Biotechnology in Nepal: Status and its Prospective
1 Introduction
2 History of Biotechnology in Nepal
The plant tissue culture was started in Nepal in
1976 at the National Herbarium and Plant Research Laboratory in Godawari. This
laboratory basically has been doing clonal propagation of hard wood trees,
horticulture crops, medicinal plants, ornamental plants and over 30 kinds of
orchids. In 1986, biggest laboratory
i.e. the Research Laboratory for Agriculture Biotechnology and Biochemistry
(RLABB) was established with the initiation of various molecular works in the
field of agriculture and forestry. This lab is highly sophisticated having
various biotechnological apparatus. This lab has developed many bioschemical
techniques to create cold tolerant rice plant, sex-determination of dioecious
plant and micro-propagation of many plants like Pinus, Autocarpous, Rice,
orchids, etc.
Among the modern biotechnological tools,
artificial insemination (AI) was the first tool used in Nepal in1952 followed
by tissue culture in 1976. Major initiatives are sand rooting in 1988,
virus-free potato production in 1989, DNA marker technology in 2002,
genetically modified organism (GMO) testing in 2005, biosafety and policy
formulation in 2006 and conservation biotechnology in 2012.
Different approaches have been applied for
conservation of agricultural genetic resources in Nepal. National Biosafety Framework 2006 authorizes the
concerned agencies to develop regulatory measures and guidelines to avoid or
minimize potential risks of genetically modified (GM) plants and their
products, GM microorganisms and their products and GM animals and their
products. The framework is applicable to the development, production, contained
use, field test, intentional introduction into the environment, and import and
export of GMOs that may have an adverse effect on the conservation and
sustainable use of biological diversity, and environment taking also into
account the risks to human health.
In Nepal, KU pioneered biotechnology with a 4-year
undergraduate program in biotechnology starting 2003.Since then other
institutions around Kathmandu Valley launched similar courses. Along with other
universities also prioritize biotechnology in their undergraduate program
3 Present Status of Biotechnology
Genetic engineering, though one of the most debatable
technologies is considered most important for food and nutrition security.
There are three broad categories under modern biotechnology. Among these,
tissue culture is the popular one and both private sector and public sector
institutes are using this technique. DNA marker technology is limited only to
assess genetic diversity. Most of the Master and PhD level students of
agricultural science include marker technology for their thesis. Results of
markers profiles have not been further used in breeding and crop improvement
program.
3.1 Plant Biotechnology
Some of the products of biotechnology that farmers
are getting benefits are virus-free potato, banana and greening free citrus
saplings. DNA marker-based products mainly in rice, wheat and potato have been
tested and evaluated in collaboration with IRRI, CIMMYT and CIP. After
extensive testing, IRRI bred rice varieties tolerant to submergence (Swarna
Sub-1 and Samba Masuli Sub-1) and drought tolerant varieties (Sukha Dhan 1 to
6) were released in Nepal. These rice varieties were developed following Marker
Assisted Selection (MAS) in IRRI.
Several
governmental, semi-governmental and private institutions/ their divisions are
major stakeholders of plant biotechnology sector in Nepal which are mentioned
below in the table:
|
S. N. |
NAME, ADDRESS/ ESTD. YEAR |
TYPE OF INSTITUTION |
LEVEL OF OPERATION |
TYPE OF SERVICE |
|
1. |
Biotechnology Unit, Nepal Academy of
Science and Technology (NAST), Khumaltar/ 1982 |
Semi-
government/ MoEST |
National
and International |
Research
and Development/ public service |
|
2. |
Biotechnology
unit, Nepal Agriculture Research Council (NARC), Khumaltar/ 1997 |
semi-
government/ MoAC |
National,
International and Global |
Research
and Education |
|
3. |
Agriculture
Botany Division, NARC, Khumaltar/ 1966 |
semi- government/ MoAC |
Local, national, International, Global |
Research |
|
4. |
National
Potato Research Program, NARC/ 1972 |
semi-government/ MoAC |
National |
Research and Service |
|
5. |
Plant
Pathology Division, NARC, Khumaltar/ 1963 |
semi- government/ MoAC |
National |
Research |
|
6. |
National
Citrus Research Program, Paripatle Dhankuta, NARC/ 1961 |
Semi-government |
National |
Research |
|
7. |
Regional
Agriculturral Reearch station, Lumle, Kaski/ 1964 |
government |
Regional |
Research |
|
8. |
Seed
Quality Control Centre, Department of Agriculture, Harihar Bhawan/ 2000/ |
Government/ MoAC |
National |
Research and Development |
|
9. |
Plant
Protection Directorate, Harihar Bhawan/ 2049 B. S. |
Government/ MoAC |
National |
Plant Protection Services |
|
10. |
Department
of Plant Resources (DPR), Thapathali/ 1974 |
Government/ MoAC |
National |
Research and development |
|
11. |
National
Herbarium and Plant Research Laboratory (NHPL), Godawari/ 1960 |
Government/ MoFSC |
National |
Research, Development and Education |
|
12. |
Green
Research & Technology (GREAT), Nepal/ 1997 |
Private |
National |
Research & Development, Education and
Private institution |
|
13. |
Green
Energy Mission, Nepal/ 1994 |
NonGovernment |
National |
Research & Development |
|
14. |
Research
Centre for Applied Science and Technology (RECAST)/ 1977 |
Semi- Government |
National, affiliated to Tribhuvan university |
Research & Development, Education and consultancy |
Source: National State of
the Art Report on Biotechnology for Nepal
3.2 Animal Biotechnology
Biotechnology is a new emerging field that has vast
potential to enhance animal productivity through better health management by
the use of efficient vaccines, diagnostic agents, etc. Therapeutic drugs are
available to treat some of these diseases, but not for all. In Nepal, two
laboratories are producing different vaccines for domestic animals, poultry,
pets and humans using modern technology viz. 1) Rabies Vaccine Production
Laboratory which manufactures world-class anti-rabies vaccine using tissue
culture technique. Central Biological Production Laboratory which manufactures
various poultry vaccines and vaccines for cattle, sheep, goat and swine.
Vaccine against PPR has been successfully produced using tissue culture
technology in Nepal.
Artificial insemination has been practiced in
Nepal since last five decades and embryo transfer in cattle through introduction
of imported frozen embryos in recent years. National Livestock Breeding Center
(NARC) is presently producing about 90,000 doses of cattle and 25,000 of
buffalo semen annually. The semen thus produced is being used for artificial
insemination in 42 of the 75 districts of the country. Some basic study on
mitochondrial DNA of Lulu cattle was undertaken with Japanese Collaboration. No
other tools and techniques of biotechnology (DNA or other molecular level
markers) are being used for selective animal breeding for productivity and
disease resistance.
Eight institutions have been identified as key
stakeholder institutions in animal biotechnology Sector of Nepal.
|
S. |
NAME, ADDRESS/ ESTD. YEAR |
TYPE OF INSTITUTION |
LEVEL OF OPERATION |
TYPE OF SERVICE |
|
1. |
Animal
Breeding Division, NARC, Khumaltar/ 1991 |
Semi
government |
National |
Research and Development |
|
2. |
Animal
Health Research Division, NARC, Khumaltar/ 1991 |
Semi
government |
National |
Research and Development |
|
3. |
Animal
Nutrition Division, NARC, Khumaltar/ 1991 |
Semi
government |
National |
Research and Development |
|
4. |
Fisheries
Research Division, NARC, Godawari/ 1993 |
Semi
government |
National |
Research |
|
5. |
Entomology
Division, Khumaltar/ 1991 |
Semi
government |
National |
Research and Development |
|
6. |
Central
Veterinary Laboratory, Tripureswor/ 2052 B.S. |
Government |
National |
Research and Development |
|
7. |
Rabies
Vaccine Production Laboratory Tripureswor/ 2001 |
Government |
National |
Research and Development |
|
8. |
Department
of Biotechnology, KU, Dhulikhel/ 1991 |
Public |
National- Global |
Education and Research |
Source:
National State of
the Art Report on Biotechnology for Nepal
Biotechnology is a new emerging
field that has vast potential to enhance
In animal disease diagnosis sector, two
central level laboratories.
3.3 Government Policy and Legislation
Following are the guiding documents for
Biotechnological research and development.
1.
Agriculture Perspective Plan, 1995-2025 (National Planning Commission):
Biotechnology was not mentioned in this document.
Technology based agriculture development is one of the strategies adopted in
APP. We give priority on those crop species specified in APP.
2. Tenth
Five-year Plan, 2002-2007:
This plan
has given the priority for biotechnology, genetic engineering and biosafety.
3. National Agricultural Policy 2061:
It is
mentioned that use of GMOs is regulated and production and productivity are increased
through the suitable agricultural technologies.
4. Biotechnology Policy, 2063 (Ministry of
Environment, Science and Technology):
Increment of production and productivity through
the research, development and technology transfer of biotechnology is expected.
Identified priority areas are tissue culture and plant improvement.
5. Biodiversity Strategy Plan, 2002 (Ministry of
Forests and Soil Conservation):
Just definition of biotechnology is given.
6. Twenty- year Vision, 2002 (Nepal Agricultural Research
Council):
7. Strategy and work plan on biotechnology
laboratory in NARC:
This laboratory will function as a central
laboratory with the objective of networking all the biotechnology activities
under the NARC system.
8. Biosafety Guidelines, 2004:
Laboratory
safety an GMO safety guidelines
9. The Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety, 2000:
Signed on March 2001 by Nepal Government.
10. Biosafety Framework, 2063 (Ministry of Forests
and Soil Conservation):
Yet to be approved by the government
There are more than 15
policies, acts, regulations and strategies and action plans that have
considered biotechnology as an important tool for effectively and efficiently
achieving the targets. Eleven such legal documents have mentioned GMOs. All
these documents have provisions of regulating GMOs and their products. There is
no restriction for research on GMOs and their products. Nepal Agricultural
Research Council’s (NARC) Vision 2011-2030 has considered biotechnology as one
of five broad based thematic areas of interventions. In Biotechnology Policy
2006 (MoEST, 2006), increment of production and productivity through the
biotechnological research, development and technology transfer is expected.
Identified priority areas are tissue culture and plant improvement.
The objectives of
Biotechnology Policy 2006 are
·
Conduct study and research to develop GMOs and
transgenic plants employing genetic engineering and tissue culture technology;
·
Obtain permission to import 68 GMO and
transgenic seeds only after verification report of authorized government
agencies on biosafety through study and research activities;
·
Formulate biosafety regulation as suitable to
the situation in Nepal.
Biotechnology
Coordination Committee (BCC), National Biotechnology Research and Development
Centre (NBRDC), and National Biotechnology Central Laboratory (NBCL) have been
visualized in the policy.
4 Conclusion
Even though the
scope of biotechnology in Nepal has been in dormant infancy since the beginning
of the 21st century, several students have recognized its
soon-to-be magnanimous importance in the fields of agriculture and forestry.
Several Nepali students have enrolled for biotechnology courses in universities
both local and abroad to tap into this reservoir of impending opportunities.
Further, the public sector laboratories of Nepal have begun promising research
on molecular and DNA technology that is said to greatly benefit the
agricultural and forestry practices in Nepal. Nepal is very rich on
agricultural genetic resources; however, their use is very poor. Low productivity and insecure food and
nutrition in the country demand the adoption of genetic engineering technology
that could develop high yielding, nutrition dense and climate resilient
genotypes. Most of applied practices abroad are still scope for us and we also
need to utilize many natural resources with biotechnology. Nepal has a bright
future if biotechnological tools are harnessed to improve animal productivity
through adoption of Sanitary and phyto sanitary (SPS) measures as envisaged by
World Trade Organization.
5 References
Joshi BK, Acharya AK, Gauchan D, Bhatta MR. 2017.
Agrobiodiversity status and conservation options and methods. In Joshi BK, KC
HB, Acharya AK. Editors. Conservation and Utilization of Agricultural Plant
Genetic Resources in Nepal. Proceedings of 2nd National Workshop, 22-23 May
2017, Dhulikhel (pp. 21-38). NAGRC, FDD, DoA and MoAD; Kathmandu, Nepal. http://moad.gov.np/public/uploads/855517450-Plant%20Genetic%20 Resources_CUAPGR_Nepal-min.pdf
Shrestha, Rebatiman & Khanal, Doj & Singh,
Upendra. (2007). Animal Biotechnology: Status and Prospects. Part II:
Biotechnology for Veterinary Health Management in Nepal. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/264784986_Animal_Biotechnology_Status_and_Prospects_Part_II_Biotechnology_for_Veterinary_Health_Management_in_Nepal
https://nepal.shardauniversity.org/scope-of-biotechnology-in-nepal-lets-understand
NAST and MoEST. 2008. National State-of-the-Art Report on
Biotechnology for Nepal. Nepal Academy of Science and Technology (NAST), and
Ministry of Environment, Science and Technology (MoEST), Government of Nepal,
Kathmandu, Nepal.
CBS. 2013. National Sample Census of Agriculture Nepal
2011/12, National Report. Central Bureau of Statistics, National Planning
Commission Secretariat, Government of Nepal, Kathmandu.
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