Business Potential for Agricultural Biotechnology - Asian Productivity ...

Business Potential for Agricultural Biotechnology Products
Production of Pistachio Seedlings Using Tissue Culture
A major project of the Ministry of Jihad-e Agriculture has as its goal the development of
areas cultivated with high-quality pistachio and an increase in the yield of pistachio per ha, requiring
large numbers of high-quality pistachio seedlings. The Research Center for Agricultural
Biotechnology has produced 4,000 pistachio seedlings to date using tissue culture.
Production of Date Seedlings Using Tissue Culture
The majority of the production in the Research Center for Agricultural Biotechnology is
being tested in farms and prepared for mass production.
IMPORTS
Trade in transgenic seeds is increasing rapidly throughout the world. Iran, however, is only
an importer of some agricultural biotechnology products. In 2002, soybean products (the most
cultivated transgenic plant in the world), including raw soybean oil, soybean meal, and soybean
seeds, were imported at a value of USD712 million. In the same year, imports of corn and cotton
(the second and third most widely-grown transgenic plants worldwide) were at about USD220
million and USD2 million, respectively. Moreover, USD1 billion of edible oil is imported, a
portion of which is derived from rapeseed (the fourth most cultivated transgenic plant). In the
dairy industry large amounts of enzymes, microorganisms, and starter are also imported.
EXPORTS
Since modern biotechnology got underway only a few years ago, agricultural biotechnology
has not reached the mass production stage, and at present all the products are used in the
country. Iran does not export any agricultural biotechnology products.
PROGRESS MADE IN BIOTECHNOLOGY
Although agricultural biotechnology is relatively new, significant progress has been made:
Founding of the National Committee of Biotechnology in cooperation with ministries and
other organizations.
Founding of the National Research Center for Genetic and Biotechnology Engineering.
Establishing and equipping the biotechnology departments in the Jihad-e Agriculture,
Health, Treatment, and Medical Training ministries and the major established research institutes,
such as the Pastor Institute and the Razi Serum-Making Organization.
Creating postgraduate courses at master’s and Ph.D. levels in fields relevant to biotechnology.
Training skilled manpower in and out of the country.
Establishing ties and carrying out research projects with advanced countries such as France,
Austria and Italy, as well as membership in international organizations.
CONSTRAINTS TO PROGRESS IN BIOTECHNOLOGY
The development of agricultural biotechnology in Iran is constrained by:
• Lack of adequate investment in research and development and failure to apply biotechnology
in food production.
• Public unawareness of biotechnology’s potential.
• Lack of adequate cooperation among the organizations and ministries involved.
• Uncertainty concerning the outcome of research activities due to the lack of intellectual
property and patent laws.
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