Sunday, August 2, 2009

Biotechnology Can Overcome the World Hunger

Bioteknologi Bisa Atasi Kelaparan Dunia
World Food Organization (FAO) assess the potential of biotechnology improve the welfare of the poor in rural areas of developing countries.

It is said by the Assistant Director General of FAO, Madibo Traore, on behalf of the Director General of FAO, in a conference in Guadalajara Mexico for four days that lasted until March 4.

Agriculture Attache Embassy Rome Erizal Sodikin, told AFP correspondent London, Wednesday, saying the conference was to discuss aspects of biotechnology in the broad sense.

Conference theme: "Technical Conference on Agricultural Technology in Developing Countries: Options and Opportunities in Crop, Forestry, Animal Husbandry, Fisheries, and Agro-industry to face the challenge of Food Security, and Climate Change"

According to Madibo Traore, modern biotechnology and conventional is a very potential tool for the agricultural sector in the broad sense, including fisheries and forestry.

Nevertheless, biotechnology has not given an adequate influence on the lives of farmers in developing countries.

The conference is to discuss aspects of biotechnology in this broader sense, not directed to focus on the theme of discussion about GMOs (Genetically Modified Organisms), which is the theme of a controversial nature, avoid the aspects associated with politics.

Question above is one of the main questions raised in the discussion that occurred at a conference on biotechnology in developing countries.

Acting as the main sponsor of this conference is the FAO, IFAD, CGIAR, and the Mexican government.

According to Erizal Sodikin, other issues are also a major question is the extent to which the role of biotechnology for improving the welfare of rural poor in developing countries.

The conference attracted around 200 participants from over 50 countries and delegates of international organizations and NGOs of the world, including Indonesia, represented by the Ministry of Agriculture delegates institutions, the Ministry of Forestry, and the elements of Rome and the Embassy Embassy Maksiko.

In his statement, the FAO also expressed some biotechnology innovations produced, for example, African hybrid rice, dairy cow milk results in Bangladesh, the use of DNA based methods for detection of shrimp diseases in India