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Building Trust in Stakeholder Communication for Agbiotech Projects:
Lessons from sub-Saharan Africa
Obidimma Ezezika and Justin MabeyaSandra 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
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Overview
Introduction
Methodology
Results and discussion
Conclusions
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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
Introduction
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Introduction
Before After
• Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) eggplants under field trials uprooted by local authorities of Davao City in Philippines
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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
Methodology
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Bt Cotton, Burkina Faso
Bt Cowpea, Nigeria, Ghana
Virus Resistant Cassava for Africa,Uganda
Insect Resistant Maize for Africa, Kenya
Bt Cotton, East Africa
Methodology Here we present preliminary findings from 5 case
studies from East and West Africa• On “Building trust in stakeholder communication for
agbiotech projects”
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Results and discussions
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Challenges
Disagreement around the GM
technology
Limited understanding
Poor fundingLow priority
Media influece
Challenges to stakeholder communication
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Challenges to stakeholder communication
1. Disagreement around the GM technologyo Between the proponents and opponents of the
GM technology , e.g. in IRMA
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2. Limited understanding and or informationo “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
3. Poor funding for communication and outreach, which limits the amount and quality of information available to the public
4. Low priority -o “the communication and outreach
component is somehow weak....and a lot more emphasis has been laid on the product development” – An interviewee of VIRCA
Challenges to stakeholder communication
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5. Media influeceo “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 GMOsPublished on 03/07/2011 By David Musyoka and Peter Mutai
Challenges to stakeholder communication
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Practices for effective agbiotech communication 1. Provide clear and correct information in the
public domaino “get enough correct information out there [in the
public]” – IRMA interviewee
2. In-build communication early in project life o communication and other components should
be brought “on board at ago [concurrently] and move consistently” – VIRCA interviewee
3. Communicate the benefits of the technology to the farmers o “tell them [farmers] the benefits you are getting
from this technology and the shortcomings, it will work” – Bt cotton EA
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4. Present harmonized information to the farmerso For example: “the National
Biotechnology Awareness Creation Strategy (BioAware Kenya)
5. Use multiple channels to communicate with stakeholders
Practices for effective agbiotech communication
6. Provide training for stakeholderso Journalists and extension officers and scientists on how to
communicate – Bt cotton Burkina Faso and IRMA
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Practices for effective agbiotech communication
7. Demonstrate transparencyo “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
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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
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Thank you!
Additional funding partners listed at www.mrcglobal.org