Scientific research and training in biotechnology in Latin America and the Caribbean: the UNU/BIOLAC experience

It is well known that the number of researchers in Biotechnology in Latin America and the Caribbean is too small to cope with the needs of research and to successfully confront the number of short and long-term problems. The United Nations University created its Biotechnology Program for Latin America and the Caribbean, UNU/BIOLAC, and the results of the efforts aiming to the promotion of a shared sense of direction within the region's scientific community are presented and discussed herein