The Situation of Agricultural Biotechnology Capacities and Exploitation in Latin America and the Caribbean

Abstract

Agricultural biotechnology research and related support activities inLatin America and the Caribbean began in the late 1970s. With fewexceptions, however, these activities have not evolved as expected,particularly as regards the commercial exploitation of biotechnologies.Apart from comparatively simple techniques, such as diagnostics andmicropropagation, most activities at the commercial level are linked tothe importation and release of technologies developed by multinationalcompanies. For the most part, the region's national agriculturalresearch systems are too fragmented and they do not take advantage ofthe potential benefits of partnerships between the public and privatesectors. Furthermore, little emphasis in biotechnology research isplaced on tackling the problems of resource-poor farmers. Overall,chronic underinvestment in general agricultural research andparticularly in agricultural biotechnology - is the region's mostserious problem with respect to related innovation development.