Tuesday 9 December: Paolo Budinich Science Diplomacy Lecture

[Infopoint]

TWAS-AAAS International Science&  Diplomacy Programme
  - The Paolo Budinich Science Diplomacy Lecture -

*MANJU SHARMA*
Former Secretary
Department of Biotechnology
Indian Ministry of Science and Technology

will be speaking about

BIOTECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT AND APPLICATION FOR DEVELOPING COUNTRIES

at the *Giambiagi Lecture Hall*, ICTP Adriatico Guest House
on Tuesday, 9 December 2014 – 16:00-17:30 hours

Everybody is most welcome to attend!


ABSTRACT

The contributions of biotechnology range from novel technologies in
molecular biology to the development of rational approaches for
designing new therapeutics. Agri-biotechnology in particular offers hope
for nutritional safety in that it promises improvements and increases in
productivity as well as such quality traits in crops as resistance to
biotic and abiotic stress. In view of the growth of the economy,
increased population pressure and a marked shift in dietary patterns,
the coming challenge for developing countries is to double food
production by 2025 and triple it by 2050 – with less per-capita arable
land and less water, and under increasingly adverse environmental
conditions.

We need to create advanced infrastructure for R&D and the technological
tools to convert research into products, processes and new technologies.
Exchange of expertise and information, bilateral and multilateral
cooperation among developing countries can speed up the process.

Biotechnology has a major role to play in the socio-economic progress of
the developing world, and offers enormous career opportunities for young
scientists. We must catch up with the spectacular advances taking place
in this field.