Biotech Updates

Vietnam Supports GM Research

October 10, 2008

Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung recently approved a pilot programme to develop and apply biotechnology in agriculture and animal husbandry till 2020. Under this plan, Vietnam will put some genetically modified  (GM)crops in mass production and then clone animals. Annually the state budget will spend around VND100 billion ($6.25 million) on this programme. “Local farmers would get another 100 USD in profit per hectare of corn if they apply new gene modification technology,” said Nguyen Quoc Binh, Deputy Director of the HCM City Biotechnology Center in a recently concluded symposium.

Maize, soybean, cassava, and potato are crops that Vietnam needs to genetically modify to improve productivity as soon as possible, said Dr. Binh. Vietnam allows the development of GM plants and animals and genetic modification has been used on rice, maize and cotton. In addition,GM livestock feeds have entered the country through legal and illegal means, and are being used by the farmers.

For details see the article in English at http://english.vietnamnet.vn/tech/2008/10/806498/. For information on biotechnology in Vietnam contact Hien Le of Agbiotech Vietnam at: hientttm@yahoo.com