biotecnology in context of developing world

Biotechnology in context of developing world


Successful agriculture holds the answer to the poverty gap between rich & poor countries. In the developed world, agricultural sciences are well developed, producing an abundance of high quality products. Agricultural biotech will further improve quality, variety & yield. Will these new plant species improved by genetic engineering, find their way to developing countries, ensuring higher productivity, greater resistance to disease & be more marketable?

It is not yet clear what will happen other than that the affluent nations will become increasingly well endowed with an abundance of food. Worldwide there will be enough food for all but will it always continue to be disproportionately distributed? Biotech developments need high inputs of finance & skilled workforces- both of which are in short supply in most developing nations.

While many developing nations have successfully collaborated in the past with western biotech companies, it is salutary to note that between 1986 & 1991 the % of arrangements implemented by US biotech companies with developing countries dropped from 20% to 3% !

The ability of developing nations to avail themselves of many promise of new biotechnology will largely depend on their capacity to integrate modern developments of biotech within their own research & innovation systems, in accordance with their own needs & priorities.

Nowadays, some of the most important areas of biotech are considered with a view to achieve a broad overall understanding of existing achievements & future aims of this area of technology. However, it must be appreciated that biotech developments not will also be subject to considerable politics, economics and above all public acceptance. Finally, it has been said that most scientific disciplines pass through golden ages when new approaches open the door to rapid & fundamental expansion. Biotech is just now entering this golden period. A spectacular future lies ahead.