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Chinese biopharmaceutical and healthcare industries and governmental policies
Abstracts / Journal of Biotechnology 136S (2008) S3–S5
farm income and reduced use of chemical pesticides. Environmental benefits of biotechnology trait use include reduction in chemical pesticide load on the environment, increased use of conservation tillage, which in turn reduces soil erosion, and reduced greenhouse gas emissions due to reduced equipment use in tillage and chemical pesticide application. Societal benefits of agricultural biotechnology include increased yield of crops for food, feed and fuel use, increased farm incomes and improved farmer productivity. As the world’s population is estimated to grow to over nine billion people and as dietary shifts increase the demand for improved diets, there is a need for greatly increased crop yields over the coming decades, while at the same time producing crops in as sustainable a manner as possible. Biotechnology is one tool, along with improvements in plant breeding and agronomic practices, which will contribute to increasing crop yields in a sustainable fashion. Continued development of next generation traits for insect and weed control is expected. In addition, the next several years will see the introduction of new biotechnology traits that directly increase crop yields (intrinsic yield), traits that improve crop tolerance to abiotic stresses such as drought, and traits such as nitrogen use efficiency that improve crop productivity without a commensurate increase in inputs. The use of existing and new biotechnology traits, improvements in plant breeding driven by DNA marker assisted breeding, and improvements in agronomic practices, are predicted to double yields of major crops such as corn and soybean by 2030. This increased yield will allow society to meet the demand for crops for food, feed and fuel. doi:10.1016/j.jbiotec.2008.07.1851 PL-08 Chinese biopharmaceutical and healthcare industries and governmental policies Zhu Chen doi:10.1016/j.jbiotec.2008.07.1852
S5
PL-09 Marine genomics and its impact on biotechnology Giorgio Bernardi doi:10.1016/j.jbiotec.2008.07.1853 PL-10 Roots, promotion and impact of technological innovation Werner Arber Biozentrum, University of Basel, Klingelbergstrasse 70, CH-4056 Basel, Switzerland E-mail address: [email protected]. Technological innovations largely depend on the available scientific knowledge which, in turn, depends on the available research strategies. Scientific knowledge represents cultural values with impact both on our worldview and on technological applications. In order to insure sustainability of innovations, technology assessment, as well as policy assessment on solid scientific grounds should be mandatory before the wide introduction of technological innovations. These principles will be discussed in the context of genetic engineering and of its biotechnological applications. Special attention will thereby be paid to the roots of molecular genetics, to risk assessment and to potential benefits of biotechnology. Comparison of strategies of genetic engineering with the natural strategies of biological evolution turned out to be of great help in risk assessments. Long-term expectations of future beneficial developments can represent a guidance for biotechnological innovations and can contribute to their public acceptance. doi:10.1016/j.jbiotec.2008.07.1854
farm income and reduced use of chemical pesticides. Environmental benefits of biotechnology trait use include reduction in chemical pesticide load on the environment, increased use of conservation tillage, which in turn reduces soil erosion, and reduced greenhouse gas emissions due to reduced equipment use in tillage and chemical pesticide application. Societal benefits of agricultural biotechnology include increased yield of crops for food, feed and fuel use, increased farm incomes and improved farmer productivity. As the world’s population is estimated to grow to over nine billion people and as dietary shifts increase the demand for improved diets, there is a need for greatly increased crop yields over the coming decades, while at the same time producing crops in as sustainable a manner as possible. Biotechnology is one tool, along with improvements in plant breeding and agronomic practices, which will contribute to increasing crop yields in a sustainable fashion. Continued development of next generation traits for insect and weed control is expected. In addition, the next several years will see the introduction of new biotechnology traits that directly increase crop yields (intrinsic yield), traits that improve crop tolerance to abiotic stresses such as drought, and traits such as nitrogen use efficiency that improve crop productivity without a commensurate increase in inputs. The use of existing and new biotechnology traits, improvements in plant breeding driven by DNA marker assisted breeding, and improvements in agronomic practices, are predicted to double yields of major crops such as corn and soybean by 2030. This increased yield will allow society to meet the demand for crops for food, feed and fuel. doi:10.1016/j.jbiotec.2008.07.1851 PL-08 Chinese biopharmaceutical and healthcare industries and governmental policies Zhu Chen doi:10.1016/j.jbiotec.2008.07.1852
S5
PL-09 Marine genomics and its impact on biotechnology Giorgio Bernardi doi:10.1016/j.jbiotec.2008.07.1853 PL-10 Roots, promotion and impact of technological innovation Werner Arber Biozentrum, University of Basel, Klingelbergstrasse 70, CH-4056 Basel, Switzerland E-mail address: [email protected]. Technological innovations largely depend on the available scientific knowledge which, in turn, depends on the available research strategies. Scientific knowledge represents cultural values with impact both on our worldview and on technological applications. In order to insure sustainability of innovations, technology assessment, as well as policy assessment on solid scientific grounds should be mandatory before the wide introduction of technological innovations. These principles will be discussed in the context of genetic engineering and of its biotechnological applications. Special attention will thereby be paid to the roots of molecular genetics, to risk assessment and to potential benefits of biotechnology. Comparison of strategies of genetic engineering with the natural strategies of biological evolution turned out to be of great help in risk assessments. Long-term expectations of future beneficial developments can represent a guidance for biotechnological innovations and can contribute to their public acceptance. doi:10.1016/j.jbiotec.2008.07.1854