Leading on from the National Biotechnology Policy in Malaysia

Modern day farming has transformed from the farming process of last century. Instead of farmers producing for their families, farmers are now similar to input/output managers supplying massive manufacturers that feed the country.

In “Biotechnology Isn’t the Key to Feeding the World” environmental activist and author Frances Moore Lappe talks about how the distribution of our food is where we need to start instead of the “shortage or the abundance of food”. Lappe argues that there is plenty of food to feed everyone but the problem is that there are government organizations that are not giving the people the resources. The government has a major impact on how the people live. Lappe looks at all of this from a social justice point of view arguing that it is not up to scientists to help save the human population from hunger. Moreover, Lappe says that biotech proponents of today have convinced us that we have reached Earth's limit for food when in act that is not the case.

The driving factor behind plant biotechnology is “social constructionism”, in which “social values and institutional domains and their culture shape technology” [Goyder chapter 10]. Bioengineering companies might declare social needs as the motive behind pursuing this technology. In reality, these capitalist institutions possess the much needed economic surplus to invest serve their own desires. The social needs they “intend” to solve are: world food shortage, increase agricultural productivity, help the environment by eliminating pesticides, improve nutrition of foods. Opponents of biotechnology, scientists, consumer advocates, environmental protection agencies, do not buy this claim. According to them, these reasons are just the pretence to fulfil “...capitalist’s profit-making via the deployment of technology, [3 Goyder chapter 5]. Most crop developments so far has been “profit-driven rather than need driven” [4, ten reasons why biotechnology will not ensure food security]. In a capitalistic society, patent laws under constitution permits ownership of seeds, living organisms; genes. Patents permit company like Monsanto could monopolize seed’s

Throughout time, humans have pushed forward in every aspect in life in order to improve their living standards, wealth and most importantly the agricultural sector which is the base of every human race. Food is the basic requirement for any individual to stay alive and healthy. In an article by Tamsin McMahon, she states that over the past 60 years, the world population has grown from 2.5 billion to 7 billion while world hunger dropped from 40% down to 15% (McMahon T., July 2012). This shows that our agricultural advances through technology have helped control world hunger and decrease it by more than half, but this is a short-term solution if we want to consider the future generations that depend on our current actions toward the three main pillars of agriculture which are: Health and nutrition, Economy and sustainability all while considering the local small farms and corporate farms.

EPPOSI is an international association committed to support healthcare policymaking. It is an advisory committee for pharmaceutical industries, academic and patient organisation to interact and exchange knowledge. The members of EPPOSI include five industrial associations and 18 large pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies. Through advanced innovation programs, EPPOSI research is focused on chronic conditions management (AIP-CCM), health technology assessment (AIP-HTA), innovation in healthcare (AIP-INNO) and rare diseases

Referring to the finances, the cost of treating chronic diseases and the burden to the healthcare system will continue to increase if this issue isn’t resolved. The options I am providing to you are affordable for all and as a result, will create less harm and less cost in the long run. Increased overall health means decreased expense and cost of treatments for the

Base on this week’s reading, the biotechnology researches are need to be protected by patent because of the high cost. Like other patented pharmaceutical medicine, Patent will encourage researchers to develop gene based products, make more specify, more human tolerated medicine and make more diseases

Over the years humanity has experienced a significant increase in the world population, and today that number continues to rise. With an increase in people, the demand for food goes up tremendously. Agricultural science has continuously developed new technologies that have enhanced the efficiency and value of agricultural production. Although the enhancements increase the production of agricultural goods, it’s important to understand the impacts it has on our environment and food system. In this book review, I will discuss both the cultural and natural dimensions of Agricultural Biotechnology, and how it relates to our current problems in Human Relations. I will also provide personal insights and feelings in regards to the book titled

World Hunger is one of the biggest problems that our world faces, with more people dying from starvation every year in third world countries people are dying from a cause that is very preventable. Consumers around the world need to know that genetically modified crops are safe, healthy and extremely beneficial to economies and individuals, not just in third world countries but across the entire world. There are hundreds of relief efforts around the world that gather money through donations of people, and then try to gather enough food to feed starving people in places like Africa. However small organizations are never going to be enough to help

The entry of lower-cost competitors will cause patients and payers to choose biologic treatment options to a greater degree. The net effect on pharmaceutical spending will depend on the relative magnitude of unit cost reductions and increased volume. First, there is limited evidence for the effects of increased volume, as most studies focus on the impact of lower unit cost. Second, the impact on unit cost is likely to apply across the fragmented U.S. health care system, while

Specialty drug cost has rapidly increased within the past few years. With the introduction of specialty drugs that are targeted towards illnesses such as cancer, rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, and hepatitis C, the number of people that can benefit from these drugs has skyrocketed- increasing from as scarce as 1000 nationally to millions of people. Add that with the price tag of a single treatment costing up to the excess of $750,000. According to Brian Rosman, a research director at Health for ALL, “Drug prices are by far the fastest-growing part of health care costs”(Weisman, 2015). The financial burden that has been placed upon business as well as Medicaid and Medicare are creating

During my childhood, I lived in village where more or less every people depend on agriculture for their livelihood. I saw how hardship people going through during plowing field, sowing seeds hoping the blessing of harvest. Hence, they did not produce expected amount of crop because of few drawbacks likes low productive varieties, water crisis and so on. Even sometimes crops are completely destroyed by sudden drought, over rain or outbreak of viral disease.. Suffering from frequent disaster, my family moved into city finding new way of livelihood. Then I thought if it possible to develop plant required less water, could fight against pest and might grow without plowing. Later, I was taught biology in school and learnt how living system works and was fascinated through the process by which we could manipulate plant life to use in human welfare. Thus, I realized it is possible to minimize the sufferings of farmer of my community by developing noble varieties which could resist against the drought, disease or other stresses caused by natural calamities. This urge drives me to study biotechnology in my undergraduate.

Welcome to the age of an agricultural revolution as everyday biotechnology continues to bring innovation to human’s most basic needs – food. Food is essential to any living organism, providing energy for our production and nutrients for our protection. Without this fundamental element, life cannot exist. Our lack to produce our own energy, like plants, causes us to become dependent on others for survival. Humans existence is attributed only to the million years of evolution our food source underwent to sustain our survival. Changing the primary nature of our food source, whether it is plant or animal, directs mankind in a dangerous future if our food dependency is permanently hampered. Welcome to the age of an agricultural devolution

Biotechnology is a broad term. Basically, it is the “tools and techniques [opening] new research avenues for discovering how healthy bodies work and what goes wrong when problems arise”(Siedler para. 1). It covers controversial technology and procedure, like genetic engineering and gene therapy. It is controversial because it can affect everyone(Jeremy para. 16). As a consequence, the development of biotechnology has been a “slow, quiet progress”(Kirsner para. 3) because society may or may not recognize the repercussion of it. However, scientist like Smith- a previous chief for the Cambridge biotech company, Genzyme- continues to develop biotechnology(para. 1). Because biotechnology can be controversial, yet scientist continues to develop it;

Achieve a median composite eight-year product development cycle by 2010. Deliver two new molecular entity (NME) launches on average per year from 2010. In order to achieve the above objective, ensure that we have 10 or more NMEs in Phase III development by 2010. Development cycle times and quality for small molecules and biologics. Number of NME launches per year. Attrition rates. Number of development projects by phase. Number of in-licensing deals, alliances and acquisitions. R&D investment levels. Improving R&D quality and speed through leading-edge science, effective risk management and decision-making and overall business efficiency. Maximising the value of our biologics business and continuing to build a major presence in this fast-growing sector. Investing in external opportunities to enhance our internal innovation through in-licensing, alliances and acquisitions. 2008 target exceeded for small molecule development cycle times. NME and life-cycle management progressions