National SeriesLecture 1

IntroductionMorocco

Bradford Disarmament Research CentreDivision of Peace Studies, University of Bradford, UK

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Outline

1. Where we are in the early 21st century

2. Outline of the following lectures

a) What we should know (learning outcome)

b) What we can do (policy contribution)

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What is “Life Science”?

• “Any field of science that is leading to or has the potential to lead to an enhanced understanding of living organisms, especially human life.”

• E.g. Biology, proteomics, genetic engineering, nanotechnology, aerosol technology, chemistry and mathematics

(National Research Council, 2006: 27)

• Applied in:Public health, Medicine, Agriculture, Energy, Environment and National security studies

Biotechnology: An integral part of national strategy in the 21st Century

Region Annual Worth Share

North America $204 Billion 51%

Europe $102 Billion 25%

Japan $47 Billion 12%

Asia, Africa, Australia $32 Billion 8%

Latin America $17 Billion 4%

A growing market in Biotechnology: the pharmaceutical market (National Research Council, 2006: 85)

• Similar results in number of researchers and the amount of private investment for R&D in the life sciences

• Rapid growth in the Asia-Pacific and the Middle East

(Ernst&Young 2011, Frost&Sullivan 2010)

Morocco: Hassan II Academy of Science and Technology

• The Academy Hassan II of Science and Technology was installed by His Majesty the King of Morocco, Mohammed VI, on May 18th, 2006. It is composed of national resident members and associate foreign members in equal number, and corresponding members.

• The main aim of the Academy is to promote science and technology and scientific practice in Morocco and contribute to the international scientific common knowledge. The Academy also financially supports fundamental and applied research projects of national significance. It also provides independent advice to the national authorities on scientific policy and scientific research and scholarship issues of national importance and informs the public on scientific, technological and ethical matters.

(IAP 2012)

Morocco: Biology in Higher Education• Just after independence in 1956, Morocco had only one university, the

Mohamed V University, in Rabat, the capital of the country. In 2008, it boasts of 14 universities including a private institution

• The development of biochemistry at each level of education together with scientific research is closely associated with the growth of the university system in Morocco over the last 40years. This growth can be subdivided into two phases, one from1957 till 2003 and the other from 2003 until the present day.

• In many Moroccan universities, the first cycle includes two modules devoted to biochemistry, called ‘‘Structural Biochemistry Enzymology’’ and ‘‘Metabolic Biochemistry Molecular Biology’’. Each module comprises an average of 90 hours, including 20% lab practice. In the second module, molecular biology covers 37% of the time allocated and includes 20% of lab practice.

(Baaziz 2008)

Morocco: Biology in Higher Education• A survey carried out in 1995 by the National Centre of Scientific

and Technical Research showed that only a part of the4% of research units among a thousand in Morocco perform research in biochemistry and molecular biology.

• The scientific research programmes involving biochemistry and molecular biology in Morocco are diversified. During the last two biochemistry congresses organized by SMBBM, in2004 and 2006, communications related to ‘‘Biochemistry, biotechnology and natural substances,’’ ‘‘Biochemistry and environment,’’ and ‘‘Biochemistry and health’’ were the most represented.

(Baaziz 2008)

Morocco: Life science outlook

Item Ranking

2011 Ranking 592005 Ranking 59Ranking Change 0

2011 Regional Ranking 3 in N. Africa

2005 Regional Ranking 3 in N. Africa

Hits in PubMed 36PubMed Ranking 57

Hit in Espacenet 13Espacenet Ranking 51

Combined Ranking 54

Source: (BWPP 2011)

Global publication ranking

Morocco: Scientific Association

Research in Convergence between Biology and Chemistry

The Moroccan Society of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (SMBBM, former SMB) has as its mission the promotion and development of education and scientific researches dealing with Biochemistry and Molecular Biology in Morocco.

History• SMBBM  was founded in 1995, and became associated member of FEBS on

2002.

Key Offers• SMBBM organises each 2 years a Biochemistry congress (national and

international characters), a scientific meeting or workshop during 1-2 days.• In addition, the programme of 2005 and 2006 included ‘Caravane de la Société’

as visits and local scientific activities organized around the 13 Moroccan universities.

• Furthermore, SMBBM discerns prizes for the best works achieved by young researches and allows fellowships for young scientists to attend biochemical congresses.

• A short newsletter is published by SMBBM every third month.

2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 20120

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

Key word hits in Publication data base

Numbers

PubMed search with “Morocco”

Morocco: Scientific Journal

• The Moroccan Journal of Biology is published by the Moroccan Society of Biology in Morocco. The Moroccan Journal of Biology is devoted to the publication of outstanding original research reports of general interest to biologist

• Manuscripts are welcomed across the spectrum of modern biology including works that address fundamental issues in developmental biology, biotechnology, physiology, cell biology, pharmacology, ecology and related fields. 

Biotechnology Legislation (On Genetically Modified Organisms)

• “Morocco still does not have a legislative or regulatory framework related to biotechnology, either for domestic production or for imports of biotech commodities. A draft of law regarding the introduction, use, and marketing of GMO was sent by the Ministry of Agriculture for review to various ministries (Health, and others) in 2008.

• Upon agreement on the content of the law among the ministries involved, the law was then sent to the Secretary General of the Government (SGG) for legislative approval. The SGG made some observations and sent the law draft back to the Ministry of Agriculture for an overall review and further discussion among relevant government agencies.”

(Ahmed, 2010)

Biotechnology Legislation

Changing environment• “However, the growing population and recurrent occurrence of

droughts have alarmed food security in Morocco and efforts have been taken to integrate modern biotechnology tools in conventional breeding to improve the most important crops such as wheat, barley, faba bean and horticultural and fruit tree crops.

• Towards this initiative, Morocco has given strong priority and commitment for biotechnological research and allocated substantial funds for infrastructure development. INRA is working with close partnership with international organizations and agencies such as ICARDA, Generation Challenge Program, USDA and EU to integrate and apply biotechnology tools in agriculture research.”

(Iraqi, Thami-Alami, Abbad-Andaloussi and Udupa, 2009)

Why do we care? Should this be an issue for us?

The dual-use nature of science and technology:

– “Every major technology — metallurgy, explosives, internal combustion, aviation, electronics, nuclear energy — has been intensively exploited, not only for peaceful purposes but also for hostile ones.”

– “…Must this also happen with biotechnology, certain to be a dominant technology of the twenty-first century?”

Matthew Meselson: Professor of Molecular Biology at Harvard University

(Meselson, 2000: 16)

Hostile

Peacefu

l

Meselson’s Forecast in 2000

Ability• “Our ability to modify fundamental life processes

continues its rapid advance”

• “We will be able not only to devise additional ways to destroy life but will also become able to manipulate it”

Dilemma• “…[This has a] Vast potential for beneficial application

and could have inimical consequences for the course of civilization.”

Meselson’s Forecast in 2000

“At present, we appear to be approaching a crossroads —a time that will test whether biotechnology…”

• Will come to be intensively exploited for hostile purposes, or• Our species will find the collective wisdom to take a different course.

Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention (BTWC)

1972

Article I • “Each State Party to this Convention undertakes never in any

circumstances to develop, produce, stockpile or otherwise acquire or retain:

• 1. Microbial or other biological agents or toxins whatever their origin or method of production, of types and in quantities that have no justification for prophylactic, protective or other peaceful purposes.”

• This applies not only to states but also to non-state actors

Science and Security: Dual-Use

The need for a broader conceptualisation of dual-use• Biological agents and toxins can be used for hostile purposes without

weaponization and technology is typically diffused globally for peaceful purposes

• Hostile use can take the form of criminal acts or terrorist acts (non-state level) in parallel to military application (state level),

• The BTWC prohibits the misuse of the life sciences by both states and non-state actors

Dual-use: broader concept Peaceful Non-peaceful

Dual-use: traditional conceptMilitary Civilian

Morocco and Biological Weapons

• Weapons: Morocco does not have any offensive BW capabilities.

• Dissemination and Delivery: Morocco has no strategic weapons in its inventory and has no plans to acquire them in the foreseeable future.

• Military: The principles of the offensive use of BW agents and their defensive counter-measures features in some military courses. The BW hazard and its impact on operations are rarely considered in general military exercises.

(Jane’s 2011)

Morocco and international regimes

BTWC• Signature (2 May 1972); Ratification (21 March 2003)

CWC• Signature (13 January 1993); Ratification (28 December 1995)

National Series: Lecture Outline

2. Biosecurity Threats 3. The Web of Prevention

4. National Measures5. Responsibility of Scientists

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• ‘No single focal point’ of threats– Potential actors, material and information, which can be related to dual-

use issues, exist at international, regional, national, local and individual levels.

Unpredictable future of the life sciences

Reviewing threats (Lecture 2)

Manmade threats: warfare, crime and terrorism

Safety/accidental risks at laboratories

Natural outbreaks of infectious disease

To address natural outbreaks of infectious disease• Public health preparedness and response planning

To address safety/accidental risks• Laboratory regulations to safely manage dangerous pathogens and toxins, to

prevent an accidental release into the environment and unauthorized access

To address manmade threats• Strong international arms control agreements with effective national

implementation • Internationally coordinated export controls • Intelligence• Biodefense

To address the unpredictable future of the life sciences• Oversight: Review of security-sensitive science and technology developments• Responsible conduct in research through education

The Web of Prevention (WoP) (Lecture 3)

Web of prevention

Public health measures

Laboratory measures

International prohibition

regime

Export control

Intelligence

Biodefense

Oversight and review of Sci-Tech

Responsible conduct

Natural threats

Safety risks

Governance of science

Manmade threats

National implementation (Lecture 4)

To National Context

National implementation (Lecture 4)

1• International agreements

2• Signature and ratification by states

3

• National measures in states• Legislation, regulation, order or other forms

of governance

Worldwide engagement of life scientists with the WoP will:

• Effectively strengthen biosecurity measures by requiring the engagement of practicing scientists

• Prevent unnecessary restriction of scientific freedoms

• Education of, and capacity building among, scientists on biosecurity issues is necessary for successful security

• Uninformed scientists = no effective science policy inputs to the WoP

Engagement of informed life scientists about biosecurity issues is key to successful security

The need for responsible conduct in research(Lecture 5)

Biosecurity: Definition issues

The term “biosecurity” has been conceptualised differently across various scientific and professional disciplines

• Areas: The term has been used in ecology, agriculture, food supply, arms control and public health contexts, with different meanings and conceptualisations

• Policy processes: these overlap with interdisciplinary areas such as biosafety, counter-terrorism, agricultural biosecurity and biodiversity

• Linguistic: In addition to these conceptual complications, “biosecurity” has also experienced linguistic complications

(Fidler and Gostin 2007, Sunshine Project 2003, Barletta 2002)

National Series:WoP = Biosecurity Education = Biosecurity Competency

References

• The references cited in this lecture are viewable in the Notes section of this presentation.