On May 10, President of Turkmenistan Serdar Berdimuhamedov signed the Decree approving the 2024-2028 state programme on biotechnology development. Doctor of Technical Sciences of Turkmenistan Allaberdy Ilyasov spoke about the features of this science in an interview with CentralAsia.news.
Like physics that became one of the key priorities in world science and economics in the late 20th century, biotechnology plays a key role in modern biology. Modern biotechnology is the science of making new products for various purposes.
Turkmenistan has the resources and capacities required to actively develop biotechnologies. Today, their potential has been untapped yet fully despite the availability of raw materials. Nevertheless, biotechnology development is a clearly identified priority of the state policy.
Turkmenistan attaches great importance to using local flora to develop the pharmaceutical industry. Currently, extensive research in the properties of native plants is being conducted in the country.
The scientific encyclopaedia «Medicinal Plants of Turkmenistan» by National Leader of the Turkmen people Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov is of tremendous help in this work. This book has become an important background resource on herbal medicine for Turkmen specialists and foreign experts. In addition, the country is developing strategies for the further development of the pharmaceutical industry and biotechnology.
There is currently a need to elaborate measures to drive more demand for innovative biotech products made in Turkmenistan in such areas as biopharmaceuticals, nanobiotechnology, biomedicine, agrobiotechnology, industrial biotechnology, bioenergy and the food industry.
The world economy is actively harnessing biotechnologies. A strive towards the transition from a traditional economy to a new type — a bioeconomy, based on innovation and the widespread introduction of biotechnologies in various industries and everyday life.
Like other advanced countries, Turkmenistan is taking an active part in promoting biotech science. The country is set to develop infrastructure to support the biotechnology industry, implement priority innovation and investment projects and launch production in all sectors of the bioindustry.
The Academy of Sciences of Turkmenistan is conducting intense research in many areas of biotechnology. Scientists are developing biosensors and biochips for personalized medicine and are working on the production of biofuels and biodegradable materials.
Addressing environmental issues in the oil and gas industry is a multifaceted task aimed at minimising negative environmental impacts from production facilities at all stages of their life cycle. Moreover, the issues of reducing pollutant emissions and waste generation at existing production facilities, as well as eliminating accumulated environmental damage remain relevant.
Biotechnology ranks third among the main sectors of the world economy in terms of capitalization, second only to the banking and oil and gas sectors. This applied science plays a key role in creating a bioeconomy. It helps improve production and product quality and expand the product range on the market.
Biotech developments can help improve food security, for example through developing new disease and pest resistant plant varieties and elaborating new quality control and productivity improvement techniques. Furthermore, biotechnology plays an important role in improving public health, for example through developing new medicaments, vaccines and better diagnostic techniques.
Food safety experts use biotechnological methods to develop new approaches to product quality control. For example, biotechnology can be used to detect foodborne pathogens, which helps stop the spread of infections and protect the health of consumers. These innovations also contribute to developing new methods of preserving and extending the shelf life of food. Generally, biotechnology has significant potential to boost the economic and social well-being of peoples.
Turkmenistan is actively working in this field, making significant efforts. For example, the international exhibition of modern food technologies was held at the exhibition centre of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Turkmenistan on May 15-17. It aimed to strengthen international cooperation, encourage the exchange of advanced food technologies and develop and implement methods of creating a reliable system in this field.
On May 13, the Biotechnology — an opportunity for sustainable bioeconomy science and practical forum and exhibition took place at the Technology Centre of the Academy of Sciences of Turkmenistan to mark the approval of the 2024-2028 Programme of the President of Turkmenistan on Integrated Biotechnology Development. The event brought together employees of research institutions, scientists and university lecturers and students.
