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25-29 Janvier 2006, Sikasso, Mali
A Citizens Jury
for Democratic Deliberation on GMOs and the future of farming in Mali
OTHER DOCUMENTS
- ECID'S Program
- The recommendation of the ECID on GMOs and the future of farming in Mali (english version)
- The ECID in the media
What is the Citizens' Jury on GMOs?
As indicated by its name, this Citizens' Jury is a space to share knowledge,
dialogue and inform decisions on genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in relation
to the future of farming in Mali. This will involve farmers, -men and women-,
from all districts of the Sikasso region in Mali.
When and Where will this take place?
The Citizens' Jury on GMOs will take place in Sikasso between 25 and 29 January
2006.
Who organises it?
The Citizens' Jury on GMOs will be organised by the Regional Assembly
of Sikasso, with conceptual and methodological support by the Réseau Interdisciplinaire
Biosécurité (RIBios) of the Institut Universitaire d’Etudes
du Développement in Geneva and by the International
Institute for Environment and Development (IIED) in London. This project is supported by funds from the
Swiss Development Cooperation (SDC) and the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign
Affairs (DGIS). A Steering Committee was set up in June 2005 to develop and
plan the
Citizens' Jury. This Steering Committee is made of approximately 15 members
representing the following institutions:
• Regional Assembly of Sikasso
• Centre Djoliba
• Assemblée Régionale de Sikasso
• Centre Djoliba
• Jubilé 2000
• Institut d’Economie Rurale (IER)/Comité Régional
de la Recherche Agronomique
• (CRRA)
• Compagnie Malienne de Développement des Textiles (CMDT)
• Association des Organisations Professionnelles Paysannes (AOPP)
• Union Rurale des Radios et Télévisions (URTEL)/Radio Kene
• Comité Régional de Concertation des Ruraux (CRCR)
• Coordination Régionale des ONG (CR/ONG)
• Jekasy/Intercoopération
• Chambre d’agriculture
• Commission Régionale des Utilisateurs de la Recherche (CRU)
• Syndicat des Producteurs de coton et vivriers (SYCOV)
• Syndicat pour la Valorisation des Cultures Cotonnières et Vivrières
(SYVAC)
• International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED) de Londres
• Réseau Interdisciplinaire Biosécurité (RIBios)/IUED
Genève
See the Timetable of Expert Witness
Presentations
Independent Oversight Panel Name
| Name | Organisation |
| Mr Ousmane Sy* | Centre d'expertises politiques et institutionnelles en Afrique (CEPIA). |
| Mme Danielle Bütschi | Consultante indépendante ayant travaillé avec le Centre d'évaluation des choix technologiques TA-SWISS, Suisse |
| Mr Bara Gueye | Directeur, Innovation Environnement et Dé veloppement (IED), Sénégal |
| Mr Mohamed Haidara | Directeur, Afrique Verte, Mali |
| Mme Nora McKeon | Terra Nuova, Italie |
| Mr. Mouhamadou Traoré | point focal du Protocole Biosecurité , Secrétariat, Mali. |
| Mr Jean Luc Virchaux | Directeur DDC/SDC, Bamako, Mali |
*Mr Ousmane SY is the president of the Independent Oversight Panel of the Citizens'
Jury on Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) and the future of agriculture in
Mali
Citizens' Jury Diagram
What are the Objectives of the Citizens' Jury?
The Citizens' Jury will allow farmers of the region:
1) to better understand what are GMOs and what the risks and advantages they
carry;
2) to confront view points and cross examine expert witnesses, both in favour
and against GMOs and the industrialization of agriculture,
3) to formulate recommendations for policies on GMOs and the future of farming
in Mali.
Who is involved?
The Citizens' Jury focuses on farmers/producers of the Sikasso region. The
population of the region is more than 1,600,000 inhabitants, it is therefore
necessary to engage in a selection process to determine the particiipants of
the Citizens' Jury. Approximately 43 participants coming from the 7 districts
of the region will be chosen as jurors. This selection will be done with the
support local organizations and structures, on the basis of a pre-selection
of 290 farmers from all districts. A set of clear and transparent criteria
have been defined to allow a fair representation at the Citizens' Jury of the
diverse types of farmers of the region (e.g. small, medium size farms). This
jury selection process emphasised the need for equal representation of different
farmers, in particular women and small scale producers.
Links to other Citizens Juries:
Citizens' Juries on GMOs and farming futures in India
www.leisa.info
Des petits paysans et des marginaux ruraux s'expriment sur l'agriculture et
les OGM, Revue Durable (French only)
Revue Durable (pdf)
Contact:
Barbara Bordogna Petriccione (RIBios coordinator)
Barbara.Bordogna@iued.unige.ch
Dr Michel Pimbert, IIED Project Coordinator
michel.pimbert@iied.org
