PUBLISHED: 4 Jan 2025 at 05: 00
The Agriculture Department is planning to invest in genome editing ( GE ) technology for economic crops, including rice, palm and sugar cane, as an effort to make Thailand a regional GE seed hub, according to Director-General Rapeepat Chantarasriwong.
Mr Rapeepat said that to reply to the rising global demand for GE plants, the ministry has worked with partners, including researchers from the intellectual and private areas in GE systems, which has already been adopted in many countries such as China, Japan, the Philippines, and the United States.
He stated that the office is even conducting research and development on GE technology while providing education and know-how from experts from America. The walk is expected to enhance Thailand’s ability as a local hub of agricultural seedlings, he said.
Rice, sugar wood, orchids, hand, papaya, and cassava will now be treated to improved quality and production by using GE technology to improve their resistance to diseases and dangerous soil conditions.
” The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations]FAO] and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development]OECD ] have agreed that GE is safer than GM O”, Mr Rapeepat said.
” Many nations are developing cash crop systems pretty quickly. And to improve Thai farmers ‘ money, he said,” we had closely collaborate with both local and international companions.”
The Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives approved the use of GE technologies to lower pesticide and chemical apply and enhance food stability next year.
He claimed that because GE technology precisely manipulates the plant’s genome to enhance or deter specific characteristics without introducing foreign DNA, it is safer than genetically modified organisms ( GMOs ) than it is.
He said more development in the district’s walk on GE plants is expected this season, including several industry experiments. If successful, it will help to reduce imports such as soybean and maize, he said.