Evaluation of the initiative on GMO’s

1. Evaluation of the initiative on GMO’s Evaluation group: Sergio Jorge Pastrana, Cuban Academy Eduardo Krieger, Brazilian Academy. Former IAP Co-Chair John Boright, US NAS Michael Clegg, US NAS

2. Evaluation of initiative on GMO’s • We have to thank the Union of German Academies for all they have done so far on this subject. • However, the evaluation group recognizes there have been several misunderstandings between Co-chairs and EC on the one side, and the Union of German Academies on the other, regarding what IAP should do on this subject. This is recognized in the report of the Union of German Academies that is in your booklet.

3. Evaluation of initiative on GMO’s • The Union of German Academies has worked on this subject through a Commission on Green Biotechnology of its own, rather than through an international group of representatives of Academies, as all other IAP program and initiatives have worked in the past. • Though the Co-chairs have discussed this with the Union of German Academies, as head Academy of this group, they have not been able to organize an international group on GMO’s, based on several Academies, like all other initiatives and programs of IAP.

4. Evaluation of initiative on GMO’s • Initiatives at IAP are created with the aim of working during one cycle of mandate of IAP towards issuing a statement. • Statements should be concise and to the point, avoiding direct advocacy, and trying to state as objectively as possible the state of the art knowledge on the subject by studying the information already available on the subject and without going into new research to do it.

5. Evaluation of initiative on GMO’s • The first result of the work of the Union of German Academies was to establish a database of more than 400 entries of updated relevant literature on GMO’s that was circulated to the evaluation group and that can be found in the website of the Union of German Academies. • The evaluation group acknowledges that this is a useful resource, but its consideration as a product of IAP work should be decided by the EC, since the decision for the inclusion of materials in the database was only taken by one Academy.

6. Evaluation of initiative on GMO’s • The Union of German Academies produced a report entitled “Are there hazards for the consumer when eating food from genetically modified plants?” that does not fit the requirements of an IAP statement. It was sent to 30 academies, received comments from seven of them, but was not consulted with IAP EC, and was released early to the press without approval of IAP EC. • After discussion by Co-chairs with the Union of German Academies, this document has been considered so far as a report of the Union of German Academies.

7. Evaluation of initiative on GMO’s • The Union of German Academies Commission on Green Biotechnology is producing another document on “Genetically Modified Crops in Developing Countries” and also the draft for a Statement on GMO’s • The Union of German Academies is organizing a meeting with representatives from China, India, South Africa, Kenya, Brazil and the US next May to consider both reports and the draft statement.

8. Evaluation of initiative on GMO’s • The Union of German Academies has proposed that the result of the work so far is considered by IAP for the publication of a statement, the release of the two reports, and the organization of a Symposium at the next GA on GMO’s, considering all of this the result of the IAP initiative on GMO’s. • The evaluation group considers it is up to the EC to analyze and decide on all of that at this meeting in Brazil while considering preparations towards the next GA.

9. Evaluation of initiative on GMO’s • The evaluation group suggests to EC that: • IAP statements must comply with the normal way to produce such a document, and with recent experiences of other such statements, as the one on Biosecurity, and the one on the Teaching of Evolution, the evaluation group thinks there is not enough time to produce an IAP statement on GMO’s before the next GA. • The publication of both reports of the Union of German Academies on this subject as the result of the work of the IAP initiative on GMO’s is up to the EC, but it is not recommended by the evaluation group. • The celebration of a symposium at the next GA on GMO’s is up to the decision on the Program of that event and on the opinion of the EC towards future work of IAP on this subject.