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The status of application, capacities and the enabling environment for agricultural biotechnologies in the Asia-Pacific region: Regional background study

Year of publication 2019

Place of publication Bangkok, Thailand ;

Pages 185

Author FAO

Publisher FAO ;

Product type Document

Edition 1

Synopsis (short abstract) The study found that agricultural biotechnologies are well entrenched in the Asia-Pacific region and their use is expanding, as are the capacities and enabling environments needed to support their use. There are, however, significant differences among countries in their application of biotechnology in all four agricultural sectors: crops, livestock, fisheries and forestry. Small island states and many least developed countries (LDCs), such as Afghanistan and Mongolia, are yet to benefit appreciably from the biotechnology revolution. Multiple factors such as low capacity and the small size of their markets constrain them from reaping the benefits of biotechnology. Some countries, such as Cambodia, the Lao People’s Democratic Republic and Uzbekistan, are in the initial stages of applying biotechnology but they have the potential to move forward. A few, such as Sri Lanka and Nepal, have not yet started to apply biotechnology but have the potential capacity and a good policy framework to move ahead. Recent changes in Viet Nam and Myanmar indicate the establishment of an enabling milieu that can take the countries forward in agricultural biotechnology. Larger and emerging economies, such as China, India and the Republic of Korea, are using biotechnology extensively in all four sectors.

Language English

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