Atomic Energy Commission Director General Dr Yousuf Zafar has said that despite the late start, the country has achieved a substantial economic gain through the application of biotechnology (cotton). Using Pakistan as a model country, he urged the other OIC nations to move forward in bringing forth biotechnology for solving the problem of food insecurity. He was speaking at the three-day international workshop entitled, “Applications of modern biotechnology in Muslim countries- specific issues and challenges” which began in Islamabad on the morning of 27th Feb 2012 in COMSTECH Headquarters in Islamabad.
Thirty five top biotechnologists from seven countries are participating in this high level policy level meeting. This includes representatives of ISAAA (v), Iranian Biotechnology Information Center (IrBIC), Bangladesh Biotechnology Information Center (BdBIC), Atomic Energy Commission and Pakistan Biotechnology Information Center (PABIC).
Prof. Dr. M. Iqbal Choudhary, Director PABIC presented an overview of the status of applications of biotechnology in OIC region. He urged the participants to identify the bottlenecks which are hindering the much needed applications of biotechnology, despite genuine needs.
He reminded the participants that most of the OIC nations are net importer of food commodities. Food inflation is among the highest in Pakistan and Muslim countries.
He also presented the statistics that only three Muslim countries, out of 57 nations have achieved commercialisation of biotech crops. Dr. Mariechel J. Navarro and Dr. Rhodora Aldemita of the ISAAA presented global overview of the biotechnology applications in developed and developing countries. They said that in 32 biotech cropping countries, the area under biotech cultivation is steadily increasing; bringing tremendous benefit to the national economies. She also presented the ISAAA’s enabling role in the promotion of biotechnology in the world and bringing the reliable statistics to the world. Prof. Behzad Gerzyari of IrBIC reviewed various world agreements and conventions which urge nations to promote biotechnology applications for the well being of the general masses, while following the best practices in bio-safety. He presented the case studies of Iran and Turkey where despite a strong research base, various factors have hindered the commercialisation of biotechnology. Dr Mahalactumy Arjun, Executive Director MABIC presented a lecture about the projection of world population and growing world need of food and fiber. Her presentation clearly represented that if biotechnological advancements are not used for meeting the challenges, a major crisis is expected which may lead to food related riots and civil war.