Co-organised by the US Embassy in Vietnam and the Ho Chi Minh City Biotechnology Centre, the event saw a crowd of Vietnamese and foreign experts and scientists operating in the field.
Participants focused their analysis on great potential of genetically modified crops, especially maize, and their role in trimming greenhouse gases and increasing economic efficiency in Vietnam.
US Consul General to Ho Chi Minh City Rena Bitter said that biotechnology not only helps increase agricultural productivity but also limit greenhouse gases from agricultural production activities and make countries adaptive to climate change.
According to Dr. Leonardo Gonzales from the Philippines, through cultivating genetically modified maize, many farmers get a higher income and use less labour than growing normal maize varieties.
He proposed that regional nations, including Vietnam, should increase investment in biotechnology research and application in agricultural production so as to create strategic genetically modified products by themselves.
Duong Hoa Xo from the Ho Chi Minh City Biotechnology Centre said the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development issued a decision allowing the four genetically modified maize varieties of Bt 11, MIR 162, MON 89034 and NK 603 to be used as food for human and animals in Vietnam.
This is considered a stride made by Vietnam in accessing the world’s genetically modified crop varieties, he noted.
At the workshop, attendees also deliberated about plans to switch from rice cultivation to the growing of maize and other crops in the Mekong Delta region, challenges for the cattle-breeding sector and measures to promote biotechnology application in the future.
US Consul General to Ho Chi Minh City Rena Bitter said that biotechnology not only helps increase agricultural productivity but also limit greenhouse gases from agricultural production activities and make countries adaptive to climate change.
According to Dr. Leonardo Gonzales from the Philippines, through cultivating genetically modified maize, many farmers get a higher income and use less labour than growing normal maize varieties.
He proposed that regional nations, including Vietnam, should increase investment in biotechnology research and application in agricultural production so as to create strategic genetically modified products by themselves.
Duong Hoa Xo from the Ho Chi Minh City Biotechnology Centre said the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development issued a decision allowing the four genetically modified maize varieties of Bt 11, MIR 162, MON 89034 and NK 603 to be used as food for human and animals in Vietnam.
This is considered a stride made by Vietnam in accessing the world’s genetically modified crop varieties, he noted.
At the workshop, attendees also deliberated about plans to switch from rice cultivation to the growing of maize and other crops in the Mekong Delta region, challenges for the cattle-breeding sector and measures to promote biotechnology application in the future.
