BIOTECHNOLOGY IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES


important even for countries which do not have an active policy for bio-
technology development, because they are potential importers of the prod-
ucts.


 CONCLUSIONS

 Various issues have to be raised for both national and international con-
sideration in the effort to bring about biotechnology development for the
benefit of the developing countries. Up to now, most of the benefit from
new biotechnology is mainly concentrated in the developed countries,
which have the advantage of existing scientific, industrial, and economic
infrastructure. Yet, many developing countries have comparative advan-
tage in containing rich bioresources as raw materials for potential products
of biotechnology. In order to succeed in developing these bioresources spe-
cifically, or to gain a foothold in bioindustries in general, they need to have
effective means of promoting buildup of required manpower and endoge-
nous R&D capability as well as receiving transferred technology.
 National efforts to achieve these goals may vary with the original status
of biotechnology, and with the unique socioeconomic and industrial infra-
structure of each developing country. Institutional measures which have
been taken in selected examples examined here include establishment of
national centers and network for support and implementation of impor-
tant biotechnology projects. Policy issues concerning priority areas, link-
age with the industries, protection of intellectual property, conservation of
genetic resources and biosafety also need to be considered at the national
level. Whatever mechanisms are taken, the participation of scientists, in-
dustrialists, and policy makers of varied backgrounds is needed because of
the broad and interdisciplinary nature of biotechnology and its applica-
tions.
 There have been some international efforts for biotechnology develop-
ment for the benefit of developing countries. These efforts have sensitized
a number of countries to the potentials of the technology, but so far have
not resulted in substantive cooperative measures, although the attempts to
establish the International Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotech-
nology deserve a mention in this regard. Future efforts are much needed
both from the developing countries and the developed countries. For hu-
manitarian reasons alone, the developed countries which have the biotech-
nological means to solve the problems of hunger, disease, and subsistence
in general would be obligated to help the struggling developing countries.
However, the input from developed countries toward development of bio-