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Building Trust in Stakeholder Communication for Agbiotech Projects: Lessons from sub-Saharan Africa Obidimma Ezezika a

Building Trust in Stakeholder Communication for Agbiotech Projects: Lessons from sub-Saharan Africa Obidimma Ezezika and Justin Mabeya Sandra Rotman Centre, University Health Network and University of Toronto

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Building Trust in Stakeholder Communication for Agbiotech Projects: Lessons from sub-Saharan Africa Obidimma Ezezika a

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  1. Building Trust in Stakeholder Communication for Agbiotech Projects: Lessons from sub-Saharan Africa Obidimma Ezezika and Justin Mabeya Sandra Rotman Centre, University Health Network and University of Toronto Paper presented at the 16th ICABR Conference – 128th EAAE Seminar, Ravello, Italy, June 24-27, 2012

  2. Overview

  3. Introduction Why trust and communication? Distrust between the public and the private sector partners. The public sector views the intentions of the private sector with suspicion The private sector views the public sector as slow, inefficient and resistant to change This has been attributed to limited communication

  4. Introduction • Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) eggplants under field trials uprooted by local authorities of Davao City in Philippines Before After

  5. Methodology The purpose Conducted 8 case studies across Africa to understand the role of trust in the agbiotech partnership Data collection and analysis Data collection (2009-2011) by stakeholder interviews, project documents and literature and direct observations Analysis was based on recurring emergent themes from the interviews, documents and observations

  6. Methodology • Here we present preliminary findings from 5 case studies from East and West Africa • On “Building trust in stakeholder communication for agbiotech projects” Insect Resistant Maize for Africa, Kenya Bt Cotton, Burkina Faso Virus Resistant Cassava for Africa, Uganda Bt Cowpea, Nigeria, Ghana Bt Cotton, East Africa

  7. Results and discussions

  8. Challenges to stakeholder communication

  9. Challenges to stakeholder communication • Disagreement around the GM technology • Between the proponents and opponents of the GM technology , e.g. in IRMA

  10. Challenges to stakeholder communication • Limited understanding and or information • “Even….the scientists and the researchers, are having a hard time in understanding and trusting that this [GM crops] will be good”– An interviewee of Bt cotton EA • Poor funding for communication and outreach, which limits the amount and quality of information available to the public • Low priority - • “the communication and outreach component is somehow weak....and a lot more emphasis has been laid on the product development” – An interviewee of VIRCA

  11. Challenges to stakeholder communication • Media influece • “people therefore perceive them [private sector and the multinationals] the way...the media has portrayed them” – A scientist from IRMA Kenyan under fire for allowing import of GMOs Published on 03/07/2011 By David Musyoka and Peter Mutai

  12. Practices for effective agbiotech communication • Provide clear and correct information in the public domain • “get enough correct information out there [in the public]” – IRMA interviewee • In-build communication early in project life • communication and other components should be brought “on board at ago [concurrently] and move consistently” – VIRCA interviewee • Communicate the benefits of the technology to the farmers • “tell them [farmers] the benefits you are getting from this technology and the shortcomings, it will work” – Bt cotton EA

  13. Practices for effective agbiotech communication • Present harmonized information to the farmers • For example: “the National Biotechnology Awareness Creation Strategy (BioAware Kenya) • Use multiple channels to communicate with stakeholders • Provide training for stakeholders • Journalists and extension officers and scientists on how to communicate – Bt cotton Burkina Faso and IRMA

  14. Practices for effective agbiotech communication • Demonstrate transparency • “Let them know what problems there are, the risks there are and let them know what risk mitigation strategies are there” – A scientist from IRMA

  15. Conclusions Challenges to stakeholder communication were observed, as practices to strengthen stakeholder trust were overlooked This contributes to distrust between the public and the agbiotech partnership Communication practices should be considered early in project development to ensure trust is enhanced among stakeholders and partnership is sustained

  16. Thank you! Additional funding partners listed at www.mrcglobal.org

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