This document summarizes a presentation on standards for sustainable biomass and socio-economic considerations regarding GMOs. It discusses how most sustainability standards are neutral toward GMOs and address them primarily as an environmental risk. Socio-economic aspects examined in standards include labor conditions, land rights, business practices, and local community impacts. While difficult, assessing these requires analyzing compliance, stakeholder consultation, and reviewing documents. The presentation raises whether sustainability standards should consider GMOs as a socio-economic factor and if standardization could provide best practices for GMO risk management.

1. International workshop on a socio-economic assessment framework for GMOs | Triple Ace WTC Amsterdam | 20 November 2014
Socio-economic aspects in standards
on sustainability of biomass
Jarno Dakhorst, NEN Energy

2. Outline
• Introduction into standardization
• Standards on sustainability of biomass
• Sustainability and GMOs
• Socio-economic aspects
• GMOs in socio-economic perspective in (sustainability)
standards
2International workshop on a socio-economic assessment framework for GMOs | Triple Ace WTC Amsterdam | 20 November 2014

3. Introduction into standardization (1)
Standards…
• … are documents with agreements on products,
services and systems
• ... are designed for voluntary use
• ... contribute to:
– (inter)national strengthof competition
– innovation
– health, safety and environment
– image
• ... are in accordance with WTO
3International workshop on a socio-economic assessment framework for GMOs | Triple Ace WTC Amsterdam | 20 November 2014

4. Introduction into standardization (2)
4
Overcoming trade barriers
Vision ISO/TC 67 (oil & gas):
Global standards used locally worldwide
International workshop on a socio-economic assessment framework for GMOs | Triple Ace WTC Amsterdam | 20 November 2014

5. Introduction into standardization (3)
Standardization …
• … is an open process => all parties concerned
invited to participate for broad support
• … is developing agreements based on consensus
=> no sustained opposition
• … is transparent => agreements are publicly
available for comments and use
• … takes place on three levels:
– national (e.g. NEN, DIN)
– regional (e.g. CEN, GSO)
– international (e.g. ISO, IEC)
5International workshop on a socio-economic assessment framework for GMOs | Triple Ace WTC Amsterdam | 20 November 2014

6. Standards on sustainability of biomass (1)
• NTA 8080:2009, Sustainability criteria for biomass for energy
purposes [based on “Cramer criteria”]
• Draft NTA 8080:2014, Sustainably produced biomass for
bioenergy and biobased products
• Part 1: Sustainability requirements
• Part 2: Chain-of-custody requirements
• Intended to be applicable worldwide
• Certification system recognized by EC
for demonstrating RED compliance
• Linked with European (CEN) and international (ISO)
standardization
6International workshop on a socio-economic assessment framework for GMOs | Triple Ace WTC Amsterdam | 20 November 2014

7. 7
Standards on sustainability of biomass (2)
But many other sustainability initiatives in the market
International workshop on a socio-economic assessment framework for GMOs | Triple Ace WTC Amsterdam | 20 November 2014

8. Sustainability and GMOs (1)
• Most of sustainability initiatives are “GMO neutral” –
they neither stimulate use of GMOs nor ban use of
GMOs
• Only a view sustainability initiatives address
separate supply chains for GMO free products
• GMOs, if considered in sustainability initiatives, are
mainly linked to biodiversity aspects – invasion of
alien species
8International workshop on a socio-economic assessment framework for GMOs | Triple Ace WTC Amsterdam | 20 November 2014

9. Sustainability and GMOs (2)
Example draft NTA 8080-1:2014
alien species
a species that does not naturally occur in the area in question
Note 1 to entry: Genetically modified crops are also considered to be
alien species.
6.4.2.2 The organisation shall take measures that are
necessary in order to:
d) ensure that it is prevented that the environment is
disturbed by invading alien species (including genetically
modified crops) by: […]
9International workshop on a socio-economic assessment framework for GMOs | Triple Ace WTC Amsterdam | 20 November 2014

10. Socio-economic aspects (1)
• Socio-economic aspects relate to pillars people and
profit
• Strong link with:
• ILO conventions [ILO = International Labour Organization]
• Universal Declaration of Human Rights
• UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples
• SA8000 on social accounting
• …
• Considered a bigger issue in developing countries
than developed countries
10International workshop on a socio-economic assessment framework for GMOs | Triple Ace WTC Amsterdam | 20 November 2014

11. Socio-economic aspects (2)
• Labour conditions:
• Working hours and overtime
• Wages and insurances
• Training and education
• Safety of machineries & personal protection equipment
• Forced or compulsory labour & child labour
• Bargaining rights
• Non-discrimination
[topics not exhaustive and may differ amongst sustainability initiatives]
11International workshop on a socio-economic assessment framework for GMOs | Triple Ace WTC Amsterdam | 20 November 2014

12. Socio-economic aspects (3)
• Land use rights:
• Free, prior and informed consent for right to use and/or
manage land
• RespectingHCV areas
• Compensation of local population
• Business practices:
• Anti-corruption
• Non-fraudulent behaviour
• Financial risk management
[topics not exhaustive and may differ amongst sustainability initiatives]
12International workshop on a socio-economic assessment framework for GMOs | Triple Ace WTC Amsterdam | 20 November 2014

13. Socio-economic aspects (4)
• Competition:
• Food security
• Water availability
• Other applications of raw materials (e.g. building, medicines)
• Contribution to local population:
• Employment of local people, also in top management
• Involvement of local suppliers
• Mitigate negative and promote positive impacts of activities
[topics not exhaustive and may differ amongst sustainability initiatives]
13International workshop on a socio-economic assessment framework for GMOs | Triple Ace WTC Amsterdam | 20 November 2014

14. Socio-economic aspects (5)
Assessing socio-economic aspects:
• Analysing legislation and degree of compliance
• Checking possibility to react during permitting
procedure
• Consulting stakeholders
• Interviewing employees
• Reviewing documents
14International workshop on a socio-economic assessment framework for GMOs | Triple Ace WTC Amsterdam | 20 November 2014

15. Socio-economic aspects (6)
However, assessments not always easy:
• Availability and reliability of information
• Cooperation of employees and local population
• Linking impacts to activities of economic operator
15International workshop on a socio-economic assessment framework for GMOs | Triple Ace WTC Amsterdam | 20 November 2014

16. GMOs in socio-economic perspective in
(sustainability) standards (1)
Starting point:
• Defining and measuring “sustainability” is challenging
• Use of GMOs has pros and cons and with that strong
proponents and opponents
16International workshop on a socio-economic assessment framework for GMOs | Triple Ace WTC Amsterdam | 20 November 2014

17. GMOs in socio-economic perspective in
(sustainability) standards (2)
Questions:
• Is there a need to consider use of GMOs (as biomass
feedstock) as socio-economic aspect in sustainability
standards?
• Can standardization in general be an instrument to
address GMOs (e.g. best practices, risk management)?
17International workshop on a socio-economic assessment framework for GMOs | Triple Ace WTC Amsterdam | 20 November 2014

18. Considerations
Thank you for you attention!
Any questions?
Contact details
E jarno.dakhorst@nen.nl
T +31 15 2 690 245
M +31 6 33 334 671
18International workshop on a socio-economic assessment framework for GMOs | Triple Ace WTC Amsterdam | 20 November 2014
Draft NTA 8080-1 and NTA 8080-2 now
available for comments (till 5 January 2015)