Impressions of the kick off meeting on March 23rd 2006
The morning programme, lead by Marcel Schuttelaar, began with an explanation
on how this programme has come about.
Director-general environment of the
ministry of VROM Hans van der Vlist explained about the direct scientific and
societal aims of the programme. It wil yield knowledge and insight resulting in
keeping up today's high standards in environmental risk assessment for future
generations of genetically modified plants. He stressed VROM's commitment
to 'using opportunities responsibly'. More ecological knowledge is needed
by authorities to enable companies worldwide to use the vast potential of
opportunities green biotechnology has to offer. Knowledge that resolves
questions on:
- what ecological questions need answering regarding introduction of gmo products, and in what way,
- what relevant answers to ecological questions already are available,
- which rules can be simplified responsibly, due to extra knowledge. Hans van der Vlist mentioned as an example the possibility that, in certain case, a notification in stead of an application procedure, might suffice.
Professor Rudy Rabbinge (chairman of the board of the Council for the Earth- and Life Sciences (ALW) of the Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research (NWO)) explained about the three research themes within the programme. He used the occasion to again eliminate the missunderstanding among the public of NWO being an organisation preoccupied with pure and fundamental research only. In reality, thematic programmes, based on societal questions, make up about one third of the research financed through ALW. The large pool of national and international experts that NWO can rely on for feer reviews, guarantees the high scientific quality of research projects that are funded. The results of such research, therefore, form an independent, high quality foundation for discussions in society and policy making.
After a break, during which the first two speakers signed an agreement on behalf of their organisations, making the programme official, professor Bastiaan Zoeteman, chairman of the advisory committee on genetic modification (Cogem) clarified his organisation's need for further ecological knowledge. The important role for the Cogem during (the preparations for) this programme was also mentioned in other presentations.
Mrs. Rie de Boois emphasised the importance of thorough ecological investigations when important undertakings and new technologies are on the agenda. Thus a lot of problems and dammage can be prevented. This should be the lesson learned from previouw operations like the 'ruilverkaveling' (swapping small pieces of agricultural land to obtain larger, continuous fields better suited for intensive cultivation) and canalizing streams and rivers. It was a pity to her that the 'Terlouw committee', that she took part in, and the resulting debate on 'food and genes' had to a large extend been restricted to consumers' aspects.
Prof. Hans Dons presented the feeling of companies that employ biotechnology
about this ERGO programme. As NIABA board member (Niaba is the Dutch
association on industrial and agricultural biotechnology) he indicated
that for companies the expenses to meet specific regulations form a more
important constraint than the current level of ecological knowledge
does. That companies are reluctant/hesitating to employ genetic
modification doesn't in any way mean that companies leave the vast posibilities
of biotechnology as a whole, un(der)used: during product developoment breeding
companies employ molecular marker technologies to a very large extend and in
various ways. A final word of warning was aimed against initiating research
already being done elsewhere.
The final activity during the morning session consisted of a panel/audience
discussion about a number of theses, each representing a dilemma
identified much earlier in the process that lead to this programme.
The afternoon session, lead by the director of ALW Frans Martens focussed on the programme itself in more detail.
Prof
. Wiel Hoekstra elaborated on the, in this programme's context very
meaningful, distinction between 'need-to-know' knowledge and merely
'nice-to-know'. The venue, the Ottone building originally is a church, inspired
some edifying remarks, like "investigate everything, and stick with what is
good".
On behalf of ALW the programme's manager, Theo Saat, elaborated on
the application procedure and special aspects involving this programme.
After a discussion session between the speakers and the audience, 
the excange of ideas continued over drinks and, as the organiser hope, contacts were established and meetings scheduled that will result in the anticipated broad, multidisciplinary initiatives.