Date: 30/01/2003
Source: Ministry of Arts, Culture, Science and Technology
Title: Ngubane: EU Commission conference
INTERVENTION BY THE MINISTER OF ARTS, CULTURE, SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, DR BS NGUBANE, AT THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION CONFERENCE: "TOWARDS SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE FOR DEVELOPING COUNTRIES: OPTIONS FROM LIFE SCIENCES AND BIOTECHNOLOGIES", Charlemagne Building, Brussels, Belgium, 30-31 January 2003
Mr Chairperson,
Dear colleagues and friends
Firstly, I wish to take this opportunity to thank the Research Directorate of the European Commission for inviting me to participate in this important conference and to express my views on this very relevant issue for the developing world.
Dear colleagues, the challenges identified under the topic that we are discussing here today are complex and when abstracted from the remit of science, very emotive. Indeed, the perception of modern science often provokes deep suspicions amongst wide sections of the intelligentsia even in the developed world. And with all the talk of human clones some would argue: who can blame them? Of course, it is not that simple, and as protagonists of the revolutionary potential of life sciences for the developing world, it is incumbent on us to put into perspective their critical role and humanitarian significance.
One of the greatest accomplishments of the 20th century in my view has been the prolongation of the human average lifespan. This has been due primarily to the outstanding advances made in health sciences and nutrition. Some of the most significant achievements in this regard include:
- The discovery of insulin, penicillin and interferon;
- The discovery of X-ray and the invention of the electrocardiograph;
- The discovery of the ABO blood type classification system and the application of organ transplant techniques; and
- The birth of genetic recombination technology and other genetic engineering technologies, to name but a few.
However, the main beneficiaries of these extraordinary discoveries and developments have essentially been the nations of the developed world. Indeed their impact on the lives of most people living in the developing world has been marginal, and contrary to the trends in the developed world, the burden of hunger and disease amongst the poor nations continue to expand. The appalling condition of poverty and hunger in the developing world is reflected in the few random statistics below:
- 790 million in developing countries suffer from malnutrition and hunger;
- 1.3 billion in the developing world live on less than US$ 2 per day;
- 203 million in the sub-region of South Asia lack access to safe water
- Over 200 million children in the developing world live or work on the streets;
- 70% of people in the developing world below the poverty line are rural women;
- 70% of the world's poor live in rural areas.
Advances in the life sciences offer opportunities for revolutionising the conditions of life in the developing countries through improvements in the quality and quantity of healthcare; through reducing the burden of food and water insecurity and through the protection of the environment. The production of vaccines for pandemics such as HIV/AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis and the improvement of crop yields through the use of biotechnology could have a critical impact on the economy of developing countries. Indeed through increasing food and health security, opportunities to generate sustainable livelihoods and empower rural poor communities and improve basic services are significantly enhanced.
It is important, however, to emphasise that the life sciences, and in particular biotechnology applications, necessitate the strict implementation of regulatory regimes on food and environmental safety and the observance of international conventions and agreements.
Another important consideration in the utilisation of life sciences for sustainable development in the developing world is capacity building. Developing countries face enormous challenges in setting up the agendas of international co-operation in deriving benefits from the new knowledge-based economy and markets. The lack of professionals, advanced equipment and R&D infrastructure, the absence of protection concerning patents and intellectual property rights and appropriate financial instruments have contributed to the widening gap between developed and developing countries. Hence, there is a distinct need for education and capacity-building in the use of life sciences and biotechnology for economic sustainability in the developing world. This would go a long way in eradicating doubts and fears of the use of biotechnology in different fields. Indeed the positive impact of capacity building in biotechnology is clearly evident from the work already being carried out by the Consultative Group of International Agricultural Research Centres (CGIAR), Unesco's MIRCEN and the Global Forum on Agricultural Research.
In the advanced world the support to life sciences and new forms of knowledge generation has served as a sort of precursor in fostering a culture and desire for development. And achievements in this domain mainly occurred through the building of research capacities and infrastructure that often demanded decades of commitment and investment. Similar trends are being observed in the newly industrialized developing countries, but the overwhelming majority of developing countries do not have the capacity or resources to embark on long-term programmes to support sustainable development. This will be possible only through dedicated partnerships with the developed world supported by proactive interventions of targeted development assistance, technology transfer and the protection and diffusion of indigenous technologies.
In the 21st century it is our hope that the life sciences would continue to play a pivotal role in solving the challenges of national sustainability and world peace, and that a concerted emphasis will be placed on the problems of the developing world. In this respect this conference is yet another eloquent testimony of the European Commission's commitment to keep the development challenges of poor nations on the international agenda, and yet another important milestone of the emergent international dialogue on the imperatives of sustainable development for global peace and social justice. This was the essential leitmotif of the Millennium Summit, a commitment that was forcefully restated by the international community at the recent World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg.
I wish to thank once again and wish you success in your deliberations!
Issued by the Ministry of Arts, Culture, Science and Technology, 30 January 2003
Source: Ministry of Arts, Culture, Science and Technology
Title: Ngubane: EU Commission conference
INTERVENTION BY THE MINISTER OF ARTS, CULTURE, SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, DR BS NGUBANE, AT THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION CONFERENCE: "TOWARDS SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE FOR DEVELOPING COUNTRIES: OPTIONS FROM LIFE SCIENCES AND BIOTECHNOLOGIES", Charlemagne Building, Brussels, Belgium, 30-31 January 2003
Mr Chairperson,
Dear colleagues and friends
Firstly, I wish to take this opportunity to thank the Research Directorate of the European Commission for inviting me to participate in this important conference and to express my views on this very relevant issue for the developing world.
Dear colleagues, the challenges identified under the topic that we are discussing here today are complex and when abstracted from the remit of science, very emotive. Indeed, the perception of modern science often provokes deep suspicions amongst wide sections of the intelligentsia even in the developed world. And with all the talk of human clones some would argue: who can blame them? Of course, it is not that simple, and as protagonists of the revolutionary potential of life sciences for the developing world, it is incumbent on us to put into perspective their critical role and humanitarian significance.
One of the greatest accomplishments of the 20th century in my view has been the prolongation of the human average lifespan. This has been due primarily to the outstanding advances made in health sciences and nutrition. Some of the most significant achievements in this regard include:
- The discovery of insulin, penicillin and interferon;
- The discovery of X-ray and the invention of the electrocardiograph;
- The discovery of the ABO blood type classification system and the application of organ transplant techniques; and
- The birth of genetic recombination technology and other genetic engineering technologies, to name but a few.
However, the main beneficiaries of these extraordinary discoveries and developments have essentially been the nations of the developed world. Indeed their impact on the lives of most people living in the developing world has been marginal, and contrary to the trends in the developed world, the burden of hunger and disease amongst the poor nations continue to expand. The appalling condition of poverty and hunger in the developing world is reflected in the few random statistics below:
- 790 million in developing countries suffer from malnutrition and hunger;
- 1.3 billion in the developing world live on less than US$ 2 per day;
- 203 million in the sub-region of South Asia lack access to safe water
- Over 200 million children in the developing world live or work on the streets;
- 70% of people in the developing world below the poverty line are rural women;
- 70% of the world's poor live in rural areas.
Advances in the life sciences offer opportunities for revolutionising the conditions of life in the developing countries through improvements in the quality and quantity of healthcare; through reducing the burden of food and water insecurity and through the protection of the environment. The production of vaccines for pandemics such as HIV/AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis and the improvement of crop yields through the use of biotechnology could have a critical impact on the economy of developing countries. Indeed through increasing food and health security, opportunities to generate sustainable livelihoods and empower rural poor communities and improve basic services are significantly enhanced.
It is important, however, to emphasise that the life sciences, and in particular biotechnology applications, necessitate the strict implementation of regulatory regimes on food and environmental safety and the observance of international conventions and agreements.
Another important consideration in the utilisation of life sciences for sustainable development in the developing world is capacity building. Developing countries face enormous challenges in setting up the agendas of international co-operation in deriving benefits from the new knowledge-based economy and markets. The lack of professionals, advanced equipment and R&D infrastructure, the absence of protection concerning patents and intellectual property rights and appropriate financial instruments have contributed to the widening gap between developed and developing countries. Hence, there is a distinct need for education and capacity-building in the use of life sciences and biotechnology for economic sustainability in the developing world. This would go a long way in eradicating doubts and fears of the use of biotechnology in different fields. Indeed the positive impact of capacity building in biotechnology is clearly evident from the work already being carried out by the Consultative Group of International Agricultural Research Centres (CGIAR), Unesco's MIRCEN and the Global Forum on Agricultural Research.
In the advanced world the support to life sciences and new forms of knowledge generation has served as a sort of precursor in fostering a culture and desire for development. And achievements in this domain mainly occurred through the building of research capacities and infrastructure that often demanded decades of commitment and investment. Similar trends are being observed in the newly industrialized developing countries, but the overwhelming majority of developing countries do not have the capacity or resources to embark on long-term programmes to support sustainable development. This will be possible only through dedicated partnerships with the developed world supported by proactive interventions of targeted development assistance, technology transfer and the protection and diffusion of indigenous technologies.
In the 21st century it is our hope that the life sciences would continue to play a pivotal role in solving the challenges of national sustainability and world peace, and that a concerted emphasis will be placed on the problems of the developing world. In this respect this conference is yet another eloquent testimony of the European Commission's commitment to keep the development challenges of poor nations on the international agenda, and yet another important milestone of the emergent international dialogue on the imperatives of sustainable development for global peace and social justice. This was the essential leitmotif of the Millennium Summit, a commitment that was forcefully restated by the international community at the recent World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg.
I wish to thank once again and wish you success in your deliberations!
Issued by the Ministry of Arts, Culture, Science and Technology, 30 January 2003
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