Plant Molecular Biology Reporter pages 227-231 13 (3) 1995

Special Report

Plant Molecular Biology and Biotechnology at UNESCO

Indra K. VasiI

E-Mail: ikv@gnv.ifas.ufl.edu Laboratory of Plant Cell and Molecular Biology, 1143 Fifield Hall, University

of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611-0690, USA

I n 1990 the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), headquartered in Paris, France, founded the Biotechnology Action Council (BAC) to promote education and

training in plant molecular biology and biotechnology, and aquatic biotechnology, in the developing countries. BAC, since its inception, has been chaired by Indra K. Vasil (USA), with the following membership for the 1995-1997 biennium: Erwin Balazs (Hungary), Rita R. Colwell (USA), Luis Herrera-Estrella (Mexico), S. O. Keya (Kenya) and Xu Zhi-Hong (China).

In 1989 an international panel of experts recommended the creation of BAC to Federico Mayor, the Director-General of UNESCO. The panel argued that the applications of biotechnology could have far-reaching consequences and favorable impact in the developing countries, many of which suffer from large and rapidly increasing populations, chronic food shortages and malnutrition, poor health, and profound environmental problems. Yet, there was very little biotechnology R & D in the develop- ing countries. BAC was, therefore, charged with promoting the develop- ment and strengthening of national and regional capabilities in biotech- nology in the developing countries by providing opportunities for education and training, and the efficient and rapid exchange of informa- tion. Accordingly, BAC embarked on a number of activities targeted at young scientists with the goal of contributing to the building of a sound

Abbreviations: BAC, Biotectmology Action Council; UNESCO, United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization.

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scientific and technological base, and scientific manpower, so that eventually the developing countries could become independent and self-sufficient in biotechnology.

BAC activities are currently devoted to the following active pro- grams:

�9 Short-Term Fellowships �9 Distribution of Manuals �9 Trahxing Courses and Workshops �9 Biotechnology Professorships �9 Biotechnology Education and Training Centers (BETCENS)

Short-Term Fellowships: BAC fellowships are awarded twice a year, on a competitive basis, to enable young scientists (up to 40 years old) to spend up to three months in any laboratory in the world. The applicants must provide evidence of being active in research, and of benefiting from training in an advanced research laboratory which will accept them as UNESCO/BAC Fellows.

From September 1991 to June 1995, BAC awarded 223 fellowships, from a pool of nearly 1,000 applicants, to 42 scientists from Africa, 60 from Asia, 20 from Arab States, 56 from Europe, and 45 from Latin America and the Caribbean. The awardees represented 78 countries (see the map on p. 208 for world distribution of fellowships), and went to host laboratories in 32 countries. Seventy-seven of the awardees were women. The host laboratories contributed significantly to the program by not charging any bench fees. Follow-up reports from fellowship recipients and host laboratories confirm the usefulness of the training and value of the program. In many instances, UNESCO/BAC fellows were coau- thors of publications from the host laboratories. The short-term fellow- ships have been critical in establishing valuable contacts with promi- nent scientists and research groups, leading to follow-up visits of longer duration.

Distribution of Manuals: Most of the scientific books and laboratory manuals published in the western countries are prohibitively expensive, and beyond the reach of scientists and even many libraries in the developing countries. BAC has to-date distributed more than 400 com- plimentary copies of the following books to individual scientists and some libraries in 73 developing countries in order to provide them with easy access to advanced laboratory protocols:

Plant Molecular Biology and Biotechnology at U N E S C O 229

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Gelvin S.B., R.A. Schilperoort and D.P.S. Verma (eds): Plan t Molecular Biology Manual. Kluwer Academic Publishers.

Lindsey K. (ed): Plant Tissue Culture Manual. Kluwer Academic Pub- lishers.

Sambrook, J., E.F. Eritsch and T. Maniatis (eds): Molecular Cloning - A Laboratory~ Manual (2nd ed). Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press.

VasiI I.K. and T.A. Thorpe (eds): Plant Cell and Tissue Culture. Kluwer Academic Publishers.

The publishers have contributed generously to the program by pro- viding substantially discounted prices for the books.

Training Courses and Workshops: BAC has cosponsored, in cooperation with other international organizations, including the International Soci- ety for Plant Molecular Biology, advanced international training courses and workshops in Chile, China, Hungary, Nigeria, Mexico, South Africa, Venezuela, and the United States of America. Typically, the two-week courses include lectures and hands-on laboratory work for about 25 participants. International faculty as well as local and regional scientists volunteer their time as instructors. Board and lodging, and in many instances partial or full travel support, is provided to the participants. On rare occasions, BAC has provided funds to organizers of major interna- tional meetings to encourage the participation of scientists from the developing countries.

Biotechnology Professorships: Under this program, BAC sponsors short- term visits of internationally recognized senior scientists to developing countries for lectures, and for assistance in the establishment of graduate curricula and research programs. Nominations are made by the host institution/country. During 1993-1995, 12 UNESCO/BAC Professors visited Brazil, China, Egypt, Jamaica, Jordan, Malaysia, South Africa, Thailand, Turkey and Vietnam. In addition, UNESCO/BAC has created chairs in biotechnology at the Beijing University (China) and Makerere University (Uganda).

Biotechnologl d Education and Training Centers (BETCENS): Under this new initiative, established in 1995, BAC has designated the following institutions as regional biotechnology education and training centers.

Agricultural Biotectmology Center, Godollo, Hungary: Eastern Europe and the Mediterranean.

Plant Molecular Biology and Biotechnology at UNESCO 231

Bethlehem University, Bethlehem: Arab States. CINVESTAV, Irapuato, Mexico: Latin America and the Caribbean. Ocean University of Qingdao, Qingdao, China: Asia. Vegetable and Ornamental Plant Institute, Pretoria, South Africa:

Afi'ica.

The BETCEN in China is devoted to aquatic biotechnology; all others are for plant biotechnology. The BETCENS will provide opportunities for both short- and long-term training and research in biotechnology, and are expected to promote regional collaborations and coordination of biotechnology programs and to serve as sites for international training courses and workshops. The host institutions contribute generously to the BETCENS by providing personnel and facilities.

During 1994-1995, BAC launched special programs in plant biotech- nology, including the award of short-term fellowships, for South African and Palestinian scientists. Working in collaboration with the Foundation for Research Development, it organized an international training course for regional scientists in Pretoria, South Africa, and financed a mission to document available scientific infrastructure and resources in plant bio- technology and to assess future needs. At Bethlehem University, BAC helped to establish a program for the training of Palestinian scientists from the Gaza Strip and the West Bank. Both of the programs have now been incorporated into the BETCENS (see above).

Application forms for fellowships, manuals, biotechnology profes- sorships, and information about the BETCENS, can be obtained from the BAC Secretariat at the following address: Edgar J. DaSilva, Division of Basic Sciences, UNESCO, 1 rue Miollis, Paris 75732, France (fax: 331 4306 8144).