The Vietnamese government has approved a $51.6 million biotechnology plan to get its fisheries up to ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) standards.
Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Nguyen Viet Thang says domestic and foreign enterprises are being encouraged to apply for funds, in a report by Asia Pulse. The ministry would build a legal infrastructure and study international laws to protect domestic biotech products.
With more than 40 projects, the plan is expected to meet 30 percent of demand for disease-resistant breeds including shrimp, tra, crab and red snapper by 2010; 70 percent by 2015; and 100 percent by 2020.
Thang urged research institutes to send talented scientists on research trips to countries with well-developed fisheries bio-technology.
