From 1996 to 2012 there has been increasingly successful commercialization of biotech crops on a global scale. Land taken up by biotech crops has increased annually over the past seventeen years, reflecting a growing confidence of farming communities both in developing and industrial countries. There are many examples, especially in developing countries, where the biotech industry has significantly been transformed while effectively addressing the local population’s needs.
Thailand | Biotech Crops
Rice cultivation is a major crop and economic contributor in Thailand. The majority of the country’s farmland is composed of rain-fed, lowland rice fields, and are affected by flash floods, drought, infestation and disease, Researchers in Thailand have identified genetic traits which can be used to produce new rice strains that are more resistant to these types of environmental stresses.
Qatar | Biotech Crops
In Qatar, new irrigation methods have been developed using biotechnology to transform what was once desert. Scientists at Qatar’s Biotechnology Center, funded by the government and in collaboration with a private biotech company, have discovered a way to convert the country’s dry salt flats to usable soil by applying a special fungus which enhances the ability of plant roots to absorb water.
Kenya
Last year, Kenyaadopted biosafety regulations, paving the way for the planting and development of biotech crops. The new regulatory environment allows local scientists to collaborate with companies and NGOs abroad, and set up Kenyan biotech research centers to develop biotech crops tailored to the country’s specific needs – such as the recently developed drought-tolerant maize and virus-resistant cassava.
Summary
As the biotech industry becomes more established in countries which previously lacked a strong biotech sector, much of the effort is being focused on the development of more innovative products that will improve agricultural yield and resistance to environmental factors, especially critical in parts of the world where food sources are insufficient. With the motivation to identify new solutions for local problems in many developing countries, the agri-bio industry is quickly evolving .
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