Biotech brings boost to farming
6 June 2000
Biotech brings boost to farming
ADVANCES in biotechnology mean that things have never looked better for farming, according to a leading agricultural academic.
Professor Ray Goldberg of Harvard University, believes applications of genetic modification in areas such as health and pharmaceutical systems will offer farming a bright future.
“Ive never been more optimistic about the long-term future,” Prof Goldberg told the BBC Radio 4 Farming Today programme.
“The reason that I am so optimistic is the enormous technological, genetic revolution which has occurred.
The agriculture and business specialist, who coined the expression agribusiness, believes biotechnology is “the greatest breakthrough scientifically in the history of mankind”.
He added: “No-one ever imagined in their wildest dreams that we would have the capability of understanding the genetic map of a human being, a plant or an animal.
“When you put it in that kind of perspective, the challenges, the opportunities, the product diversification, the market extensions are enormous.”
Prof Goldberg gave the example of milk from a single herd of goats, which duplicates protein which becomes an anti-cancer drug.
To produce this protein conventionally would cost millions of pounds, and take many years.
Prof Goldberg dismissed safety fears about biotechnology.
He cited recent reports by the US National Institute of Health and the National Academy of Science which found no immediate health hazard.
The professor claimed people were not distrustful of biotechnology, but feared that a handful of companies involved could dominate their lifestyle and choices.
He said this was a legitimate concern and vigilance was needed to ensure biotech companies acted responsibly and did not create monopolies.