May 9, 2003

From Crop Biotech Update

New Zealand's Biotechnology Taskforce has come out with a report highlighting a framework for action that challenges industry, government and other stakeholders to work together to bring about long term sustainable growth in the biotechnology sector. The report, commissioned by the New Zealand government, considers large animal and plant biotechnology as core strengths for the country.

The framework presents the vision for biotechnology's growth over the next ten years - that of the number of companies having a core biotechnology focus increasing fivefold to more than 200 and the number of biotechnology organizations expanding threefold to over 1,000. It sees major changes in people, funding, institutions, infrastructure, regulation and global participation.

Major recommendations forwarded include the need to build critical mass; the introduction of a package of regulatory reform to create a competitive environment for growth; and the establishment of a robust international network through which to stimulate the flow of international investment.

The full report is available in PDF format at http://www.biospherenz.com/download/biotech_taskforce_report.pdf