Biotechnology knowledge must be used for the benefit of the economy and of populations.
In order to analyze and contribute to the implementation of the recommendations, proposals and actions of the International “Mission of wise men and women” 2019, in the focus of bioeconomy, biotechnology and environment (BBE), from the Academia Colombiana de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales a working group was constituted to contribute in the identification of at least two proposals or work actions for the implementation of the identified programs and that respond to the six action ways of the bioeconomy proposed by the BBE Focus of the Mission:
- sustainable use, valuation, and conservation of biodiversity resources;
- eco-intensification for sustainable agriculture;
- biotechnological applications (products and processes);
- ecosystem services;
- efficiency in value chains;
- biorefineries and bioproducts.
The working group decided to focus on the following areas related to specific programs and goals; and with communication and education strategies at all levels of training, which is cross-cutting and must be coordinated in a single strategy led by the Academy of Sciences.
A more regional view
Preliminary recommendations that the Working Group has identified to develop are:
- Creation of a platform for the transfer of biotechnology research results to the private sector and the regions, with a portfolio of products by region, which should be aligned with the work of the Ministry of Agriculture’s sowing platform, in the case of the agricultural sector.
- Focus on the fulfillment of programs and goals by region, which should be reflected in the Departmental Development Plans, in the Science, Technology and Innovation Strategic Plans and the Regional Competitiveness Plans.
- Establishing a single Communications Strategy with the support of the Academia Colombiana de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales, whose objective is to bring science and the results of the Mission to the people.
- Education Strategy from the BME group. It identifies the need for training teachers and educators in bioeconomics, biotechnology and environment, at all levels of education (primary, basic middle and basic secondary, university). This work should be done in conjunction with the STEM-Academy program, a review by the Academy, by the UNESCO chairs currently approved for Colombia, to identify the themes that converge with each of the working groups around the Mission, review, modification, and adjustment of the curricular programs of primary, middle and secondary education.
This series of posts is about the “Mission of wise men and women” follow up that has been made by working groups convened by the Colombian Academy of Exact, Physical and Natural Sciences. More information can be found (in Spanish) on the Academy website.
