The Net ends the week with catch-up reading from East Asia and Africa. As always, feel free to comment or ask questions below.
 

• Biotech has entered the mainstream of Asian agricultural production, according to Pakistan’s News International. As part of the Sixth Pan-Asia Farmers Exchange Programme held at Subic Bay, the Philippines, representatives from nine Asian countries discussed the increasing adoption of biotech for enhancing agriculture production. Read more here.

• Focus Taiwan reports on Vice President Vincent Siew’s remarks that China and Taiwan should increase exchanges in the field of biotech and work together to develop its potential benefits. Exchanges between medical professionals from both countries should be encouraged, he added at the opening of the 1st Cross-Strait Biotechnology Forum. Details are here.

• The Nation opines that Kenya needs to back up its words with action when it comes to agbiotech. It cites Clive James, founder of the International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-biotech Application, who says that other than South Africa, Egypt and Burkina Faso, most of Africa has been slow to take it up, even though common wisdom suggests that all the countries that have commercialized biotech crops made the right decision.

• However, things are looking up in Swaziland. The Swazi Observer notes that a new biotech park in Nokwane will eventually bring biotech advances to the public domain. Project manager Moses Zungu disclosed that a strategy is underway on the use of the park, especially how it will be linked with the other diverse sectors such as the University of Swaziland. Read the full article.