At its concluding session, the first-ever National Conference on Bio-technology has called upon the Federal Government for immediate finalisation of biosafety and ethical issues and government-private sector collaboration for the development and production of bio-technology.
The moot also stressed the need for urgent steps for the speedy induction and promotion of bio-technology at all levels and also to seek "professional assistance for developing a business model".
The three-day conference, held in Nathiagali, ended last weekend and was attended by over 60 scientists and research scholars engaged in various fields. The majority, however, was from the agricultural sector and they shared their research experiences and achievements with fellow participants.
The main stress of the conference was on development of new cotton, rice and wheat varieties which can stand the drought and heat stress. Work on improvement of fruits, like seedless Kinno mandarin, better tasting and durable types of peaches and bananas was also discussed.
A paper read out by researchers from Azad Kashmir and Northern Areas spoke of identification of plants for the dietic, medicinal, soil stabilisation and reclamation, fuel, fodder and other commercial values.
The paper spoke of successful isolation of bioactive compounds like flavonides, alkaloids, vitamins, oils, lycopene and phytosterols and potential plants changing "global environment scenario", but did not list them by name.
The concluding session, which was presided over by Dr Anwer Nasim, Chairman of the National Commission on Biotechnology (NCB), also recommended holding of a "major national conference" on the subject in March next year. Besides it, decided to hold workshops for journalists and conferences on health, industry and environmental biotechnology.
It also decide to create a website of the NCB, compile a directory of biotechnologists, develop human resources in the field, strengthen teaching and training in basic fields of microbiology, genetics and biochemistry as well as the Biotechnology Research Institute.
Another important recommendation of the Conference was to educate other research institutes in intellectual property rights.