Bridges Trade BioRes • Volume 4 • Number 19 • 21st October 2004
In Brief
EU AND ANGOLA MEET ON FISHERIES AGREEMENT
Negotiations on a new Angola-EU Fisheries Partnership Agreement (FPA) stalled in early October, as discussions regarding localisation of the fishing industry grew more heated. The previous fisheries agreement, which began in 2002 and concluded on 1 August 2004, provoked criticism from WWF. The environmental group argued that the absence of quantitative limits in the grants provided by agreement would further threaten resources and a food source in a nation grappling with a food crisis (see BRIDGES Trade BioRes, 10 October 2002). The October 2004 meeting, which marked a second attempt at negotiating a successor FPA, failed as a result of disagreements over the Angolan government’s efforts in recent months to establish a greater degree of local ownership over their fishery sector. On 23 September 2004, Angola and Cape Verde signed a partnership agreement to jointly explore tuna fishing possibilities on the west coast of Africa, using ten tuna fishing vessels purchased with external financing, particularly from African financial institutions. Angola hopes to continue to pursue joint ventures with domestic and regional bodies in an effort to develop their fishing sector so as to have a stake in all fishing ventures in Angolan waters. It is therefore expected that future FPA agreements would require EU operators to invest locally. This approach was supported in principle by the EU, which said it was in line with European Council conclusions on partnership agreements. However, they criticised the Angolan policy process, saying that in order to secure temporary investment Angola was rushing into fishing partnerships without a comprehensive management policy, security provisions for investors or capacity to monitor fleets. The EU expressed concern over the sustainability of Angolan fisheries, given what they view as excessive concessions that are often involved in such joint ventures and other issues analysed as part of the EU’s pre-negotiations sustainability analysis. The third round of negotiations on the FPA is expected to take place at the end of 2004.
ICTSD reporting; "Fisheries partnership between Cape Verde and Angola," AFROL NEWS, 23 September 2004.
BRAZILIAN PRESIDENT APPROVES GM SOY CROP
Brazilian President Luis Inacio Lula da Silva issued an executive order on 14 October allowing Brazilian farmers to legally plant genetically modified (GM) soy until January 2006. The government had hoped to avoid issuing what is the third provisional permit for GM plantings (after similar orders were given in 2002 and 2003), but the Biosafety Bill, which would allow the legal planting of GM crops, had not been approved by the legislature in time for farmers currently in the midst of planting their crop (see BRIDGES Trade BioRes, 23 September 2004). The Brazilian Senate recently passed the bill in an amended form after months of debate, but changes made to the bill in the Upper House means it will have to be voted on again in the Lower House.
Experts estimate about 30 percent of Brazil’s soy is grown with GM seeds. The figure is thought to be closer to 90 percent in Brazil’s southernmost state, where the seeds were first introduced in the 1990s after being smuggled in from Argentina. The executive order was widely seen as a victory for agriculture biotechnology giant Monsanto, which needed the order to collect royalties from Brazilian farmers who use smuggled versions of the company’s popular Roundup Ready seeds to cut production costs.
"Brazil’s president OKs genetically modified soy," AP, 18 October 2004; "Lula’s Executive Order clears way for Brazil 2004/05 GM soy," Agência Estado, 15 October 2004; " Order allows Brazilian farmers to produce genetically modified soy just as planting starts," AP, 15 October 2004.
UK STIMULATES PRODUCTION OF BIOMASS FUEL CROPS
The UK has established a task force to encourage the production of biomass, crops grown for use as environmentally friendly fuels. The government is also offering a range of grants to stimulate biomass supply and demand in an effort to help the UK meet its targets for using renewable energy and support the agriculture and forestry sectors.
Biomass takes several forms: forestry by-products, agricultural waste like straw and chicken litter, and fast-growing energy crops such as miscanthus, willow, poplar, sawdust, straw, and wood. Biomass is different from other forms of renewable energy in that it is controllable, unlike wind and wave power, and it can provide heat and electricity simultaneously. In addition, biomass would meet the government’s Renewables Obligation, which requires the UK to acquire 15 percent of its electricity from renewable sources by 2015. The overall EU target is to generate 12 percent of all energy from renewables by 2010. According to Food and Farming Minister Larry Whitty, "Biomass energy has the potential to be of huge benefit in terms of combating climate change, boosting farm diversification, and creating more rural jobs". The latter points will likely gain in relevance as agriculture negotiations at the WTO proceed, leading to tighter criteria on currently large farming subsidies.
Despite the benefits of biomass, biomass has not developed as quickly in the UK as it has in other parts of Europe, according to Sir Tom Blundell, chair of the Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution. Last May, in an effort to facilitate the development and use of biomass, the Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution published a report that claimed the government had ignored the potential for biomass, particularly as a means to combat climate change. The report said that biomass "is failing to develop under fractured and misdirected government policies". While the government concurred with many of the findings in the report, a lot of work has yet to be done before biomass can become an alternative energy source and substantially influence the UK’s targets for renewable energies.
"UK Boost For Biomass Fuel Crops," BBC, 15 October 2004; "UK ‘Lagging On Biomass Potential’," BBC, 11 May 2004; "Biomass — Small Scale," ENERGY SAVING TRUST, 2003.