Business Potential for Agricultural Biotechnology - Asian Productivity ...

Business Potential for Agricultural Biotechnology Products
initial stage, the Republic of China should develop an industry in plant sprouts, aquaculture
farming, animal vaccines, functional food polypeptides, biofertilizer, and biopesticides. The goal
is two-fold: to accelerate the pace of transforming traditional farming and to accumulate technical
know-how and talent in the field of new applications.
The Republic of China should also invest in infrastructure establishment, including creating
an agricultural biotechnology information and certification management system, amending current
regulations and administrative operations, and strengthening product design and sales. In
addition, the Republic of China should establish agricultural biotechnology parks to concentrate
resources in order to become an agricultural high-tech center that can fulfill the multiple purposes
of research and development, production and marketing, processing and transportation to
market. This strategy will create a healthy industrial development environment and gradually
build a new agricultural biotechnology industry in the Republic of China.
The Republic of China has amended the Plant Variety and Seedling Act to make the law
more comprehensive and allow new plant variety rights. This has included passing regulations
for conducting isolated field observation trials of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) as
well as the harvesting and direct processing of products of GM species. Currently, the country’s
existing laws on biotechnology are in accordance with the TRIPs 27.3 Law of the World Trade
Organization, indicating that the country is protecting both inherited resources and traditional
knowledge. The Republic of China has drafted the Field Trial and Biosafety Evaluation Regulations
for Transgenic Breeding Flock, the Guidelines for Field Trials of Transgenic Plants, and
the Management Regulations for the Field Experimentation of Transgenic Aquatic Organisms to
establish a management system for GMO field trials. The country is also planning the establishment
of isolated field trial stations for transgenic animals and plants (including aquatic
organisms).
The Republic of China is planning to establish a series of agricultural biotechnology parks.
Currently, the Republic of China has already established the Agricultural Biotechnology Park in
Pingtung, the National Flower Park in Changhua, the Taiwan Orchid Plantation in Tainan, the
Medicinal and Spice Herb Biotechnology Park in Chiayi, and the Marine Biotechnology Park in
Ilan, combining private capitalization and governmental research and development capacity to
create a high-value-added industry in agriculture. The Agricultural Biotechnology Park Establishment
and Management Act was enacted in April 2004; the law primarily provides full access
to factory facilities and clarifying the amenities and benefits offered to agricultural biotechnology
companies.
In addition to focusing efforts on building infrastructure to attract various sectors of society
to become involved in agricultural biotechnology, the Republic of China will focus on the influence
and effect biotech has on traditional agriculture and farming villages, making a thorough
evaluation and suggesting countermeasures. The Republic of China will also take one step further,
combining agricultural biotechnology with other domestic industries, such as medicine,
food processing, and information technology, thus opening up new fields of application and
creating industries that promote public health and welfare.
Research and Development Priorities for Biopesticide and Biofertilizer Products for Sustainable
Agriculture in India
Indian agriculture has undergone dynamic change since the “Green Revolution,” which
provided self-sufficiency and ushered in an era of rural prosperity. While the production of food
grains increased fourfold, soil and environment health have been affected adversely by the application
of 250 times more chemical fertilizers and 400 times higher applications of pesticides
than needed. This has prompted a search for biological alternatives such as biopesticides and
biofertilizers. Estimates indicate that biopesticides have about a 2.5% share in the Indian pesticide
market and may reach 12%–15% by 2006. Similarly, the use of biopesticides and biofertilizers
at present is estimated to be USD1.5 billion, and the market is anticipated to grow sub-
– 10 –