A dramaturgia dos peritos na ciência regulatória brasileira: o caso da Comissão Técnica Nacional de Biossegurança / The dramaturgy of experts in Brazilian regulatory science: the case of the National Technical Commission for Biosecurity

Resumo A partir de estudo sobre a Comissão Técnica Nacional de Biotecnologia, órgão que concentra as competências de regulação de organismos geneticamente modificados no Brasil, o artigo apresenta uma análise, fundamentada na abordagem interacionista de Goffman, sobre sua atuação. Analisa a comissão como um teatro onde diferentes peritos realizam performances, atuam num palco, com uma plateia, bastidores e conflitos em relação aos papéis representados. Por meio de tais estratégias é possível entender o processo de consolidação e estabilização da comissão como instância decisória sobre organismos geneticamente modificados no Brasil. A estabilização da comissão está associada a uma gestão de palco que remove os conflitos para os bastidores e apresenta as decisões como isentas de interferências políticas ou interesses pessoais.

Abstract This article investigates the Brazilian National Technical Commission on Biosecurity, an agency empowered to regulate genetically modified organisms in the country, and presents an analysis of its performance based on Goffman's interactionist approach. The commission is analyzed as if it were a theater in which different experts perform and act on stage, with an audience, a backstage area, and conflicts related to the roles represented. These strategies make it possible to understand the process of consolidating and stabilizing this commission as a decision-making body on genetically modified organisms in Brazil. The stabilization of the commission is associated with stage management that takes conflicts out of the public view and moves them behind the scenes, presenting decisions as free from political interference or personal interests.

Cultivos genéticamente modificados: las promesas y las buenas intenciones no bastan

Genetically modified crops: promises and good intentions are not enough (refutation to Espinoza et al. 2004, Rev. Biol. Trop. 52 (3): 727-732). The arguments presented by Espinoza et al. in their paper "Relationship of genetically modified crops with the environment and health of the Costa Rican human population" published in this journal (Rev. Biol. Trop. 52: 727-732, 2004) are questioned and refuted. The arguments are confronted with evidence offered by scientists and national and international independent organizations around the world (e.g. World Health Organization, Consumers international, Physicians and Scientists for Responsible Application of Science and Technology, international Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources, the Council of the University of Costa Rica, and the independent Science Panel) showing the current uncertainty and limitations of science in this area, as well as those of proposed and applied biosafety approaches. Environment, biodiversity and food security are so important and basic matters, that there is need of serious testing, particularly when promises seem to be based on environmentally dangerous ideas promoted half a century ago by the so called "green revolution". Debate should continue, based on a holistic analysis of facts and with ethical reasoning, avoiding emotional positions that can confuse virtual reality with reality. Rev. Biol. Trop. 55 (2): 347-364. Epub 2007 June, 29.

Se refutan y cuestionan los razonamientos expuestos por las autoras en el artículo "Relación de los cultivos modificados genéticamente con el ambiente y la salud de la población costarricense" publicado en esta revista por Espinoza et al. (52: 727-732, 2004). Para ello se contraponen éstos con las evidencias expuestas y analizadas tanto por científicos como por organizaciones nacionales e internacionales independientes de diverso tipo en diferentes lugares del mundo (e.g. Organización Mundial de la Salud, internacional de Consumidores, Médicos y Científicos por una Aplicación Responsable de la Ciencia y la Tecnología, Unión internacional para la Conservación de la Naturaleza, Consejo Universitario de la Universidad de Costa Rica y el Panel de Ciencias independiente), que confirman la incertidumbre y limitaciones actuales de la ciencia en esta área, así como de los mecanismos de bioseguridad propuestos y puestos en vigor. En materias tan importantes y básicas para la supervivencia como las que nos ocupan -el ambiente, la biodiversidad y la seguridad alimentaria- no es prudente apostar a promesas basadas en la misma lógica promocionada desde hace poco más de cinco décadas por la denominada "revolución verde". Es necesario continuar este debate basado en el análisis holístico de los hechos, así como en razonamientos éticos, evitando caer en posiciones emocionales que llegan a confundir la realidad virtual con la verdadera realidad.

Strategic approaches to informing the public about biotechnology in Latin America

The benefits of today's biotechnology products are not evident to consumers. The public will accept biotechnology only when individuals decide for themselves that biotec products will contribute to their personal well-being. To make such a decision, people will need greater awareness and understanding of how biotechnology will affect the environment, human health, local and national economies, and the well-being of society. A low level of awareness and understanding about biotechnology is characteristic of Latin America and the Caribbean countries, as elsewhere, efforts to remedy poor public perception often seem inadequate and do not reflect a well-designed strategy. In order to improve the understanding of the biotechnology and their human applications, a strategic plan for public communications is required. Specific objectives for this initiative may include: (1) to make evident to decision makers that modern biotechnology can be an effective tool for increasing agricultural productivity, and thereby economic growth, without imposing unacceptable risk to the environment or human and animal health; (2) to enable members of the public to make informed decisions about appropriate uses of biotechnology by providing accurate information about benefits, risks and impacts; or (3) to incorporate modern biotechnology into science curricula for secondary schools, university and college students, and agriculture extension officers. A variety of specialized expertise, including communication specialists, technical writers, graphic artists and illustrators to design information materials and conduct training is needed to implement this. Ideally, members bring expertise in biotechnology and biosafety, public communications and project management. The plan will need to identify scientists and technical experts who can provide expertise in science writing for general audiences...

Percepción de la biotecnología en estudiantes universitarios de Costa Rica / Perception about biotechnology in university students in Costa Rica

A survey was carried out to determine the perception and knowledge about biotechnology and genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in a sample (n=750) of university students from three public universities in Costa Rica: Universidad de Costa Rica, Universidad Nacional and Instituto Tecnológico de Costa Rica. The study revealed that 88% of the students showed a satisfactory level of knowledge about modem biotechnology and 79% of them reported a favorable opinion and good acceptance of this technology. Students would accept some risks associated to biotechnology if it represents an improvement to the competitiveness of Costa Rica. Some differences were detected in the opinions from students of the three universities that can be associated to the area of study. Students from social disciplines showed a higher percentage of negative acceptances to biotechnology and GMOs when their opinions were compared with those of students from life sciences and technologies.

Evaluation of Nutritional Safety for the Herbicide-Resistant Rice in Growing Male Rats

This study was conducted to evaluate the safety of herbicide-resistant rice, a genetically modified organism (GMO) developed by the Rural Development Administration, in Sprague-Dawley rats. The nutrient content of herbicide-resistant polished and brown cooked rice was compared with that of conventional Ilpum polished and brown cooked rice to assess composition equivalence. Compositional analysis was performed to measure proximates, fiber, and minerals before animal feeding. Growing male rats were fed one of the following four diets for six weeks: Ilpum polished cooked rice (IP) and Ilpum brown cooked rice (IB) as a non-GMO and herbicide-resistant polished cooked rice (GP) and brown cooked rice (GB) as a GMO. We checked clinical symptoms (anorexia, salivation, diarrhea, polyuria, anuria, fecal change) every day, food intake, change of body weight twice a week, and serum biochemistry and organ weights after 6 weeks of experimental feeding among the four groups. Nutrient content of the herbicide-resistant rice was similar to that of the non-transgenic control and was within the published range observed for non-transgenic rice. We could not find any significant difference in the above-mentioned items as the index to be checked in the animals fed the GMO. These results suggest that the nutrient content of genetically modified herbicide-resistant rice is compositionally equivalent to that of conventional Ilpum rice and that growing male rats fed herbicide-resistant rice are no different from those fed Ilpum rice, non-GMO for 6 weeks.