Biotechnology in developing countries: Proceedings of the symposium, Delft, The Netherlands, 13-14 October 1982

Biotechnology in Developing Countries aims to be more than the cleverly chosen combination of two hot topics of today. It is obvious that Biotechnology, as the technology of using microorganisms and tissue cells, has certain intrinsic advantages over other technologies in the setting of a Developing Country. In fact not only beer and wine making but also the preparation of fermented foods are classic al examples. With the tremendous needs of the Developing World of today there is of course more: not only the newer developments at the countryside like algal ponds and biogas installations, but also the greater sophistieation of Rhizobium starters and cloned oil palms, for which well equipped laboratories are indispensable. It is questionable whether the classical fermentation technology, with bioreactors with capacities in the order of hundreds of litres for among others vaccine production, and of hundreds of kilolitres for antibiotics, can be adapted to the conditions prevailing in the Developing World. Six selected specialists trom the Developing and trom the Developed World give their vision on the prospects of Biotechnology, as a relatively soft technology, for the enhancement of the prosperity of the Third World