Society needs biotech innovation says father of GM crops

08 January 2009

Renowned biotechnologist, Prof Marc Van Montagu, who co-discovered the gene transfer mechanism between agrobacterium tumefaciens and plants and constructed the first chimerical plant gene, which resulted in the development of methods to alter agrobacterium into an efficient delivery system for plant gene engineering was felicitated by Avesthagen and the Association of Biotech Led Enterprises (ABEL) on Wednesday.

Speaking at this felicitation Prof Van Montagu said, ''Society needs biotech innovation. Big companies can innovate only to a small extent; its start ups like Avesthagen and others that will bring a variety of innovation to the world.''

Speaking on genetically modified crops in India he added, ''Every region should have clear, local regulatory processes where crops are adapted and tested in local climatic conditions.''

Dr Villoo Morawala Patell, founder and CMD, Avesthagen added, ''Prof Marc has been my source of inspiration. His model of innovation leading to applied research and resulting in company spin offs could be an ideal one for any company or research institution. We are very proud to have him on our board.''

Prof Van Montagu is the chairman of the Institute of Plant Biotechnology for Developing Countries (IPBO), Department of Molecular Genetics, Ghent University. Before becoming chair of IPBO in 1999, he was full-professor and director of the genetics laboratory at Ghent University, as well as scientific director of the genetics department at the Flanders Interuniversity Institute for Biotechnology (VIB).

He also founded the biotech company CropDesign and helped start Plant Genetic Systems, Inc, serving as its scientific director for several years.