3.7 Impacts of the use of seeds and biotechnology

Seed imports: By seeds are understood in this context both seeds and other biological materials used for the propagation of plants, e.g. cuttings, scions for grafting, bulbs, tubers, and tissue cultures. An agricultural project may involve the import of seeds for experiments, for model growing projects, or for propagation and proliferation. Seed importation is subject to the control of the authorities, and must not be undertaken without a written authorization. The objective is to prevent the unwitting importation of plant diseases and pests, and to control the import of genetic materials. Plant sanitary measures should be enforced with respect to transportation of seeds across national borders, and in special cases also in connection with transportation between ecological zones within a country. The import of seeds will normally be legalized for cases where a certificate of plant sanitation issued by the country of origin accompanies the seeds. The import of vegetative propagation material is normally illegal, and is only allowed in special cases subject to controlled cultivation in quarantine stations before the material is released. The use of healthy tissue cultures can be a safe propagation method, and it is normally legal to import such cultures. It is the duty of any project involving the import and proliferation of plants for agriculture, horticulture, or forestry, to familiarize itself with the law of the land and to make sure that all activities adhere to the rules and regulations therein. Attention should also be paid to food imported e.g. in connection with emergency aid operations. as this may be used as seed corn. Measures must therefore be taken in order to reduce the risk of spreading plant diseases. Approved imported seed corn may be treated with pesticides which are dangerous to human beings. In crisis situations, people may eat such seed corn and suffer poisoning.

The loss of genetic material: Biological diversity includes the variation between and within plant and animal species. Any reduction in this diversity is called genetic erosion. However, the term is used, above all, about the loss of the traditional range of varieties through the introduction of improved varieties in farming. In accordance with the "Convention on biological diversity" (UNCRD 1992) measures to prevent the loss of genetic material have become a national and international duty. Projects which may possibly affect the existing genetic variation in farming, or which pose a threat to wild species or natural ecosystems, are to be assessed against the regulations in this convention. Such evaluations are particularly important if the project necessitates the cutting down of forest or affects plant and animal life that is vulnerable, valuable, or worthy of preservation. Many developing countries have great genetic diversity, and their traditional farming is characterized by great variation. Development often leads to the commercialization of seed production and the substitution of diversity for a smaller number of market- directed varieties. If a project could result in such a development, directly or indirectly, or it is apparent that such a development is already taking place in the project area, two alternative approaches should be considered: It should be assessed whether it is possible to develop strategies which give the desired developmental effect without the loss of genetic material or whether measures should be implemented in order to render possible the continued cultivation of species which are in the process of becoming extinct.

Modern biotechnology includes new methods for cell and tissue cultures, and methods for the production of genetically modified organisms. Cell and tissue cultures are already of great importance to vegetative mass propagation of plants. The methods are applied to, among others, root crops (e.g. cassava and yam), bananas, and palms (oil palm and coconut palm). This may be positive in terms of the infection-free proliferation of high-yielding varieties, but negative in that it may lead to genetic erosion. There may also be indirect environmental impacts in that these methods represent a stimulation towards developing monocultures, e.g. big plantations replace natural forest (see booklet 3 "Forestry"). The ecological and health impacts from the introduction of genetically modified organism are very controversial issues, and are the subjects of current research. For the time being, we do not possess sufficient knowledge in this area: extreme caution should therefore be applied. Most developing countries have not developed their own laws and/or guidelines for the enforcement of regulations within this topic area. Foreign projects therefore have a great responsibility for keeping the project activities within a justifiable framework.