Agenda 21 Chapter 16

ENVIRONMENTALLY SOUND MANAGEMENT OF BIOTECHNOLOGY

16.1. Biotechnology is the integration of the new techniques emerging from modern biotechnology with

the well-established approaches of traditional biotechnology. Biotechnology, an emerging

knowledge-intensive field, is a set of enabling techniques for bringing about specific man-made

changes in deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), or genetic material, in plants, animals and microbial

systems, leading to useful products and technologies. By itself, biotechnology cannot resolve all the

fundamental problems of environment and development, so expectations need to be tempered by

realism. Nevertheless, it promises to make a significant contribution in enabling the development of,

for example, better health care, enhanced food security through sustainable agricultural practices,

improved supplies of potable water, more efficient industrial development processes for transforming

raw materials, support for sustainable methods of afforestation and reforestation, and detoxification

of hazardous wastes. Biotechnology also offers new opportunities for global partnerships, especially

between the countries rich in biological resources (which include genetic resources) but lacking the

expertise and investments needed to apply such resources through biotechnology and the countries

that have developed the technological expertise to transform biological resources so that they serve

the needs of sustainable development. 1/ Biotechnology can assist in the conservation of those

resources through, for example, ex situ techniques. The programme areas set out below seek to foster

internationally agreed principles to be applied to ensure the environmentally sound management of

biotechnology, to engender public trust and confidence, to promote the development of sustainable

applications of biotechnology and to establish appropriate enabling mechanisms, especially within

developing countries, through the following activities:

a. Increasing the availability of food, feed and renewable raw materials;

b. Improving human health;

c. Enhancing protection of the environment;

d. Enhancing safety and developing international mechanisms for cooperation;

e. Establishing enabling mechanisms for the development and the environmentally sound

application of biotechnology.

Perang Pangan Organik Alamiah Melawan Pangan Hasil Rekayasa Genetika

Sebenarnya sudah dari tahun 1998, Uni Eropa menerapkan labeling atas produk-produk hasil dari benih rekayasa genetik. Namun sejak bulan November 2012, setelah penelitian ilmuwan Perancis atas benih jagung hasil rekayasa genetik (GMO) yang potensial menyebabkan kanker, berbagai negara di Asia menghentikan impor benih-benih hasil rekayasa genetika dari Amerika Serikat, khususnya dari perusahaan Monsanto. Rusia juga menyetop impornya. Jepang, Australia, New Zealand, China, Saudi Arabia, Thailand, India, Chile dan Africa Selatan mulanya juga hanya menerapkan GMO-labeling atas produk-produk hasil benih rekayasa genetik, yang menyebabkan harga jual di pasar menjadi lebih tinggi, tetapi menyadarkan masyarakat bahwa jika mereka memilih produk itu, mereka sadar bahwa telah memilih produk yang dapat menyebabkan kanker. Peru 100% melarang perdagangan produk GMO di negerinya.Sekarang total 49 negara di seluruh dunia melawan produk GMO/GE.