Dr. Mahaletchumy Arujanan, Executive Director, MABIC, visited the Agricultural Biotechnology Research Institute of Iran (ABRII).

     After visiting ABRII’s departments and transgenic greenhouse, Dr. Arujanan said “Iran is one of the Best among the Developing Countries in Biotechnology” in an exclusive interview about the epoch-making field and science: Biotechnology and GMOs with the Public Relations Office of the ABRII.

     She added that: also “in Malaysia there exist strong policies for biotechnology as the engine of economic growth. Therefore, in 2005, Malaysian National Biotechnology Policy was launched which led to the foundation of Malaysian Biotechnology Corporation”. She introduced BioNexus Companies as instance to portrait the enthusiasm of Malaysian government to develop biotechnology. She continued that more than 280 BioNexus Companies are undertaking value-added biotechnology activities, benefiting from the incentives granted by the government including tax exemptions from 100% of statutory income for the first ten years, from the first year that statutory income is derived to double deductions for expenditure incurred from R&D and promotion. In addition, the companies are able to recruit any expert from any part of the world.

     She Asserted that Malaysia is the first country that released genetically modified insects; however, it was stopped as the studies showed that the production was not cost effective. She stated that Malaysia is one of the countries with high GM consumption and 100% dependency to GM grains for livestock and Poultry, which are imported from Argentina, Brazil and the U.S. These are approved for what is called as Food, Feed and Processing (FFP). As one of the main sources of food in Indonesia, Malaysia and Japan, soy bean is imported not only for the livestock, but also for human consumption processed in various forms of drinks, fermented soy and etc. Since 1996, GM soy bean and corn has been used for human consumption and also GM soy bean, maize and canola for animal fodder, which are later used for human food. However, no irregularities or any official complaint about any sort of hazard for human consumption have been recorded.

    She emphasized on the fact that one of the things that other countries, especially developing countries, can learn from Malaysia is its regulations. Malaysia; as a big importer of GM crops, launched its regulation in 2007 and subsequently guidelines for different aspects like risk assessment and management. Interestingly, these regulations and guidelines do not stop Malaysia from researching and working on GMOs.

     Her response to the common question of why not concentrating on cultivation in Malaysia was that not everything on the market is economically suitable for Malaysian climate to cultivate.

     “Iran is doing so much better compared to Malaysia and other developing countries as well as Islamic Countries” she claimed; evaluating the main challenge of Iran’s biotechnology development to be “regulation and political views echoed from different corners”.

     She anticipated that the future of GMOs is not like a bed of roses! Although it was the fastest technology accepted in the world, there are going to be struggles, but slowly it will find its place among every country.

Photographed by: Sina Motamed