Presentation given by Pierre du Plassis, SADC Secretariat, at the Mutual Implementation of the Plant Treaty and the Nagoya Protocol Workshop, Addis Ababa, November 16th.

1. ABS in Africa and theABS in Africa and the
“Quadruple Win” Goal“Quadruple Win” Goal
Workshop onWorkshop on
Embedding mutually supportive implementation of theEmbedding mutually supportive implementation of the
Plant Treaty and the Nagoya Protocol in the context ofPlant Treaty and the Nagoya Protocol in the context of
broader national policy goalsbroader national policy goals
Pierre du PlessisPierre du Plessis
ILRI, Addis Ababa, November 16-20, 2015ILRI, Addis Ababa, November 16-20, 2015

2. Nightmare 2050 …Nightmare 2050 …
 More than 9 billion people to feed, atMore than 9 billion people to feed, at
higher levels of lifestyle aspirationhigher levels of lifestyle aspiration
 Significant increases in climate variability:Significant increases in climate variability:
– Less reliable rainy seasons: longer dryLess reliable rainy seasons: longer dry
periods, heavier storms, unseasonable frostperiods, heavier storms, unseasonable frost
– Shifting climate zones impact croppingShifting climate zones impact cropping
optionsoptions
 More and worse natural disasters erodeMore and worse natural disasters erode
personal and national capitalpersonal and national capital
 Climate refugees destabilise neighbouringClimate refugees destabilise neighbouring
countries, war over natural resourcescountries, war over natural resources

3. …… or Vision 2063?or Vision 2063?
 "A global strategy to optimize use of"A global strategy to optimize use of
Africa's resources for the benefits of allAfrica's resources for the benefits of all
Africans“ – adopted by AU Assembly 2013Africans“ – adopted by AU Assembly 2013
– 1. A prosperous Africa based on inclusive1. A prosperous Africa based on inclusive
growth and sustainable developmentgrowth and sustainable development
– 2. An integrated continent, politically united2. An integrated continent, politically united
based on the ideals of Pan Africanism and thebased on the ideals of Pan Africanism and the
vision of Africa’s Renaissancevision of Africa’s Renaissance
– 3. An Africa of good governance, democracy,3. An Africa of good governance, democracy,
respect for human rights, justice and the rulerespect for human rights, justice and the rule
of lawof law

4. – 4. A peaceful and secure Africa4. A peaceful and secure Africa
– 5. An Africa with a strong cultural identity,5. An Africa with a strong cultural identity,
common heritage, values and ethicscommon heritage, values and ethics
– 6. An Africa, whose development is people-6. An Africa, whose development is people-
driven, relying on the potential of Africandriven, relying on the potential of African
people, especially its women and youth, andpeople, especially its women and youth, and
caring for childrencaring for children
– 7. Africa as a strong, united, resilient and7. Africa as a strong, united, resilient and
influential global player and partnerinfluential global player and partner

5.  Agriculture will be modern and productive,Agriculture will be modern and productive,
using science, technology, innovation andusing science, technology, innovation and
indigenous knowledgeindigenous knowledge
 Strong focus on technology transfer andStrong focus on technology transfer and
human capacity development, aimed at ahuman capacity development, aimed at a
knowledge economy based on science,knowledge economy based on science,
technology, innovation, educationtechnology, innovation, education
 Africa’s unique natural endowments, itsAfrica’s unique natural endowments, its
environment and ecosystems, including itsenvironment and ecosystems, including its
wildlife and wild lands are healthy, valuedwildlife and wild lands are healthy, valued
and protected, with climate resilientand protected, with climate resilient
economies and communitieseconomies and communities

6. ABS and the “Quadruple Win”ABS and the “Quadruple Win”
 Conservation and sustainable use of BDConservation and sustainable use of BD
(key role of on-farm selection)(key role of on-farm selection)
 Benefit sharing, especially science,Benefit sharing, especially science,
technology, knowledge and educationtechnology, knowledge and education
 Contribution to climate change adaptationContribution to climate change adaptation
– genetic and farming systems– genetic and farming systems
 Poverty alleviation through economicPoverty alleviation through economic
growth and development, AND throughgrowth and development, AND through
increased access to resources, increasedincreased access to resources, increased
social and natural capitalsocial and natural capital

7. No time to waste…No time to waste…
 Scientific/technical capacity to manipulateScientific/technical capacity to manipulate
genetics is doubling every six monthsgenetics is doubling every six months
(“Moore’s Law on steroids”) – e.g. DivSeek(“Moore’s Law on steroids”) – e.g. DivSeek
 A very rapid “disruptive” move away fromA very rapid “disruptive” move away from
“genetic resources” to pure “genetic“genetic resources” to pure “genetic
information” (analogous to otherinformation” (analogous to other
manifestations of “big data”)manifestations of “big data”)
 In the Information Age it is futile trying toIn the Information Age it is futile trying to
control information flows – so how shouldcontrol information flows – so how should
Africa respond?Africa respond?

8. Two fundamental truthsTwo fundamental truths
 International environmental agreementsInternational environmental agreements
MUST BE IMPLEMENTED NATIONALLYMUST BE IMPLEMENTED NATIONALLY
 National development policies related toNational development policies related to
biodiversity (agricultural and “wild”) MUSTbiodiversity (agricultural and “wild”) MUST
BE IMPLEMENTED AT THE LOCALBE IMPLEMENTED AT THE LOCAL
LEVELLEVEL

9. URGENT need to coordinateURGENT need to coordinate
 ABS must be integrated into nationalABS must be integrated into national
economic development planningeconomic development planning
 Policies will ONLY work if translated intoPolicies will ONLY work if translated into
legal rights (over land, resources,legal rights (over land, resources,
traditional knowledge) supported bytraditional knowledge) supported by
institutional and technical capacity at theinstitutional and technical capacity at the
level of local communitieslevel of local communities
 Purpose of innovative approach at thisPurpose of innovative approach at this
workshop: different national sectors stopworkshop: different national sectors stop
working in silos – plan and act together,working in silos – plan and act together,
with quadruple local impact as goalwith quadruple local impact as goal

10. Picture worth a thousand wordsPicture worth a thousand words