(for illustration only. Photo: GD&TD)

PANO - The US Embassy and the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) co-hosted a conference entitled “Vietnam Biotech: Growing the Future” on September 24 in Hanoi.

According to the US Embassy, the lecture series brings together researchers, policymakers, and students to discuss the benefits of agricultural biotechnology for Vietnam’s food security, healthcare, and climate change adaptation. This is the sixth such collaboration following successful events in 2008-2012.  

In this conference, Dr. Paul Teng, Dean of Office of Graduate Studies at Singapore National Institute of Education, presented the role of biotechnology to address climate change effects on Vietnam’s food security. Dr. Teng noted how the rice-producing Mekong Delta is particularly vulnerable to climate change. 

Meanwhile, Dr. Guy Heathers, Director of Technology Development at the National Cancer Centre in Singapore, spoke on biotechnology advances in medicine and healthcare. He stressed the benefits that biotechnology brings to healthcare - an important issue as people live longer and more active lives.

Agriculture biotech has grown substantially since its first commercial introduction in 1996. In 2011, over 16 million farmers worldwide planted 160 million hectares of crops enhanced with biotechnology. Approximately 90 percent of these farmers live in developing countries. 

The global net economic benefit of biotechnology in 2008 alone was estimated at US$9.2 billion, over half of which went to farmers in developing countries. These benefits arise from gains in production yields and a reduction in production costs. 

The benefits of agriculture biotechnology in Vietnam will increase incomes and raise the standard of living for the country’s rural residents, who comprise 70 percent of the population. 

Dien Vy