UNB, DHAKA-The government will soon formulate a national biotechnology policy to give a boost to the country’s farm output and thus ensure food security.

Science and ICT Minister Dr Abdul Moyeen Khan said this while addressing a conference titled ‘Biotechnology in Agriculture: Myths and Realities’ in the city.

Dr Moyeen said a taskforce, headed by Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, has been formed recognising the importance of the technology.

Moyeen Khan told the conference that setting up of National Biotechnology Institute is nearing completion at a cost of five million US dollars. "The entire project has been funded by our own resources, which reflects the government’s priority to the technology," he said.

Agriculture Minister MK Anwar inaugurated the daylong conference jointly organised by Bangladesh Agricultural Research Council (BARC) and the US Embassy in Dhaka.

Forest and Environment Minister Tariqul Islam and Science and ICT Dr Abdul Moyeen Khan were present at the conference as special guests.

It was addressed, among others, by BARC Executive Chairman Dr M Nurul Alam, First Secretary of the US Embassy David Renz, Prof Emdadul Haque Chowdhury, Dr Nina V Fedoroff and Dr Uttam Kumar Deb. USDA Regional Director Chad Russell made the keynote remarks on the occasion.

They told the conference that it is essential to adopt biotechnology in agriculture of the country along with other developing nations for ensuring food security against the backdrop of its increasing population and decreasing farmlands.

If biotechnology can be widely used in the country, productivity of crops may rise by 20 per cent, they predicted.

The speakers, however, stressed the need for safeguarding the human health and environment because people around the globe are skeptical about the genetically modified (GM) foods.

They were also of the opinion that strong assurance of the safety of public health and environment was needed to make the technology acceptable to all.