marker-assisted selection in wheat - ictsd

Chapter 22 – Marker-assisted selection: policy considerations and options for developing countries 451Box 1National biotechnology policies: Thailand and South AfricaIn Thailand, the National Biotechnology Policy Framework (2004-2009) was prepared by aNational Biotechnology Policy Committee chaired by the Prime Minister. This then led tothe setting up of a national centre specifically devoted to biotechnology (the National Centrefor Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology) under the National Science and TechnologyDevelopment Agency. It is both a granting and research agency with its own researchlaboratories and is funded from a combination of government finances, revenue from servicesand commercial projects and competitive grants from national and international sources. Ithas major activities in agricultural biotechnology including: on genome mapping and markerassistedbreeding of rice; on cassava improvement where a database of cassava expressedsequenced tags (ESTs) is currently being developed and employed in the study of starchbiosynthesis; and shrimp, with major projects on ESTs and genome studies for applicationin breeding, disease diagnostics and shrimp domestication. Noteworthy also is that throughjoint government-private sector funding, Thailand will host “Biotechnology Asia 007” withthe focus firmly on agriculture.In the case of South Africa, the National Biotechnology Strategy (2001) arose from agovernment request and the work of an interdepartmental committee led by the Department ofArts, Culture, Science and Technology with participation of the Departments of Agriculture,Health, Trade and Industry, and Environmental Affairs and Tourism. This committee set upan Expert Panel to provide specific inputs based again on “mapping the terrain” in terms ofcurrent applications, legislation and finance, and participation by all key stakeholder groups,etc. Arising from the policies proposed within the strategy document, a National BiotechnologyAdvisory Committee was established in 2006 and the Department of Science and Technologycreated a Biotechnology Unit. Since then, three Biotechnology Research and InnovationCentres and a National Bio-informatics Network have been established, interdepartmentalcooperation has been promoted, and bilateral agreements have been signed. Again, agriculturalapplications of biotechnology receive high priority in this national strategy.of establishing an open learning process fora national agricultural S&T policy dialogueincluding biotechnology, leading eventuallyto a planning document and a processof monitoring and evaluating outcomes andimpacts. This could be achieved by establishinga national committee that wouldthen define terms of reference and setup various task forces/working groups ina participatory and pluralistic manner toreport on specific subsector and thematicissues.In common with other planning procedures,the first step should involve adiagnostic study and analysis of existingS&T policies as well as of the national,regional and international S&T landscape.Bijker (2007) provides an excellent descriptionof the criteria for building an S&Tpolicy via a policy dialogue and a methodologyfor carrying out a diagnostic study.Essential for promoting a well thoughtoutpolicy and its effective managementis the closest possible involvement of all