural exchanges between tribes.
The situation in Wallis and Futuna is yet to be studied in detail.
2) Australia and New Zealand
Australia and New Zealand have common regulations on GMOs regarding product marketing and labeling. Growth of GMOs is regulated. To date, there are no commercial harvesting of GMO products in New
Zealand but tests are taking place (including in forestry). GMOs are cultivated in Australia (mainly rapeseed and cotton) and many tests are conducted, some of them outdoors.
Australia and New Zealand represent very strong economic partners for many island nations in the Pacific Region. Several associations and foundations are conducting evaluations and campaigns
against the spread of GMOs in both countries.
3) Pacific Island States
Cook Islands, Kiribati, Micronesia, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu ... all these island states have participated in a project funded by the United
Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) for the development of National Biosafety Frameworks (NBFs), and ratified the Cartagena Protocol.
According to current knowledge, only Tonga has implemented biosafety regulations.
4) Hawaii
As a U.S. state, Hawaii is an open field for experiments.
There have been over 5000 experiments undertaken in the region. The University of Hawaii has developed several varieties of transgenic papaya (resistant to a specific virus), and filed a patent
on a genetically modified taro. GM papaya is grown for commercial purposes. It is currently being sold. Its fruits and seeds are exported as well.
Anti-GMO activists and organizations are very active in Hawaii.
The spread of genetically modified organisms has never been included in the General Secretariat of the Pacific Community program.
Oceania 21 meetings 2014
Agriculture and GMO...
STOP OGM Pacifique participated to Oceania 21 meetings, regional summit on sustainable development, and warned Pacific Island delegations about GMO issues and the urgent need of GMO regulations to avoid traditional agriculture contamination.
Here is an extract of the final declaration :
In relation to agriculture, water management and terrestrial biodiversity in a background of global change in the Pacific:
44. Considering land ownership issues – government vs land owners’ rights to water and the need for mutual agreements.
45. Considering the vulnerability of freshwater, agricultural and biodiversity systems (linked to demographic and economic pressures, climate variability and climate
change).
46. Considering that 12 PICTs have now signed up to PoetCom and the program has strong political support from most countries.
47. Institutional strengthening of POETCom, including resources to implement its Strategic Plan.
48. Considering the need for robust promotion of traditional farming techniques (permaculture, agroforestry, agriculture diversification, including crops and livestock)
and subsistence farming systems or family agriculture.
49. Considering the need to develop education for young people, farmers and women on sustainable agricultural systems and solidarity of communities across the Pacific.
50. Considering the need to transpose international environmental law into domestic law.
We recommend that PICTs (Pacific Island Countries and territories):
51. Develop and maintain participatory and inclusive water governance processes (develop negotiations with all stakeholders). Within this process governments should work with local
authorities/land owners and also to engage communities in these water management efforts.
52. Promote the development and financing of Pacific-wide water, agricultural and biodiversity data observatories accessible to all.
53. Develop, promote and protect traditional sustainable farming practices. This includes the development of local seed production capability and
adoption of regulations to manage risks to these vital food security systems (e.g. GMO contamination, biosecurity).
54. Establish a monitoring mechanism for GMOs in the Pacific region.
55. Promote the principles of participation, and the right to environmental information in PICTs on legal biodiversity protection systems.
56. Promote the principle of non-regression in the legal protection of biodiversity.
Australia : first country to commercialise GM wheat ?
Here find the map of the australian field trial sites :
http://www.ogtr.gov.au/internet/ogtr/publishing.nsf/Content/map
Video : Vandana Shiva in Hawaii
More video and ressources on Hawaii Seed
Monsanto in Hawaii
GMO in French Polynesia: a big blurring
An article in the daily Les Nouvelles de Tahiti to read online: http://www.lesnouvelles.pf
“Following the publication of the results from the French scientific study on the risks of GMO, questions on presence and monitoring of GMO food on our territory need to be asked. An issue
French Polynesia is not yet managing…”