Side Event

Assessment of Socio-Economic Considerations and Biosafety Decision Making: Experiences, Issues, Gaps, and Limitations for Implementation in Developing Countries

Organizer
International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI)

Date and Time
12 October 2010 13:15 - 14:45

Meeting
Fifth meeting of the Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting of the Parties to the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety (BS COP MOP 5)

Countries that opt to take into account socio-economic considerations in their biosafety assessments face a big challenge in determining the scope, timing and type of analysis to undertake, amongst other issues. To help guide the debate in developing countries, the proposed side event will describe the current status of socio-economic considerations assessment in selected countries. Other presentations in the side event will synthesize the experience with socio-economic assessments at the producer, consumer, trade and sector levels in developing economies. Emphasis will be given to discussing knowledge gaps such as gender differentiated issues, public health impacts and evaluation of the value of biodiversity to indigenous communities and society. The side event will emphasize the potential implementation hurdles that governments could face when including socio-economic considerations in biosafety assessments and decision making.