This document discusses investing in agricultural biotechnology. It begins by looking at the types of agri-biotechnology products different countries include, such as genetically modified crops, biofertilizers, and tissue culture. It then discusses why investing in agri-biotechnology is important to meet growing global food demands and challenges facing agriculture. Specifically, it notes the needs to increase yields while dealing with a declining farmer population, environmental degradation, and climate change. The document advocates a "research for entrepreneurship" model to develop new agri-biotechnology products and link scientific discovery to commercial opportunities. It also outlines some of the key enablers necessary for successful agri-biotechnology development and investment, including supportive policies, funding,

1. Investing in agri-biotechnology:
Research for Entrepreneurship
Professor Paul PS Teng, Nanyang Technological
University Singapore
Chair, ISAAA
APAARI, BKK
8 Dec 2015

2. Scope
A. What do countries include in their basket
of agri-biotechnology products?
B. What needs in the marketplace are being
met? (Why invest in agri-biotechnology?)
C. “Research for Entrepreneurship” – the
paradigm and process
D. Success Enablers

3. A. What do countries include in their basket
of agri-biotechnology products?
Conventional agri-biotechnology
Mushroom culture
Fermentation-based products, e.g. alcohol, vinegar
Tissue culture; Technology-enabled farming
Novel, modern agri-biotechnology
Marker-aided selected crop varieties
GMOs
Bio fermentation, bio diagnostics, vaccines
Emergent technologies: CRISPr, TALENs, Synthetic
food

4. High Impact AgBiotech Investment Opportunities
in Malaysia’s Bioeconomy . 2013.
Production of
Stevia-based
natural high
intensity
sweeteners
Extraction and
commercialisation
of
mangosteen
Production and
commercialisation
of indigenous
hybrid paddy
seed
Production of
biofertilizers
through integrated
waste
treatment
plants
Production and
commercialisation
of bio-feed for
livestock
industry
Production and
commercialisation
of high value
mushroom
varieties
From: www.biotechcorp.com.my

5. Transgenic
Phalaenopsis
Orchid virus detection kit
Animal cloning technology
Transgenic Eucalyptus
Pink fluorescent angelfish
Courtesy of: Dr. Ying Yeh, COA, Taiwan
Taiwan yew for anticancer
drug production
Agri-biotechnology products in Taiwan

6. Technology-enabled farming
AEROGREEN
Aeroponics
SKYGREEN Vertical stacked rotating trays. Source: ChannelNews Asia
LED light for
Indoor farming --
PANASONIC

7. Examples of Biotech crop products: Released and under
development
B.t. corn, Drought
tolerant corn
USA
Insect resistant eggplant
India, Philippines, Bangladesh
Insect resistant rice
China, Iran
Biofortified rice
Philippines, India, Bangladesh,
Vietnam, and Indonesia
Courtesy: R. Hautea, ISAAA

9. Year Value
US$ Million
Year Value
US$ Million
1996 93 2007 7,773
1997 591 2008 9,045
1998 1,560 2009 10,607
1999 2,354 2010 11,780
2000 2,429 2011 13,251
2001 2,928 2012 14,840
2002 3,470 2013 15,610
2003 4,046 2014 15,700
(35% of global seed
market)
2004 5,090 2015 ?
2005 5,714
2006 6,670
The global value of the Biotech seed market
From: James, 2015

10. Biotechnology is a global industry
Courtesy: Yali Friedman, Scientific American Worldview, 2015
2014 Global biotechnology
market value - $318.4 B
From: S. Chaturvedi & K.R.
Srinivas, 2014

11. B. What needs in the marketplace are being met?
Why invest in agri-biotechnology?
Meeting the challenges facing Asia
Strategic Market Drivers
•Demand-side changes
– Demographics: Population growth, urbanization,
increased income
– Diet changes (more diverse and high protein food)
•Supply-side factors
– Demographics: declining & ageing farmer population
– Declining performance of agriculture
– Environmental degradation (loss of land and water
resources)
– Climate change

12. Actual Yield
Water &
Nutrient- limited
Yield
Potential
Yield
Theoretical
Yield
Reducing factors (Loss)
•Biotics
• Weeds
• Insect pests
• Diseases
•Abiotics
Limiting factors
•Water
•Nutrients
Defining factors
•CO2
•Radiation
•Temperature
•Crop features
Genetically modified factors?
Crop yield levels -- Concepts
Derived from “production ecology” of C.T. de Wit, Wageningen, Netherlands
Need to raise
yield levels in
both food
surplus and
food deficit
countries
RBI: Farm level
yields are
important
contributor to
food security

13. 0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
1950 1975 2000 2020
World
Population
Arable Land
(billion ha.)
Farmland per
person(ha)
Source ： United Nation
"This will require a combination of
conserving and managing existing resources
more effectively, tapping science to grow
food from less land, and drawing in
investment to meet growing food demand,"
-- Mahfuz Ahmed, Asian Development Bank
(ADB) Technical Adviser for Rural
Development and Food Security.
Asian Development Bank
5 Oct 2015”

14. C. “Research for Entrepreneurship” -- the
paradigm and process
Purpose of agricultural biotechnology R & D
• Discovery of new knowledge
• Discovery and/or development of new
products
Public sector: Social goal oriented,
increasingly market-
supportive
Private sector: Profit and market-driven,
but increasingly conscious
of social responsibility

15. “Lab to market” key steps for biotech seeds
Private
• “Proof of Concept”
• Product Development
• Approval (Regulatory,
Commercialization)
• “Freedom to- Operate”
• Marketing & Sales
• Product stewardship
Public
• R & D
• Technology Development
• IP audits & management
• Approvals (Biosafety,
Food & Feed use)
• Seed multiplication
• Distribution
• Outreach &
communication
• Extension
TechnologyPush
Market share
Socio-economic impact
Market share
Value created

16. Scoping/
Technical Research
Proof of
concept
Business
plan
Gate 2
Gate 1
Gate 3
Product
Development
Gate 4
Regulatory
Approval/
Field tests
LAUNCH
Discovery
or Ideation
Stage
Ideas
Screen
Second
Screen
Go to
Development
Go to
Testing
Go to
Launch
Private Company: Biotech Seed stage-
gating
Gate 5 Gate 7
Marketing,
Sales
Public acceptance
Gate 6
Seed bulk up,
distribution
systems
Gate 8
Product
Stewardship
1
2 3
4
5 6
7
8

17. D. Key Enablers for success
THE ENABLING ENVIRONMENT
•Innovation Strategy
•Policy support
•Investment funding
•Infrastructure
•Human resources (right mix)
•Regulatory framework (FTO)
•Supportive or neutral public

18. Country Status Country Status
Australia Nat. biotech strategy, 2000 Bangladesh Nat. Biotech. Policy, 2006
China First policy in 1990, “863”
plan
India 1st
policy in 1983; Nat.
biotech strategy in 2007
Indonesia Nat. policy in 2004 Japan Bio-Strategy in 2002
Korea Nat. Bio Industry Action
Plan, 2004
Malaysia Nat. Biotech Policy, 2005
Nepal Nat. Biotech Policy, 2006 New Zealand Nat. Biotech Strategy,
2003
Pakistan No comprehensive national
strategy
Philippines No comprehensive
national strategy
Sri Lanka
Thailand
Policy finalized in 2011
National strategy in 2003
Singapore
Vietnam
No specific biotech policy
No national strategy
Evolution of biotechnology policy in
Asia-Pacific
From: S. Chaturvedi & K.R. Srinivas, 2014

19. Malaysia Recognises
Biotechnology as a
Strategic Industry to
Drive Growth
MALAYSIA -- NATIONAL BIOTECH POLICY
Comprehensive Strategy & Ecosystem Setup
From: www.biotechcorp.com.my

20. Vastly improved R&D capacity in
Asia for agri-biotechnology
Biotechnology Research Institute,
CAAS, China
The National Center for GM crops.
RDA, Korea
Institute of Agricultural Genetics, Hanoi, Viet nam
Indonesian Center for
Agricultural Biotechnology and
Genetic Resources Research and
Development (ICABIOGRAD),
Bogor
National Center for Genetic
Engineering and Biotechnology,
Thailand
RIS 2014.
www.ris.org.in

21. E.g. Taiwan’s investments
• 8 R&D targets: plant seedling biotech, aquaculture
biotech, livestock biotech, food biotech, biofertilizers,
biopesticides, animal vaccines, and tests and diagnosis.
• As of 2011, there were 92 companies in the agricultural
biotechnology industry, together producing total revenue
of approximately USD213 million (TWD6.39 billion).
• Two significant developments that have contributed to
promoting the industry are the implementation of the
Development Program for Industrialization of Agricultural
Biotechnology (DPIAB), and the establishment of the
Pingtung Agricultural Biotechnology Park (PABP).
Ying Yeh, 2015

22. FTO
=
STRATEGICTactical
APPROVALS for
planting and food
“FEEL-GOOD” WORK &
OPERATING ENVIRONMENT
SUPPORTIVE POLICIES
AND REGULATIONS
SUPPORTIVE/NEUTRAL MEDIA
STRONG THIRD PARTY
SUPPORT
Time
Space
Indigenous capacity & products

23. http://www.apo-tokyo.org/publications/ebooks/agricultural-biotechnology-and-global-competitiveness/

24. Science + Technology + Entrepreneurship
= Surplus food plus cash for livelihood
Linking productivity to poverty reduction: Livelihood creation
Micro-technologies
Micro-Finance
Micro-Insurance
Micro-technologies
Micro-Finance
Micro-Insurance
Farmers need to be entrepreneurs
to get out of the poverty trap by
using modern science and
technology to produce surpluses
and add value to their produce

25. Thank you - 谢谢 - Terima Kasih
- धन्यवाद - –ありがとう Maraming
selamat - Merci - Gracias - 너를
감사하십시요 - Thank you
Ispaul.teng@ntu.edu.sg;
paul.teng@nie.edu.sg
Ispaul.teng@ntu.edu.sg;
paul.teng@nie.edu.sg