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-----Original Message-----
From: Biotech-Mod2
Sent: 09 December 2003 08:59
To: 'biotech-room2@mailserv.fao.org'
Subject: 73: Active role in the development of MAS technology

This is S. Saravanan, India, again.

Regarding the question "When should developing countries play an active role in the development of MAS technology", my suggestion is that a collaborative effort needs to be organized for the successful running of a MAS programme in developing countries. Many developing countries often fall into severe financial difficulties that stop any scientific development activities. My statement here is that the developed countries should find their place in the developing countries for investment in any scientific programme. This may enhance the application of MAS in developing countries too.

S. Saravanan
Centre for Plant Breeding and Genetics
Tamil Nadu Agricultural University
Coimbatore 3
India
sarapbg2002 (at) yahoo.co.in

-----Original Message-----
From: Biotech-Mod2
Sent: 09 December 2003 13:59
To: 'biotech-room2@mailserv.fao.org'
Subject: 74: Costs of MAS

This is E.M. Muralidharan from India again.

I was wondering if the participants who discussed the costs of MAS technology vis-à-vis developing countries, had seriously considered the near certainty of technology improving and getting cheaper in the future, mainly due to automation/robotics and other refinements of current techniques and software. Miguel Toro (Message 67, December 4) did mention about competitive prices that might be offered by companies. I feel the costs will then become a non-issue.

If the trends in development of expertise and infrastructure in a country like India is any indication, then such services will probably be available at a fraction of the costs of that in the developed nations. Currently, much of the resources in India are anyway getting superfluous as more and more research centers are investing in facilities that could have ideally been shared. The emphasis of funding agencies should shift to the use of MAS technology as a part of a structured comprehensive crop improvement programme. Considering that the same crop is being studied by several laboratories, efforts at coordination by national or international agencies (FAO) is very essential.

Dr. E.M. Muralidharan
Genetics Division
Kerala Forest Research Institute
Peechi, Thrissur, Kerala State
680653, India
Email: emmurali (at) kfri.org