Science and Education, November 10, 2008
Argentine biotechnology
Is one of the central points of the strategy of scientific development, and also of the productive development in Argentina. Companies with technological foundations generate investigation and products, known all around the world.
Biotechnology is one of the central points of the strategy of scientific development, and also of the productive development in Argentina. Companies with technological foundations –national as well as multinational corporations- generate innovative investigation and products, known all around the world. In the country, there are more than 80 companies dedicated to Biotechnology. This number shows the importance this activity has nowadays and augurs a continuous growth, impelled and ruled by the “Promotion of the Development and Production of Modern Biotechnology Act” (ley de Promoción del Desarrollo y Producción de la Biotecnología Moderna (Ley Nº 26.270). Among the most dynamic sectors we can find: agricultural, food products, and pharmaceutical industry.
Continuous discoveries, a sustained rhythm of investment, creative and economic synergy between public scientific centers and private companies, and the well known capacity of Scientists and technicians, push Argentina among the leading countries in this subject.
Important Cases
The Argentine-Spanish Bi-national center of Vegetal Genomics (Cebigeve) and the Agricultural Biotechnology Institute Rosario (Indear) will work in the Biotechnological Pole in Rosario. These accomplishments mean that the aforesaid pole will become one of the most important in Latin America.
Inis Biotech promotes the creation of innovative companies, the registry and patent certification, and biotechnological developments starting with the inventions and studies of the Institute Leloir.
Bio-technological solutions for the dairy industry is an industrial producer of natural supplies for the conservation of dairy foods. The project is supported by Incubacén, the business-incubator of the Faculty of Natural and Exact Science of the UBA.
It is a platform that promotes the development and application of new technologies in the MERCOSUR, in order to increase value added of the products in international markets.
The production of human insulin obtained from genetically modified cows’ milk, made by Bio Sidus. For the first time an animal is capable of producing great quantities of human insulin, vital substance for diabetics.
Byogenesis is nowadays the second producer of vaccines against foot-and-mouth disease in the world. Its biotechnological developments, vaccines and other veterinary products for the prevention of diseases, supply both domestic and international market.
Bioceres is a company formed by more than 170 innovative agricultural businessmen who have as a goal the leadership, management and financing of research and development projects which associate science and production, and simplify the relationship between public and private fields.
New achievement for Argentine biotechnology
Bio Sidus company has accomplished the production of a hormone for bovine growth from cloned and transgenic calves, which will increase the production of cow milk up to 20%. The country will thus be the world producer and exporter of this product.
Latests news
Minister Barañao discussed in Washington possible developments with The USA on nanotechnology, biotechnology, farming food and Infotechnologies.
Jujuy will soon manufacture Stevia, a plant being sometimes referred to as “green gold”, and also known for its medicinal and sweetening properties. The crop will be launched by means of an implantation program.
Argentina exported over 120,000 tons of animal and vegetable food stuff in 2007. The main destinations were the European Union and the USA.
Versions circulating in the country fight against international ones, but with less impact in Argentina. This product also has less secondary effects.
Lino Barañao remarked the ‘excellent concept’ that Argentine investigators and young students have in the ‘National Science Foundation” which is the haighest national authority of the government agency of Science and Technology.
Argentina´s Productive and Scientific Development
Hand in hand with this State Society, Argentina exports nuclear reactors, satellites and medical equipment to the rest of the world. It represents the latest technology completely designed and developed in our country.
Biofuel production is experiencing a steady growth due to the fact that companies have adopted an exporting role, which holds out the prospect of a promising future for Argentina considering the world’s increasing demand for renewable energy.
At present, the scientific tradition in the country gives way to the possibility of developing important research in nanotechnology and also to many local companies the use of this technique to manufacture innovative products.
