ABSTRACT In 1999 the European Union imposed a moratorium on imports of agricultural products produced using biotechnology based on transgenics. In 2003 the moratorium was replaced by a strict, costly and politicised regime for regulatory approval which is impossible for African exporters to satisfy. Further, co-mingling of unapproved GMOs with conventional crops has meant refusal of shipments. The EU NTBs have also inhibited a productivity enhancing technology as African countries feared loss of markets given their inability to segregate GMOs. Further, absence of GMO use has meant little investment in GMO-based tropical crops. Biological science is not static and the declining cost of genomic information combined with low cost gene editing technologies means that gains in productivity can be obtained without transgenics. Genomics uses improved information on the genetic make-up of a plant to enhance its performance using its existing genetic material. Thus, the speculative risks associated with transgenics should not arise for genomics. The falling cost of genomic information and implementing technologies, may create opportunities for African-based developers of genomic-based crops. This paper explores the potential of a relatively open regulatory regime for genomic-based crops from Africa entering the EU including the potential for African adoption and plant breeding.

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超越转基因——基因组学在欧盟为非洲农产品打开市场的潜力

摘要 1999 年，欧盟暂停进口使用基于转基因的生物技术生产的农产品。2003 年，禁令被严格、昂贵和政治化的监管审批制度所取代，这是非洲出口商无法满足的。此外，未经批准的转基因生物与传统作物的混合意味着拒绝运输。欧盟非关税壁垒也抑制了提高生产力的技术，因为非洲国家担心由于无法分离转基因生物而失去市场。此外，不使用转基因生物意味着对转基因热带作物的投资很少。生物科学不是一成不变的，基因组信息成本的下降与低成本的基因编辑技术相结合，意味着无需转基因即可提高生产力。基因组学利用植物遗传组成的改进信息，利用其现有的遗传材料提高其性能。因此，基因组学不应出现与转基因相关的投机风险。基因组信息和实施技术的成本下降，可能为非洲基因组作物开发商创造机会。本文探讨了对非洲基因组作物进入欧盟的相对开放监管制度的潜力，包括非洲采用和植物育种的潜力。可能为非洲基因组作物开发者创造机会。本文探讨了对非洲基因组作物进入欧盟的相对开放监管制度的潜力，包括非洲采用和植物育种的潜力。可能为非洲基因组作物开发者创造机会。本文探讨了对非洲基因组作物进入欧盟的相对开放监管制度的潜力，包括非洲采用和植物育种的潜力。