Necessidades de informação na área de biotecnologia agropecuária no Brasil

As necessidades de informação dos técnicos da área de Biotecnologia Agropecuária e o seu comportamento na busca de informações foram investigadas através de um questionário enviado aos 618 técnicos cadastrados no ponto focal agropecuário do Sistema de Informação em Biotecnologia, com um retorno de 409 respondentes (66,18%). Os resultados evidenciaram um grande número de empresas/instituições vinculadas aos setores governamental e de ensino superior. A atividade principal dos técnicos, assim como suas especialidades na área de Biotecnologia Agropecuária foram identificadas e evidenciadas outras variáveis como a formação acadêmica, a formação pós-graduada e as universidades responsáveis por essa formação. Verificaram-se a existência de bibliotecas nas empresas/instituições, os motivos de uso da biblioteca pelos respondentes, o grau de sucesso obtido pelos pesquisadores na utilização da biblioteca e na indicação de materiais bibliográficos para compra. O nível de conhecimento dos serviços/produtos de informação disponíveis foi averiguado como também quais publicações deveriam ser editadas na área. A freqüência da comunicação pessoal para obter informações técnico-científicas foi aferida bem como detectado o nível do progresso da Biotecnologia Agropecuária no País nos últimos cinco e nos próximos cinco anos. Information needs in the area of agricultural biotechnology in Brazil Abstract A study was made to know the Information needs of technicians working in the area of Agricultural Biotechnology and their information search behavior. A survey was sent to 618 technicians, with 66,18% of return rate (409 individuais responding). The results obtained confirmed a large number of enterprises/institutions linked to the government and to higher education sectors. The main activity of the specialists well as their specializations in the area of Agricultural Biotechnology were identified. The existence of libraries in the enterprises/institutions to which the technicians belong was discussed as well as the reasons which led them to use these libraries. The degrees of success they had in the utilization of the library during their local visits was verified, showing a good level of satisfaction. The degree of success of the specialists in indicating bibliographic material for purchase and the direct influence exercised for them in selection process was high. In general, the technicians located documents in the libraries of their institutions for solution of their daily problems. Colleagues in the same institution were also considered as an indispensable sources of information. The knowledge about services/products of information was studied, showing a preference for the periodical circulation service and for the tables of contents. Several new publications were suggested for editing in the area of Agricultural Biotechnology. The frequency of use of personal communication to obtain technical-scientific information was studied. The publication of researches in Brazilian and foreign journals were investigated. It was demonstrated a high dependence on foreign sources. An inquiry was made concerning researchers evaluation about the progress in Agricultural Biotechnology in Brazil during the past five years and their expectations in the next five years. The results show that the majority of technicians considered satisfactory the progress obtained during the past five years, and certain degree of optimism concerning the next five years