BIOTECHNOLOGY IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES


dom on farming techniques, fermentation methods, etc., which can serve
as a base for development of new biotechnology. However, the bulk of new
biotechnology presently making an impact on the industrial world is sci-
ence-based and depends on existing industrial infrastructure. While a
comprehensive survey of the scientific and industrial infrastructure rele-
vant to the development of biotechnology in various countries of the devel-
oping world is still lacking, a glimpse can be obtained, for example, from
Table 3 which shows basic facts about disparities in science and technology
between developed and developing countries (UN, 1979). Obviously, inter-
national cooperation is needed for promotion of biotechnology in the de-
veloping world. Since the developing world represents a large potential
market and carries vast bioresources, this promotion should be in the inter-
est of the developed and developing world alike.

 Table 3. Some quick facts about disparities in science and technology
between developed and developing countries.
Distribution of World Research and US Dollars Percentage
Development Expenditures in 1973 billions of world total
 World total 96.4 100.0
 Developing countries 2.8 2.9
 Developed countries 93.6 97.1
Distribution Researchers (Research
 and Development Scientists and Percentage
 Engineers) in 1973 Thousands of world total
 World Total 2279 100.0
 Developing countries 288 12.6
 Developed countries 1990 87.4
Source: UN (1979).



 INTERNATIONAL AND REGIONAL STATUS OF
 BIOTECHNOLOGY COOPERATION

 International and regional attempts to harness life sciences for the bene-
fit of agriculture, health, and the economy of the developing world in
general were launched even before the impact of genetic engineering
started to be felt. The International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) in the