Bangladesh Experts Identify Biotech to Contribute to Food Security

Biotechnology plays a crucial role in food security in Bangladesh, hence, bio-patenting of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) needs to be looked at. This was forwarded by Vice Chancellor Md Shah-E-Alam of Sher-E-Bangla Agricultural University, Bangladesh during a seminar on Bio-patent and GMO Crops for Food Security of Bangladesh held at the said university on October 23, 2010. Dipshikha, a private organization working with poor farmers, and Agricultural Educators Forum jointly sponsored the seminar which was attended by about 100 University teachers, researchers, representatives from nongovernment organizations and private companies, and journalists.

Papers were presented on global and Bangladesh status of GM crops, regulatory framework for GMOs, biosafety, bio-patenting, royalties, and attitude and social acceptance of biotechnology. Glasshouse and confined field trials of biotech crops such as Bt brinjal, RB potato and Golden rice are currently on-going. Acceptance of these products were deemed favorable as long as the products are proven to be safe for human health, to the environment and has passed through stringent tests and regulatory process.

For details of the seminar email nasirbiotech@yahoo.com