Business Potential for Agricultural Biotechnology - Asian Productivity ...

13. BUSINESS POTENTIAL FOR AGRICULTURAL
BIOTECHNOLOGY PRODUCTS IN THAILAND
– 177 –
Sombat Songchom
Department of Agricultural Extension
Bangkok
Dr. Parichart Burns
National Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology
National Science and Technology Development Agency
Pathumthani
INTRODUCTION
Thailand’s National Biotechnology Policy Framework
The National Biotechnology Policy Committee, chaired by the Prime Minister, approved
Thailand’s National Biotechnology Policy Framework (2004–2011) in December 2003. Biotechnology
is expected to play a vital role in the country’s development by 2011, in keeping with the
government’s policy and the national agenda encompassing sustainable competitiveness, health
care for all, income distribution, and a self-sufficient economy. Emphasis will be placed on applying
core technology to accelerate development in areas such as agriculture and food, medical
care, protection of the environment, new knowledge creation for the development of highervalue-added
products as well as helping to promote high-value biotechnology businesses and
creating new types of services where modern technology is required. The six goals for biotechnology
development are: emergence and development of new biobusiness (Figure 1), biotechnology
promoting Thailand as the kitchen of the world (Figure 2), Thailand as the health community
and health care center of Asia, utilization of biotechnology to preserve the environment
and to produce clean energy (Figure 3), biotechnology as the key factor for a self- sufficient
economy (Figure 4), and development of a qualified human resource system. Goals related to
agricultural business are primarily the first and second.
Emergence and Development of New Biobusiness
The potential of biotechnology will be utilized to encourage investment in research and
development and the establishment of new biotechnology companies with two main objectives:
emergence of over 100 new biotechnology companies and investment by the private sector in
biotechnology R&D amounting to at least THB5 billion per year. The new biobusinesses can
focus on many new opportunities, for example, the production of high-value-added products,
such as medical diagnostic kits, supplementary food, and seed, or service businesses, especially
molecular-level detection/analysis for medical care and public health, agriculture and food
export, biosafety, and bioterrorism/bioweaponry. Venture capital will help to expand investment
in biotechnology businesses. Knowledge-based business, including investment in bioinformatics
research for new drug development and gene research for the improvement of crop plants and
livestock, will be the future-oriented focus. Key strategies are:
To construct/develop infrastructure such as biotechnology parks to attract both domestic
and overseas investments as well as provide user services in research and development.
To set forth clear policy to settle controversial issues, for example, enacting laws on the
protection of bioresources and establishing policy on the development of safe GMO products.