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Appropriate biotechnology in less developed countries
Conservation & RecycZing,Vol.S,No.l, pp.75-77, 1982. 0361-3658/82/010075-03$03.00/O Pergamon Press Ltd. Printed in Great Britain.
APPROPRIATE BIOTECHNOLOGY IN LESS DEVELOPED COUNTRIES H.W. DOELLE Department of Microbiology, University
St.
Lucia,
Queensland,
4067,
of Queensland, Australia
The term "Appropriate Biotechnology" has been mentioned many times throughout this workshop. It has, however, been used in my opinion in different contexts. In some instances I have the impressionthat the term was used to specify "appropriate" to the economy of a particular process, in other cases to specify the particular process appropriate to the country or region. What is therefore the meaning of "Appropriate Biotechnology"? Further on, the title of our Panel Discussion gives the impression that we have an appropriate biotechnology in less developed countries. Do we also have one in or for developed countries? These are questions which need to be raised and answered in order to clarify the terminology. Personally, I do not believe that there does or ever will exist a single universal appropriate technological process, that is, a biotechnological process developed "appropriately" for the use in every region of the world. A biotechnological process can be developed in one country and transferred to another, which then will modify the process~accordingto its conditions. This system, however, is "biotechnological transfer", an entirely different concept. Under the term "appropriate biotechnology"1 understand biotechnological processes or concepts developed uniquely for the particular nation or region, which may not be applicable or appropriate to another region. Appropriate Biotechnology can therefore engulf processes or technologies which are economic for one nation and unenconomic for another whether these countries are developed or less developed. In order to develop an appropriate biotechnology, resources available together with the social structure of the population are of vital importance. The motivation for any development effort should be either to satisfy basic needs, such as food, shelter and human life conditions or to improve standards, for example, by providing more material or intellectual goods, by improving working conditions or by increasing public participation in decision-making and discussions of long-range social planning, as indicated by Sdrensen (1). Traditionally, the growth of technology and the application of economic planning considerations have been the principal factors in long range development. As we realized during the VIth International Fermentation Symposium and during our discussions at this workshop, one has to recognize that the decision processes in long range planning are strongly influenced or even dominated by social, political and cultural factors. As Prof. C. Rolz (7) from ICAITI said during one of the Sessions of the VIth International Fermentation Symposium: "It is often the need and not the economics of the process, which is of importance." Here seems to lie one of the cardinal differences between the thoughts of appropriate technology in developed from those in less developed
75
76
H.W. DOELLE
countries. One should realize that it is the aspirations of the people, the social and political environment in which growth occurs, and the public administration and public policy strategies by which a nation attempts to meet its goal (Thomas and Baguant (11) ). One has to learn to understand and to work with these social and political processes if one wants to be effective in helping to solve the development problems. We have heard and learned during this course examples of appropriate biotechnology in Canada (single cell protein from agricultural wastes; utilization of cheese' whey etc.), in France (gasohol production and its socio-economic implications), in the United Kingdom (piggery waste recycle) as examples from developed countries as well as a series of contributions during our discussions from less developed countries such as Mexico, Indonesia, Brazil, India and Peru. As far as the latter countries are concerned, we learned about the lack of infrastructure to carry out the developmental work and the enormous social problems which exist for the introduction of new technology into remote rural areas as outlined by E. Olguin; P. Arbianto (1). In order to improve basic needs in the rural areas, the biotechnologist has to go to the villages to learn the social structure of the community and their basic needs before any planned development can occur. He has to convince and demonstrate to the community that the proposed development brings improvement and at the same time train people from this community to supervise and control the process envisaged. As our participants from Mexico and Indonesia tried to explain, this aspect is one of the most difficult tasks to achieve. From these considerations it should become obvious, that one of the biggest problems for the development of an appropriate technology in any of the less developed countries is the lack of skilled manpower, researchers and scientists. In the developing countries, this vital pool of resources cannot be built overnight. Educational workshops, like the present one, and manpower training programmes at microbiological resources centres (MIRCENS) or other biotechnology institutions can be of tremendous use in this respect as they serve to stress the application of basic techniques to resources locally available as recorded by DeSilva and Doelle (8). Such an approach must be reflected in a reorientation of technological developments that adopt or improve traditional indigenous technology as described by Arbianto (l), that also accept a scientific "modern" technology, revive an old technology, adapt a modern technology and promote regional exchange and cooperation. It is important, however, that the primary motivations are never lost from sight. The priorities in one area may be quite different from those in another. A prime example of such an approach was given by Prof. Taguchi (10) in his contribution on the activities of the cooperative research and training programmes, which exist between Japan and Thailand. This takesone to the second term mentioned at the beginning: "Biotechnology Transfer". Rose (8) states that technological development is an autocatalytic process, whereby technology spawns new technologies. A technology appropriate for a less developed country should therefore focus on the development of technologists. As we have learned earlier, this is in many instances an impossible task for these countries. Many cases are known, whereby these less developed countries have been using developed countries' technology without modification as indicated by Reid and Muiga (6). Such a concept must be doomed to failure. There are significant examples of water and waste water treatment processes that simply turned out to be incompatible indicated earlier, the techwith the manpower and natural resources available. As nological process developed in one country cannot be transferred into another without appropriate modifications. The decision-makers from the less developed countries should therefore study the general technology available and developed around the globe and choose or select that process which could be modified best and with the least manpower requirement to suit their own requirement. Examples were reported
APPROPRIATE BIOTECHNOLOGY IN LESS DEVELOPED COUNTRIES
77
by a group of biotechnologists from Chile (Asenjo et ai!.(2) > and from Kuwait (Hamdan and Hamer (5) ). Of course, such transfer of biotechnology must be accompanied with a training course for personnel. In this respect, on-the-spot training is of vital importance. In this connection I may also add my answer to the question raised during this discussion in regard to where the results from the foreign aid programme are given by developed countries to the less developed countries. I strongly believe and like to make a plea to the authorities of developed countries to channel foreign aid into biotechnology transfer, modification and development projects with on-the-spot training courses. Such a cooperation, in my opinion, would be the most effective one in regard to advances in the development of an appropriate biotechnology for the developing countries. In bridging the technological gap that tends to grow between the developed and developing countries, it is further necessary that leading research centres in universities enter on a regional basis into a mutual exchange of scientists engaged in collaborative research work, and conduct on a rotational basis programmes for the development of trained skilled manpower. Such programmes do exist as seen by Ghose (4); Taguchi (lo), but are far too few in numbers. In conclusion, Mr. Chairman, may I emphasize that I am very encouraged from what I have learned and heard at this workshop about the progress made in the development of appropriate biotechnology in the less developed countries. There is no doubt that these countries require help in form of biotechnology transfer and particularly in the training and advice of biotechnologists and technical personnel. Researchers and advisers from developed countries should, however, realize, that requirements, resources and social structures are very different in the less developed countries and that a proper assessment for an appropriate biotechnology for the particular country can only be carried out in that particular country and not from outside institutions.
REFERENCES 1. P. Arbianto. The indigenous fermentation process. VIth Intern. Fern. Symposium. (1980). 2. J.A. Asenjo, R. Gonzalez, F. Montes de Oca, G. Parisi and I. Contreras. Some aspects of the potential of an intermediate microbial technology. VIth Intern. Ferm. Symposiwn. (1980). 3. E.J. DaSilva and H.W. Doelle. Microbial technology and its potential for developing countries. Process Biochem. 15(3), 2-6. (1980). 4. T. Ghose. A model for cooperation in biotechnology between a developed and developing country. VIth Intern. Femn.Symposiwn. (1980). 5. I.Y. Hamdan and G. Hamer. Developments in biotechnology in Kuwait. VIth Intern. Fen. Symposium. (1980). 6. G.W. Reid and M.I. Muiga. Low cost water and waste water treatment in developing countries and appropriate technology problems. In AppropriateTechnology for underdevelopedCountries,p. 454-455.Second Intern. Symp. ,Zngineering, San Salvador. (1979). 7. C.E. Rolz. Biotechnology and bioengineering research in Central America. VIth Intem.Ferm. Symposium. (1980). 8. K.E. Rose. Engineering school faculties as agents in technology transfer and the expansion of technology. In Appropriate TechnoZogyfor underdeveloped Countries,p. 137-144. Second Intern. Symp. Engineering, San Salvador. 9. B. Sdrensen. Energy technology and social structure. In AppropriateTechnoZogy for underdeveZopedCountries,p. 38-55. Second Inert. Symp. Drgineering,San Salvador. (1979). 10. H. Taguchi. Activity of the Inernational Center of Cooperative Research and Development in microbial engineering. VIth Inem. Ferm. Symposium. (1980). 11. C.O. Thomas and .I.Baguant. Resource utilization in emerging nations. Technical, economic and policy relationships. In AppropriateTechnoZogyfor underdeveloped Countries,p. l-37. Second Intern. Symp. Engineering,San Salvador (1979)
APPROPRIATE BIOTECHNOLOGY IN LESS DEVELOPED COUNTRIES H.W. DOELLE Department of Microbiology, University
St.
Lucia,
Queensland,
4067,
of Queensland, Australia
The term "Appropriate Biotechnology" has been mentioned many times throughout this workshop. It has, however, been used in my opinion in different contexts. In some instances I have the impressionthat the term was used to specify "appropriate" to the economy of a particular process, in other cases to specify the particular process appropriate to the country or region. What is therefore the meaning of "Appropriate Biotechnology"? Further on, the title of our Panel Discussion gives the impression that we have an appropriate biotechnology in less developed countries. Do we also have one in or for developed countries? These are questions which need to be raised and answered in order to clarify the terminology. Personally, I do not believe that there does or ever will exist a single universal appropriate technological process, that is, a biotechnological process developed "appropriately" for the use in every region of the world. A biotechnological process can be developed in one country and transferred to another, which then will modify the process~accordingto its conditions. This system, however, is "biotechnological transfer", an entirely different concept. Under the term "appropriate biotechnology"1 understand biotechnological processes or concepts developed uniquely for the particular nation or region, which may not be applicable or appropriate to another region. Appropriate Biotechnology can therefore engulf processes or technologies which are economic for one nation and unenconomic for another whether these countries are developed or less developed. In order to develop an appropriate biotechnology, resources available together with the social structure of the population are of vital importance. The motivation for any development effort should be either to satisfy basic needs, such as food, shelter and human life conditions or to improve standards, for example, by providing more material or intellectual goods, by improving working conditions or by increasing public participation in decision-making and discussions of long-range social planning, as indicated by Sdrensen (1). Traditionally, the growth of technology and the application of economic planning considerations have been the principal factors in long range development. As we realized during the VIth International Fermentation Symposium and during our discussions at this workshop, one has to recognize that the decision processes in long range planning are strongly influenced or even dominated by social, political and cultural factors. As Prof. C. Rolz (7) from ICAITI said during one of the Sessions of the VIth International Fermentation Symposium: "It is often the need and not the economics of the process, which is of importance." Here seems to lie one of the cardinal differences between the thoughts of appropriate technology in developed from those in less developed
75
76
H.W. DOELLE
countries. One should realize that it is the aspirations of the people, the social and political environment in which growth occurs, and the public administration and public policy strategies by which a nation attempts to meet its goal (Thomas and Baguant (11) ). One has to learn to understand and to work with these social and political processes if one wants to be effective in helping to solve the development problems. We have heard and learned during this course examples of appropriate biotechnology in Canada (single cell protein from agricultural wastes; utilization of cheese' whey etc.), in France (gasohol production and its socio-economic implications), in the United Kingdom (piggery waste recycle) as examples from developed countries as well as a series of contributions during our discussions from less developed countries such as Mexico, Indonesia, Brazil, India and Peru. As far as the latter countries are concerned, we learned about the lack of infrastructure to carry out the developmental work and the enormous social problems which exist for the introduction of new technology into remote rural areas as outlined by E. Olguin; P. Arbianto (1). In order to improve basic needs in the rural areas, the biotechnologist has to go to the villages to learn the social structure of the community and their basic needs before any planned development can occur. He has to convince and demonstrate to the community that the proposed development brings improvement and at the same time train people from this community to supervise and control the process envisaged. As our participants from Mexico and Indonesia tried to explain, this aspect is one of the most difficult tasks to achieve. From these considerations it should become obvious, that one of the biggest problems for the development of an appropriate technology in any of the less developed countries is the lack of skilled manpower, researchers and scientists. In the developing countries, this vital pool of resources cannot be built overnight. Educational workshops, like the present one, and manpower training programmes at microbiological resources centres (MIRCENS) or other biotechnology institutions can be of tremendous use in this respect as they serve to stress the application of basic techniques to resources locally available as recorded by DeSilva and Doelle (8). Such an approach must be reflected in a reorientation of technological developments that adopt or improve traditional indigenous technology as described by Arbianto (l), that also accept a scientific "modern" technology, revive an old technology, adapt a modern technology and promote regional exchange and cooperation. It is important, however, that the primary motivations are never lost from sight. The priorities in one area may be quite different from those in another. A prime example of such an approach was given by Prof. Taguchi (10) in his contribution on the activities of the cooperative research and training programmes, which exist between Japan and Thailand. This takesone to the second term mentioned at the beginning: "Biotechnology Transfer". Rose (8) states that technological development is an autocatalytic process, whereby technology spawns new technologies. A technology appropriate for a less developed country should therefore focus on the development of technologists. As we have learned earlier, this is in many instances an impossible task for these countries. Many cases are known, whereby these less developed countries have been using developed countries' technology without modification as indicated by Reid and Muiga (6). Such a concept must be doomed to failure. There are significant examples of water and waste water treatment processes that simply turned out to be incompatible indicated earlier, the techwith the manpower and natural resources available. As nological process developed in one country cannot be transferred into another without appropriate modifications. The decision-makers from the less developed countries should therefore study the general technology available and developed around the globe and choose or select that process which could be modified best and with the least manpower requirement to suit their own requirement. Examples were reported
APPROPRIATE BIOTECHNOLOGY IN LESS DEVELOPED COUNTRIES
77
by a group of biotechnologists from Chile (Asenjo et ai!.(2) > and from Kuwait (Hamdan and Hamer (5) ). Of course, such transfer of biotechnology must be accompanied with a training course for personnel. In this respect, on-the-spot training is of vital importance. In this connection I may also add my answer to the question raised during this discussion in regard to where the results from the foreign aid programme are given by developed countries to the less developed countries. I strongly believe and like to make a plea to the authorities of developed countries to channel foreign aid into biotechnology transfer, modification and development projects with on-the-spot training courses. Such a cooperation, in my opinion, would be the most effective one in regard to advances in the development of an appropriate biotechnology for the developing countries. In bridging the technological gap that tends to grow between the developed and developing countries, it is further necessary that leading research centres in universities enter on a regional basis into a mutual exchange of scientists engaged in collaborative research work, and conduct on a rotational basis programmes for the development of trained skilled manpower. Such programmes do exist as seen by Ghose (4); Taguchi (lo), but are far too few in numbers. In conclusion, Mr. Chairman, may I emphasize that I am very encouraged from what I have learned and heard at this workshop about the progress made in the development of appropriate biotechnology in the less developed countries. There is no doubt that these countries require help in form of biotechnology transfer and particularly in the training and advice of biotechnologists and technical personnel. Researchers and advisers from developed countries should, however, realize, that requirements, resources and social structures are very different in the less developed countries and that a proper assessment for an appropriate biotechnology for the particular country can only be carried out in that particular country and not from outside institutions.
REFERENCES 1. P. Arbianto. The indigenous fermentation process. VIth Intern. Fern. Symposium. (1980). 2. J.A. Asenjo, R. Gonzalez, F. Montes de Oca, G. Parisi and I. Contreras. Some aspects of the potential of an intermediate microbial technology. VIth Intern. Ferm. Symposiwn. (1980). 3. E.J. DaSilva and H.W. Doelle. Microbial technology and its potential for developing countries. Process Biochem. 15(3), 2-6. (1980). 4. T. Ghose. A model for cooperation in biotechnology between a developed and developing country. VIth Intern. Femn.Symposiwn. (1980). 5. I.Y. Hamdan and G. Hamer. Developments in biotechnology in Kuwait. VIth Intern. Fen. Symposium. (1980). 6. G.W. Reid and M.I. Muiga. Low cost water and waste water treatment in developing countries and appropriate technology problems. In AppropriateTechnology for underdevelopedCountries,p. 454-455.Second Intern. Symp. ,Zngineering, San Salvador. (1979). 7. C.E. Rolz. Biotechnology and bioengineering research in Central America. VIth Intem.Ferm. Symposium. (1980). 8. K.E. Rose. Engineering school faculties as agents in technology transfer and the expansion of technology. In Appropriate TechnoZogyfor underdeveloped Countries,p. 137-144. Second Intern. Symp. Engineering, San Salvador. 9. B. Sdrensen. Energy technology and social structure. In AppropriateTechnoZogy for underdeveZopedCountries,p. 38-55. Second Inert. Symp. Drgineering,San Salvador. (1979). 10. H. Taguchi. Activity of the Inernational Center of Cooperative Research and Development in microbial engineering. VIth Inem. Ferm. Symposium. (1980). 11. C.O. Thomas and .I.Baguant. Resource utilization in emerging nations. Technical, economic and policy relationships. In AppropriateTechnoZogyfor underdeveloped Countries,p. l-37. Second Intern. Symp. Engineering,San Salvador (1979)