BIOTECHNOLOGY IN AGRICULTURE: HOW TO OBTAIN ITS BENEFITS WHILE LIMITING ITS RISKS

摘要

Biotechnology is emerging as one of the most innovative achievements of life sciences in this century, and agriculture is certainly one of the sectors which has benefited most from this technological innovation. If the benefits of biotechnology are to reach developing countries, particularly those with food deficits, it will be necessary to employ a strategy that will gradually give them access to the most appropriate biotechnologies. Agricultural systems have met the constantly increasing demand for food since earliest human times. However, problems do exist; crop uniformity may foster genetic erosion, reduce the genetic base of plant populations and enhance the vulnerability of cultivated plants to pests, diseases and adverse environmental factors such as salinity and drought stress. The path this science is taking, however, is oriented almost exclusively towards crops of high global economic importance. Other species, which are of great socioeconomic importance to developing countries but of little interest to international markets, do not appear on the priority list of the leading biotechnology companies. Under these circumstances it seems that any research on the biotechnological improvement of these and other underresearched food species will have to take place locally within interested countries. FAO initiatives in promoting plant biotechnology include promoting the exchange of biotechnology information, advising members on the development of national biotechnology programmes, supporting national programme infrastructures and promoting research and technology transfer. The greatest risk for developing countries would be not to be part of this new revolution in agricultural biotechnology.