November 5, 2012

 

 

Experts discussed ways of improving livestock industry in a convention of scholars, policy-makers, and scientists from around the world held from October 23-28 at Edsa Shangri-la Hotel, Mandaluyong City, Philippines.

 

Through reproductive biotechnology, scientists have found a better way to solve some of the world's most pressing problems on food security, health and biodiversity.

The event, dubbed the "9th Asian Reproductive Biotechnology Society (ARBS) conference," was organised by the Department of Agriculture's Philippine Carabao Centre (DA-PCC) and Biotechnology Programme (DA-Biotech).

 

Representatives from the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Vietnam, Malaysia, South Korea, Taiwan, India, China, Japan, United Arab Emirates, Italy, Spain, Portugal, USA, and Australia shared information regarding advances in assisted reproductive technologies, genetics, and cloning techniques, among others.

 

DA-PCC Executive Director Libertado Cruz told GMA News Online that the main goal for studies about the advancement and applications of reproductive biotechnology in the livestock industry is to discover effective technologies which could produce the best genes for better-quality products, and more efficient production rates.

 

"If natural reproduction is to be used only, any animal can mate anybody, regardless of the quality. The objective of assisted reproductive technology is to produce the best of the best (genes)," said Cruz.

 

During the first day of the conference, Cruz presented his study, "Assisted Reproductive Technologiesand Asian Livestock Industry."

 

"Intensification of production systems, imports of feed grains, and import of ruminant-derived products all contribute to environmental degradation," he wrote.

Cruz said that his study aims to provide insights on how to increase production efficiency while reducing environmental impact at the same time.

 

According to the study, "in the context of Asian livestock, artificial insemination(AI) and embryo technology (ET) and cryobanking or storing sperms are the most practical assisted reproductive technologies." Cruz explained during the interview that these are the most practical and widely-used technologies, at least in the Philippines.

 

Livestock remains one of major sources of food, and Asians comprise about 60% of the world's 7.0 billion-strong population. But only a handful of students are taking up further studies in biotechnology and other fields that could be applied to this industry, said Konkuk University (South Korea) College of Animal Bioscience and Technology Associate Professor Nguyen Van Thuan.

 

"The main goal of this conference is the stimulation for young scientists in the field of biotechnology, for the stem cell research, cloning technologies, other reproductive biotechnologies, for the applied medicine..." said Nguyen. The conference also seeks to "highlight the recent advancements in the different areas of reproductive biotechnologies, and the technological developments in increasing the productivity and profitability of livestock."