Future of biotechnology in Bangladesh

Since the birth of   The Bangladesh Association for Plant tissue Culture  (BAPTC) in 1990, it organized five international conferences, the last one being held in December 2004 under a slightly different name BAPTC&B,  ‘B’ standing for Biotechnology.  The current one from April 11 through 13, is the sixth of its kind.  Only three years have elapsed since the last conference had concluded, but within this short span of time  biotechnology has undergone revolutionary change including the concept of  a gene.

What was once thought to be a junk  of DNA such as ‘introns’  or untranslated region has turned out to be vitally important in the functioning of genes, some of which have proven to be regulatory in their nature. Significant progress in the field of biotechnology has been possible due to powerful innovative molecular tools  coupled  with highly advanced sophisticated  bioinformatics software. Some of these developments are in direct response to food security and reduction of global warming.

Increasing importance of biotechnology in the face of frequent natural calamities:

Bangladesh and many parts of the world experience periodically natural disasters such as cyclones, drought and flood which bring in their wake near famine conditions and epidemics claiming countless lives. Ever mounting carbon dioxide emissions are contributing to global warming, threatening our existence from the planet. All these contingencies have increased the world demand for flood-, drought tolerant and disease and pest resistant crops. The application of multitude of techniques offered by biotechnology may pave the way toward its  satisfactory solution.

Hybrid rice cultivation in Bangladesh, a product of biotechnology  is on the increase: Thanks to the effort of the Government that rice farmers have grown hybrid  rice in the ‘boro’ season in over seven lakh hectares compared to 3.9 lakh ha last year. Farmers were motivated to grow more rice to ensure food security and to face the challenge of food shortage in the wake of devastating flood and the cyclone ‘Sidr’. The yield of hybrid rice such as Hira, Aloron, Jagoron, Sonar Bangla and Moina, has been found to be 20-30% higher than HYV’s, input of fertilizers and other practices remaining the same.

Hybrid rice is one good example as to how biotech helps us in enhancing production of staple food crops such as rice during the time of emergency, when food supply falls short of the country’s requirement. It is a good news that BRRI experts have successfully applied appropriate techniques, namely, maintenance of three lines, namely, a male sterile line (CMS), a maintainer line and a restorer line to produce BRRI-Hybrid Dhan-1.  It is hoped that instead of importing, more and more private seed suppliers will grow their own hybrid seeds under the expert guidance of BRRI experts to keep the supply steady. while offering hybrid seeds at a price within the buying capacity of ordinary farmers.

Partial fulfillment of the objectives: Some of the objectives as set out  in 1990 during the formation of BAPTC&B have been realized. Three commercial companies under the management of BRAC Biotechnology Center, BRAC, Gaizpur;   Square Agric-tech, Uttara; and  Aman Agro Industries at Rajshahi are producing  virus-free seed potato in substantial quantities, reducing our dependency gradually on imported  potato seeds. Aman Group claims to be able to supply 3920 M.T. of HYV and  disease free foundation potato seeds in 2008-09 to the farmers.  Proshika Tissue Culture Center is now exporting varieties of tissue culture derived orchid plants.

Sometime back ‘Neem’  seedlings were  produced in large numbers at BCSIR Tissue Culture Lab. Dhaka. It is high time that the protocol developed there be scaled up to a commercial level. There is a huge market of this bio-pesticide throughout the world.

Some promising salt tolerant rice- and cold tolerant jute varieties. 

Using molecular markers, Dhaka University scientists, Prof. Zeba I. Seraj and Prof. Haseena Khan at the Department of Biochemistry and Mol. Biology have made commendable progress in achieving their goals in rice and jute, respectively. While the advanced progeny of the cross of the coastal saline rice (Oryza sativa L.) landraces of Bangladesh such as ‘Pokkali’ .and popular HYV rice variety have reached field trial stage at Satkhira,  a large number of jute varieties from Gene Bank of Bangladesh Jute research Institute were screened for cold tolerance. Suffice it to say that salt tolerant rice cultivars, when released, will go a long way to close the gap between shortage and autarky in food grains,  while  cold tolerant jute cultivars can be planted during winter seasons, thereby providing raw material for value added products such as in paper and pulp making. 

Working with Prof. H. Jacobsen and associates at Hanover University, Germany, Prof. M. Imdadul Hoque and Prof. Rakha Hari Sarker at the department of Botany, DU have made impressive headway to evolve disease- and insect resistant pulse varieties, regarded as poor man’s meat.

Trial with GM crops should continue in spite of their initial low level performance:  We should not lose heart when initially GM critics make adverse comments on the performance of some bio-engineered products such as Golden rice. Not finding fault with the method of  its transformation, they are now  criticizing it on the plea that its vitamin A content is too low, requiring an average intake of 1.5 kg per person to meet the daily requirement of this essential vitamin as against  his normal diet of 2-3 hundred  grams per day. Thanks to the effort of the Ingo Potrykus-led biotech group  that now a  normal diet of just 200 to 300 grams of Golden Rice per day is enough to avoid the life-threatening consequences of a lack of b-carotene in food.

Biosafety Rules are to be Enforced Soon: At long last there has been a gazette notification by the Ministry of Environment and Forests about the Biosafety Guidelines, allowing the trial of imported transgenic crops under stringent containment conditions. The Gazette notification of the other important document, namely, National Biosafety Framework (NBF) is expected to be published soon. Jointly organized by Bangladesh Agricultural Research Council and South Asia Biosafety Program (SABP),  two workshops  were held in Dhaka last February to discuss in depth  about implementation of the Biosafety Guidelines.

Containment trials with GM crops have already started.  Following examination of  reports submitted by the expert subcommittees about GM crops, the concerned Ministries gave clearance to BARI and BRRI to conduct greenhouse trials of imported Bt egg plants, late blight resistant potato plants, indica version of golden rice  under stringent containment conditions. If the results of these trials are satisfactory and do not pose any threat to the environment, they are expected to be released to farmers for their large scale cultivation in the near future. Of relevance in this connection is India's success with Bt cotton varieties which are now occupying more than 50% of the land under  the world's number one natural fiber crop. Suffice it to say that strains of Bt cotton, if  developed in Bangladesh,  will not only do well here but will gradually reduce our dependence to foreign countries for supply of cotton to feed our textile industries.

Termination of containment trial of a PRSV (papaya ring spot virus) resistant after four years:  The  papaya variety developed by  Prof. Denis Gonsalves at Cornell University was to have started last year following a 5-year agreement between USDA  under their Agricultural Biotechnology Support Project II (ABSPII) and Bangladesh Agriculture Research Council (cf.). The damage caused by this virus ranges between 30 and 70 % crop loss besides inferior fruit quality. Since nutritious vitamin- and mineral-rich papaya are easy to grow in elevated non-flood prone land, the glitch that stopped its implementation after four years, should be removed and the trials be resumed forthwith under containment conditions. If successful, healthy GM papaya plants will not only accelerate their productivity, bringing down the price within the reach of common man but  also prove to be a good source of income to homestead growers as well school children who could grow them in their school premises under the supervision of their teachers. Once approved by the Biosafety Enforcing Agencies, interested private companies such as East West Seeds are likely to come forward to grow these popular fruit trees.

If  the problem cannot be settled, BARC may  make an alternative arrangement. It may negotiate with the US  Multinational Seed Company, Monsanto to secure  a package deal, on somewhat similar lines as executed between the above company and  Tamil Nadu Agriculture University.  Under an MoU agreement Monsanto will supply PRSV resistant seeds without payment of any royalty  for a period of 10 years along with technical know-how on the development of  local PRSV resistant  varieties. According to a TNAU spokesman, it would take four years or so covering the trial period and the release of  local GM papaya varieties in the market.

Technology transfer from ICGEB to pharmaceutical companies in Bangladesh.  Ever since  Bangladesh joined the International Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB) as a member country in late 1990’s, Bangladesh Biotech Community, under the leadership of Professor Ahmed Azad have been trying  to impress upon pharmaceutical companies of the country to take advantage of the recombinant DNA technology for vaccine production, developed by the Delhi Unit of ICGEB. Although quite a while ago, the technology was ready to be transferred to an interested member country at a low cost, it is only recently that INCEPTA, a leading BD  pharmaceutical company came forward to sign  an agreement with ICGEB. Under this Technology Transfer agreement INCEPTA will receive from ICGEB  technical know-how  for commercially manufacturing hepatitis B vaccine.

Although belated this development will mark the beginning of a new era where recombinant DNA-based vaccines of highest purity will be manufactured locally at a cost within the reach of common man of this region. Besides, setting up of such a large project will create job opportunities for the young graduates and post graduates in genetic engineering and allied subjects. 

According to Mr. Abul Muktadir, Managing Director, INCEPTA, the facility that will be created in his company to carryout pharmaceutical research including vaccine production, will also be thrown open to academia affiliated to universities and other institutions for basic research, subject to an agreement with an individual or a group of researcher(s) that INCEPTA will be the first one to examine the possibility of commercialization of any encouraging laboratory research findings.

Production of cheap feedstock for biofuels: The responsibility to produce biofuels using  cheap feedstock without disturbing arable lands, has devolved on the shoulders of biotechnologists. Without such measures, global warming is bound to be on the increase imperiling our existence from this planet. In a recently held conference (October 2007) in Houston, Texas,  a large number of experts and administrators, representing world’s largest biofuel companies voiced that a solution must be found without further delay to decrease our dependency on fossil fuel and at the same time prevent further global warming. It need not be over-emphasized  that Bangladesh should join hands with the global team, endeavoring to  produce biofuels at a cheaper cost using indigenous non-food plants such as Jatropha species. Success in this area will prove to boost up the economy of the country as it will be a means to save foreign exchange to a considerable extent.

Biotechnology and Biopharming: The area of biotechnology known as ‘Biopharming’ has in recent years  gained considerable importance. Results so far obtained on the laboratory scale have shown that  pharmaceuticals or specific chemicals  produced in genetically modified plants may be used  orally to immunize susceptible population without pricks at an affordable price.  Obviously, who else will be more benefited than the poverty-stricken population of developing countries. Besides being much less costly, Biopharming has another advantage.  Biopharmed  crops can be transported without  refrigeration keeping its potency in tact to a remote village of a developing country without electricity. Furthermore, there is no risk of contamination with dangerous pathogens, which is often a threat with animal produced pharmaceuticals. However, much more intensive study under stringent conditions must be carried out  before the release of any biopharmed crops so that at no subsequent stages,  normal food supply chain  is contaminated by  biopharmed crops.

Successful Biopharming is possible through joint venture of local & NRB scientists:  Here is an area where Bangladeshi biotech scientists from home and abroad can join hands  to carry out further research, try the promising candidates in the pipeline on a semi-pilot scale and release those which can commercially  pass the test. Ready made  research laboratory space with core facility may be found in the recently built National Institute of Biotechnology at Savar. All is needed is funding and approaching BD experts working abroad to initiate such extremely useful research projects. The Ministries of Health and Science, Information and Communication Technology with the World Health Organization can jointly launch this noble mission and can approach USDA and other funding agency which has sufficient funding to contribute for implementing such a useful project.

Every transgenic crop must be subject to scrutiny before it is released in the market. In order to produce pea weevil (Bruchus pisorum) resistant peas, CSIRO scientists in Australia transferred a defense gene from kidney beans. The gene transferred was an amylase inhibitor - the enzyme that prevents the breakdown of starch in the digestive system of pea weevils, thereby causing their death due to depravation of life-sustaining food. The transgenic line of peas was found to be 99.5% resistant to the infestation by the pea weevil, but when tested for immunogenicity using molecular characterization, genetically modified pea cultivar was found to cause an immune response in laboratory mice.

This was an unexpected finding because a number of earlier laboratory and field trials indicated that the transgenic line was safe to eat. Molecular tests showed that the amylase inhibitor protein produced by kidney bean is qualitatively different, when produced in the background of pea’s genotype. The lesson learned in Australia, where the wisdom of CSIRO scientists, not to release a weevil resistant pea cultivar before the final allergen test results were known, saved the country from being affected by an unsuspected allergen, preventing its mixing into the normal food chain.

Now that Bangladesh is entering the era where more and more GM food crops are expected to enter the country following their clearance by biosafety enforcing agency, we must do everything within our means to be absolutely sure that any GM crop in the pipeline does not create more problems than it solves after its release in the market.

Global Network of Bangladeshi Biotechnologists (GNOBB):  A web-based Forum called, “GNOBB” was  created in 2004. Its primary objective was to establish a global network of Bangladeshi Biotechnologists (BB) for the purpose of networking  and  utilizing the expertise of  BB both from home and abroad in promoting biotechnology in BD. Within a short span of time, the membership rose from a mere 30 to almost 300 – a three fold increase indicating how keen and enthusiastic are BB from both local and non-resident Bangladeshis (NRB) to make substantial contribution toward bringing Bangladesh in the world map of biotechnology. The website provides a search engine which may be used to retrieve valuable information regarding member scientists individually, their field of specialization, achievements and important publications.

At the suggestion of some GNOBB members an international conference was organized in April  last year (2007) with  the main focus on preparing a draft suggesting improvement of the national policy document on Biotechnology, announced in 2006 by the Government of Bangladesh. The draft recommended among others, creation of the National Council of Biotechnology (NCBT) with an autonomous status including freedom to spend within the approved budgetary provision. We hope that during the tenure of the present regime, the recommendations will be approved by GoB giving a new lease of life to this emerging science of the 21^st century.

GNOBB has been able to bring together many outstanding NRB biotechnologists who have extended their help to promote biotechnology in BD.  They are: Dr. Abed Chaudhury, Dr. Zaheed Husain, Professor Ahmed Azad, Dr. Parvez Haris, Dr. Abul Ekramoddoullah, Dr. Abul Hussam. Latest to join with offer of help is Professor Maqsudul Alam. In the current conference three of the above distinguished scientists, namely, Dr. Abed Chaudhury, Dr. Zaheed Husain, Professor Ahmed Azad are presenting papers to enrich its deliberations.

Urgent necessity of launching a mega-project on the construction of genomic library of jute. In order for jute to regain its world market, molecular tools-based breeding needs to be resorted to for improveing its agronomic characters such as fiber qualities with better luster, lesser lignin content, photoperiod insensitivity, tolerance to biotic and abiotic stresses. Molecular breeding should also target conferring a wide variety of value added traits to jute fibers to put it to diversified uses.  Launching of such a project will require construction of a genomic library of jute. Considering the number of genes that the genome of a higher organism may consist of (35,000 to 40,000), only a small fraction have so far been reported in jute and deposited in GenBank by only a few scientists of Bangladesh, India and the USA.  Therefore, launching of a mega-project by a large number of specially trained scientists using latest technology  such as Roche 454 GS-FLX system and pulse field gel electrophoresis, is the only realistic way to construct jute genomic library. Completion of the jute genomic project will not only help evolving  custom-made jute fibers but also build up skilled manpower in the country and put Bangladesh in the World Atlas of biotechnology.  Fortunately, such outstanding manpower is available  within our community to fulfill our dream.

Globalization of scientific projects: Gone are the days when scientists worked in isolation; and peer-reviewed journals published work of only a few authors. That environment has radically changed.  For instance, any paper on genomic library construction of an organism is authored by 50 or more authors affiliated to as diverse countries as USA, UK, European Countries, China, Japan, Australia,  India etc. The Internet connectivity has closed the gaps between scientific communities separated by geographical boundaries. Bangladeshi Scientists should imbibe that spirit of not only working united within the country but also work shoulder to shoulder with scientists of the same or related fields to achieve a common goal such as working for construction of genomic library of jute or other economic crops sparingly known to geneticists.

A. S. Islam

IMPORTANCE OF MUSHROOM CULTIVATION IN BANGLADESH

1 MUSHROOM
Mushrooms are the members of higher fungi, belonging to the class Ascomycetes (e,g, Morchella, Tuber, etc) and basidiomycetes (e.g, Agaricus, Auricularia, Tremella, etc).They are characterized by having heterotropic mode of  nutrition. According to Chang and Hayes (1978) edible mushroom refers to both epigeous and hypogeous fruiting bodies of macroscopic fungi that are already commercially cultivated or grown in half culture process or implemented under controlled conditions. They are rich in protein and constitute a valuable source of supplementary food. Some of them are deadly poisonous, for example Amanita verna, A. virosa,etc.
Although mushroom is a very nutritious food it is a fungal plant in the scientific term. It is possible to be cultivated all the year round everywhere in towns and villages. It also does not need large amount of space for cultivation. Only a little bit of open air is necessary.6 spawns can be placed on each mm. area. Every spawn costs 8tk.From one spawn 300gm mushroom worth 33tk can be produced. No extra expense is necessary for this. Maintenance of three times a day is enough. Anybody of any family can be involved in mushroom production. Their other business is not hampered for this. Mushroom production overall is a profitable sector. In the world 15 types of mushroom are cultivated at home and 5 types are cultivated in the field. In our country only oyster mushroom, straw mushroom and ear mushrooms are produced. Oyster mushroom is the most popular because it grows all the year round and so all over the markets this is available. But in Chinese restaurants Button mushroom is used. The specialists opine that as button mushroom is produced chemically it is bad for health but oyster mushroom is good for health because it is produced organically.


2 HISTORICAL BACKGROUND
 For the first time, cultivation of white button mushroom (A. bisporus) started in France around 1630 (Atkins, 1983). In the beginning, it was grown in open conditions. Around 1810, a French gardener (Chambry) cultivated them in underground queries in Paris. The possibility of continuous production was demonstrated by Callow (183) when he cultivated A. bisporus in a cropping house in England. He was able to produce about 1.5 lb/sq. ft. By 1925, mushroom was grown in caves in Holland. The U.S.A. took up this work in the late 19th century. After the seocnd world war mushroom cultivation spread in about 80 countries. Nowadays, edible mushrooms are eaten in Africa, Australia, Switzerland, Italy, France, Germany, Japan, Europe, India, Bhutan, Pakistan, Afganistan, Tibet and China.
Distribution of edible mushrooms in India is given in Table 18.5. The common mushroom A. bisporus is abundant is cattle fields in Punjab. It is used by many people. The morel (M. rsculenta) is found in Kashmir and hills of Kumaon region in U.P Bhoteans consume Hyposylon vernicosum. Kashmiri guchhi (Morchella spp.) is very popular which is sold even at the rate of Rs. 1000/kg dries mushroom.
In India, mushroom cultivation started long before a century, as the Volvariella valvacea was cultivated on paddy straw. Therefore, this mushroom is also known as the paddy straw mushroom. In 1950s, and attempt was made to cultivate mushroom is Coimbatore (Thomas et al., 1943). In 1962, Pleurotus flabellatus (Dhingri coroyester) was successfully cultivated in Mysore. Besides many attempts, its cultivation could not be popularized upto the late 1960. For the first time an attempt was made for artificial cultivation of A. bisporus at Solan (Himachal Pradesh) where synthetic compost preparation technology was developed, by using horse dung and wheat straw. Rapid development took place at this centre. Modern Spawn Laboratory and Air Conditioned Cropping rooms were constituted under the guidance of and expert from Food and Agricultural Organizations (FAO)
From 1974. a coordinated scheme was launched at Solan, Banglore, Ludhiana and New Delhi. FAO deputed its expert for improving the cultivation technology. Dr. W. A. Hayes came to India, who recommended for incorporation of molasses and brewer’s grain in the preparation of synthetic compost. This increased the mushroom yield. In 1977, State Department of Horticulture (H. P.) launched a project of Rs. 1.27 core, under which a Central Mother Unit (CMU) for bulk pasteurization of compost and casing soli was established. C.M.U. supplies about 80 tones of pasteurized compost per month to growers in Solan, Shimla and Sirmur districts (Sohi, 1988) during 1966-70 mushroom cultivation was introduced in Kashmir valley, where by the end of 1975, the number of growers increased to 90. This took up its cultivation as cottage industry in Srinagar and Jammu region.
In 1974, Uttar Pradesh department of Agriculture (UPDA) started mushroom cultivation on exploratory trial at Vivekanand Parvatiya Krishi Anushandhan (VPKA), Almora. U.P. Govt. also sanctioned a project for mushroom cultivation to the Department of Botany, Kumaun University, Nainital. At Almora Center, two crops in a year are raised (i,e in February-April and September-November) in natural conditions. The compost is prepared from agro-wastes i.e. straw of wheat, barley and oat and dehulled corn cobs, grasses, fresh leaves, etc.


3 IMPORTANCE OF MUSHROOM CULTIVATION IN BANGLADESH                                                                                                                                                                                  
Bangladesh is an over populated country. Where most of the people are living under the poverty line. For an over populated country supplying food to the person is a great challenge. So, cultivation of mushroom can remove the food shortage & nutritional problem. Beside there it keeps the environment clean. A healthy man should eat 200-250 gm vegetables daily where the persons of developed country eat about 400-500gm vegetables. Because vegetables contain vitamins, minerals and fibers.  But we eat only 40-45gm vegetables except potato. So about 87% persons are suffering in malnutrition. 
To escape the country from this situation large amount of vegetables are cultivated and eaten daily. We know that, there are two approaches of production increase-
 (I)    Horizontal method &
 (II)  Vertical method
The population incensement rate in our country is very high so the lands are decreased. Every year about 80000 hectare lands are decreased. So, vegetable production increase can be occurred by vertical method that in only possible for mushrooms.

4 ADVANTAGES
The climate and weather of our country is very nice. Following advantage are found for mushroom cultivation-
No need of cultivation land.
Can cultivate inside home.s
Can cultivate in rack.
In a short period (7-10 days) mushroom can be found that is impossible for any other crops. 

4.1 Economic Benefits Mushroom Cultivation: The economic advantages of mushroom cultivation are given below-
Very few money is required.
The invested money can be returned in a short time.
Working time is low.

4.2 Social Benefits of Mushroom Cultivation: The social benefits of mushroom cultivation are given below-
Malnutrition can be removed.
Disease costs are decreased.
Incensement of production ability.
Using the manpower.
Unemployment problem is removed.
Mushroom cultivation is very useful for women.

4.3 Environmental Benefits of Mushroom Cultivation: Environmental Benefits of Mushroom Cultivation are given below-
All of the vegetables that we eat daily are cultivated by using chemical fertilizers and pesticides that are very harmful for the environment. But there are no pesticides and fertilizers are required for mushroom cultivation.
The components that are used for mushroom cultivation are waste product.