Biotech Updates

Vietnam Seeks to Develop Safe Biotech System

September 2, 2011

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) hosted a seminar in Hanoi on August 16 to seek effective strategies to develop a safe biotechnology system in Vietnam. In his talk, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Bui Ba Bong said that application of biotechnology in agriculture was both an opportunity and a challenge to Vietnam, since the country is now in its initial stage of biotech research related to genetic modifications and biological, environmental, and human health risks.

Vietnam has already issued a set of legal documents relating to biotech safety and development, as well as policies on cooperation and experience exchange with other countries. The state has made it a priority to produce new varieties of plants and animals of high quality and economic competitiveness and to develop the national biotech sector to regional standards, Bong added. Setting up and establishing a biotechnology safety system such as the Net-Mapping developed by IFPRI in 2008 would make the strategies feasible.

See the original news at http://en.vietnamplus.vn/Home/Vietnam-seeks-to-develop-safe-biotech-system/20118/20299.vnplus.