Cuban Biotechnology News Update
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GRANMA DAILY
English Section
November 28, 2005
Cuban Biotechnology Shows Off Its Credentials
Orfilio Pelaez
Today, Cuba is enjoying a true explosion in the development of
biotechnology with results of the highest order world-wide in
producing human and veterinary vaccines, diagnostic aids, interferon,
monoclonal antibodies, bio-products and drugs, which are exported to
50 countries.
This, Dr.Carlos Borroto, Vice-director of the Center for Genetic
Engineering and Biotecnology (CIGB), stated at the opening of the
International Biotechnology Congress Havana 2005, that will be
meeting until Friday in the capital with more than 500 delegates from
32 nations.
This impressive leap in that scientific discipline, Dr. Borroto
explained, is demonstrated by the fact that, from the last century up
to the 80s the country had produced just three biotechnological
products, while the number rose to 19 in the 90s and will finish the
year 2005 with a total of 38.
Besides contributing to improving the health of the Cuban people, the
application of a group of results in agricultural biotechnology has
had very favorable economic and environmental impacts. These are
translated for example into the remarkable reduction of chemical
fertilizers through the use of bio-products, as well as the effective
control of ticks in cattle using the Cuban vaccine GAVAC.
Under the motto of 'For a sustainable food production', the congress
will be dedicated to reflecting on the most recent advances in
Agro-biotechnology. It will have as Honorary President the eminent
professor Dr. Chris Lamb, director of the John Innes Center, Great
Britain and a world-wide authority in the subject.
The inauguration of Biotechnology Havana 2005 was attended by members
of the Political Bureau of the Party Jose Ramon Balaguer Cabrera and
Conception Campa Huergo, the minister of Public Health, and director
of the Institute Finlay, respectively; Dr. Jose R. Miyar Barrueco,
secretary of the Council of State, Ricardo Cabrisas, minister of
Government, Fidel Castro Diaz-Balart, scientific adviser of the
Council of State and Dr. Ismael Clark, president of the Academy of
Sciences.
==========================
Cuba Hosts Biotech Congress
Havana, Nov 28 (Prensa Latina) Resistance in plants to diseases will
be the topic of a masterly conference by a renowned British scientist
during the Habana 2005 Biotechnology Congress taking place until
December 2 in this capital.
Chris Lamb, director of the John Innes Centre and Honorary President
of the event, will tackle the mechanisms of resistance and natural
products in plants like biosynthesis, regulation and function.
The Biotechnology Congress Habana 2005 opened this Sunday here and is
attended by 550 delegates from 32 countries, focusing on how
biotechnology can ensure a sustainable production of food.
In the event's opening at Havana's Scientific Resort, its president
Dr. Carlos Borroto will present projects and impacts of the Cuban
biotechnology.
Development of vaccines against meningitis and transference of
technology to countries like India, China, Brazil and Venezuela are
some of the examples of the development reached by this scientific
branch.
According to Borroto, the three most advanced projects are those
carried out with rice, sweet potato and corn resistance to insects,
the development of plants, and their resistance to drought and
salinization.
Risks for human health, environment and economy of genetically
modified organisms are also being discussed in the meeting.
====================
...AND...
AFP via Yahoo - Nov 27, 2005
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20051127/sc_afp/cubabiotechusbritain
US Blocks Dozens of US Experts from Cuban Biotech Conference
HAVANA (AFP) - US authorities blocked dozens of US experts from attending a
major Cuban biotechnology conference that opens here this weekend.
Carlos Borroto, chairman of the Havana Biotechnology Conference 2005 which
opens on Sunday with some 550 specialists from 35 countries, said US
authorities' lone exception was the permission to travel granted renowned US
professor John Benemann.
The United States and Cuba do not have full diplomatic ties, and the United
States has had a full economic embargo on the only communist-ruled country
in the Americas since 1962. US nationals are not allowed to spend money in
communist-ruled Cuba, an effective travel ban.
Benemann is due to give one of the keynote addresses at the conference, on
alternative fuels.
Briton Chris Lamb, director of the John Innes Centre based in Britain, is
due to address the group on plant disease resistence.
Experts are on hand from Britain, Canada, Germany, India, France, Belgium,
Italy, Norway, Singapore, Thailand, Cuba, Mexico, Argentina and Chile, among
other countries, at the week-long event at Cuba's Genetic Engineering and
Biotechnology Center in Havana.
They will discuss developments in areas of the biotech field from marine to
animal health, reproduction and recombinant protein expression in mammals,
biosecurity and plant transgenesis.
Also on the agenda are issues in agro-industry, producing drugs in plants,
and so-called "agro-bioproducts."
According to Barroto, Cuba is keen to highlight recent progress in
alternative pharmaceuticals manufacturing and to promote sustainable food
production.
The biotech issue in recent years has been a sensitive one between Cuba and
the United States, which previously accused Havana of being a biological
weapons threat. Cuba always has denied the charge.
As recently as March 2004, John Bolton, then-undersecretary of state for
arms control and international security, told the US Congress in written
testimony that the island "remains a terrorist and (biological weapons)
threat to the United States."
Bolton's charge came as part of a 25-page written statement on the
development and spread of nuclear, chemical and biological arms, despite the
fact George W. Bush's administration had gently backed away from the same
allegations after Bolton made them in May 2002 and did not offer evidence.
Bolton more specificially said Cuba had been successful at hiding details of
its weapons program due to data passed to Havana by convicted spy Ana Belen
Montes, ex-senior Cuba analyst for the Pentagon's Defense Intelligence
Agency. Montes is serving 25 years in federal prison having pleaded guilty
to spying for Cuba in 2002.
Cuba, which the US State Department lists as a state sponsor of terrorism,
was outraged by the charge Bolton made in May 2002 and demanded that the US
government offer proof. It did not.
On June 5, 2002 Assistant Secretary of State for Intelligence and Research
Carl Ford conceded in testimony before Congress that Washington did not have
evidence Havana had a full-fledged biological weapons "program" but
maintained the administration was worried about Havana's capabilities.
Havana is fiercely proud of its biotech industry's development of vaccines
and medicines that are more affordable for developing countries.
Cuba, which markets its vaccines and biotech products in 40 countries
worldwide, also hopes to make inroads into new markets and turn the
pharmaceuticals industry into a bigger international hard-currency earner.
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