Decision No. 97/2007/QĐ-TTg on approving the "Programme for the Development and Application of Biotechnology in the Aquaculture Sector until 2020"

DECISION OF THE CHAIRMAN OF THE GOVERNMENT

Regarding the approval of the "Program on the Development and Application of Biotechnology in Aquaculture until 2020"

trong lĩnh vực thủy sản đến năm 2020"

PRIME MINISTER

Based on the Law on the Organization of the Government dated December 25, 2001;

Pursuant to Directive No. 50/CT-TW dated March 4, 2005 of the Secretariat of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam on accelerating the development and application of biotechnology for the cause of industrialization and modernization of the country;

Pursuant to Decision No. 188/2005/QĐ-TTg dated July 22, 2005 of the Chairman of the Government on the issuance of the Program of Action of the Government to implement Directive No. 50/CT-TW dated March 4, 2005 of the Secretariat of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam on accelerating the development and application of biotechnology for the cause of industrialization and modernization of the country;

Considering the proposal of the Minister of Fisheries,

DECISION:

Article 1. Approves the "Program on the Development and Application of Biotechnology in Aquaculture until 2020" (hereinafter referred to as the Program) with the following main contents:

I. OBJECTIVES

1. General objectives:

Conduct research to create high-yield and high-quality aquaculture breeds, new biotechnology products, and apply them to production to serve aquaculture and the development of aquatic resources. Research and apply post-harvest technology, processing technology, increase the proportion of aquatic and marine products processed using biotechnology, enhance the competitiveness of products in the market, and meet domestic consumption and export needs.

2. Specific objectives for each stage:

a) From now until 2010:

- Research and apply high-yield and high-quality aquaculture breeds to production; create new biotechnology products, especially feed and disease treatment drugs, effectively serving aquaculture and reducing post-harvest losses; increase the proportion of processed aquatic and marine products;

- Apply biotechnology to effectively prevent and treat common diseases in major aquaculture species; handle waste from aquaculture and processing to protect the environment; conserve, develop, and rationally exploit and sustainably use marine animal and microalgae genetic resources;

- Strengthen material and technical infrastructure and human resource training to effectively support scientific research, teaching, technology transfer, development, and application of biotechnology in aquaculture;

- Ensure that 30% of the demand for breeding stock of major aquaculture species (mangrove shrimp, tra fish, tilapia, whiteleg shrimp, crab, red snapper, grouper, snakehead, threadfin bream, green mussels...) is met with high-quality, disease-free production; increase the yield of major aquaculture species by 15% due to the development and application of biotechnology in aquaculture.

b) 2011-2015 Stage:

- Continue to research and create aquaculture breeds, new biotechnology products, vaccines... to serve aquaculture, disease prevention, and treatment of some dangerous diseases in major aquaculture species; develop preservation and processing technologies for aquatic and marine products. Begin developing the aquaculture biotechnology industry;

- Further strengthen scientific research capabilities, development, technology transfer, and application of biotechnology in aquaculture;

- Ensure that 70% of the demand for breeding stock of major aquaculture species (mangrove shrimp, tra fish, tilapia, whiteleg shrimp, crab, red snapper, grouper, snakehead, threadfin bream, green mussels...) is met with high-quality, disease-free production; increase the yield of major aquaculture species by 20% due to the development and application of biotechnology in aquaculture.

c) Vision until 2020:

- Bring aquaculture biotechnology to the level of advanced countries in Southeast Asia. Form a network of small and medium-sized aquaculture biotechnology enterprises operating effectively to serve aquaculture, disease prevention, and processing;

- Ensure that 100% of the demand for breeding stock of major aquaculture species (mangrove shrimp, tra fish, tilapia, whiteleg shrimp, crab, red snapper, grouper, snakehead, threadfin bream, green mussels...) is met with high-quality, disease-free production suitable for different ecosystems; increase the yield of major aquaculture species by 30% due to the development and application of biotechnology in aquaculture.

1. Creating and developing high technology in agriculture

1. Basic research, applied research, scientific research and technological development (R&D), pilot production (P) to serve the development of biotechnology in aquaculture:

a) Production of aquaculture breeds:

- Combine traditional breeding selection with DNA variation analysis and genetic techniques to select valuable and superior genes in breeding major aquaculture species (mangrove shrimp, tilapia, tra fish, whiteleg shrimp, crab, red snapper, grouper, snakehead, threadfin bream, green mussels...); create breeds with fast growth rates, good meat quality, disease resistance, and cold tolerance;

- Apply genetic technologies such as gene transfer, polyploidy, sex control to create fast-growing tilapia, all-male tilapia, all-male whiteleg shrimp, and all-female mangrove shrimp;

- Apply biotechnology (nutrition, reproductive physiology, genetic technology) to create disease-free mangrove shrimp parent stocks, tilapia fillet with high yield and white meat for export, enhancing the competitiveness of aquaculture products in the market;

- Apply cell culture technology to produce pure seaweed breeds to ensure the supply of seeds for seaweed farming.

b) Conservation and exploitation of aquaculture genetic resources:

- Develop cryopreservation technology for genetic material (including sperm, eggs, embryos) combined with the use of genetic markers to long-term preserve pure breeds, conserve and restore the genetic fund of local aquaculture breeds. In the short term, focus on establishing a frozen sperm bank for various fish and shrimp species to serve conservation and provide materials for breeding work;

- Study and apply advanced biological and biotechnological achievements from around the world in long-term cryopreservation of sperm, eggs, and embryos to serve the selection and breeding of high-yield and high-quality aquaculture breeds.

- Applying biotechnology models such as genetic breeding and induced breeding on certain aquatic species, actively creating artificial breeds to serve the conservation of gene funds and improve the quality of aquatic breeds;

- Developing technologies for preserving marine microalgae, rare and precious aquatic plants, and establishing a marine microalgae bank;

c) Feed, disease prevention and treatment, and aquatic environmental management:

- Researching and applying enzyme, protein, and microbial technologies to produce high-efficiency feed for key aquaculture species (mangrove shrimp, tra fish, tilapia, green tiger shrimp, blue swimming crab, red snapper, pomfret, threadfin bream, grouper, cockle...) with high digestion efficiency, low cost, good growth, and products ensuring food safety;

- Applying molecular biology techniques to diagnose diseases in aquaculture species; producing biological preparations and kits for rapid diagnosis and effective prevention and treatment of certain common dangerous diseases in mangrove shrimp, tra fish, tilapia, green tiger shrimp, whiteleg shrimp, and some marine fish species;

- Developing biological preparations to enhance disease resistance and effectively prevent and treat MBV, white spot syndrome, and yellow head disease in mangrove shrimp;

- Developing vaccines, especially new generation vaccines (recombinant vaccines, genetic engineering vaccines), to prevent diseases in fish and shrimp;

- Applying biotechnology to treat waste from aquaculture;

- Developing certain biological preparations and active substances to treat aquaculture waste and replace chemicals and antibiotics used in aquaculture production (especially in mangrove shrimp and tra fish farming), contributing to improving farming efficiency, protecting the environment, and ensuring the safety of aquaculture products;

d) Post-harvest technology, processing, and management of product quality and food safety:

- Applying biotechnology in post-harvest preservation, processing, food safety, waste, and wastewater treatment in aquaculture;

- Investigating and isolating bioactive compounds from marine organisms for drug development;

- Applying high-activity enzymes in aquaculture product processing to improve product quality, competitiveness, and create new value-added products;

- Researching and applying biotechnology to treat waste and wastewater from aquaculture processing;

- Developing and applying rapid and accurate methods to detect hazardous agents and chemical residues in aquaculture food products;

2. Building capacity to support the development and application of biotechnology in the aquaculture sector:

a) Training human resources:

- Sending some scientific staff who have doctoral and master's degrees to countries with advanced aquaculture biotechnology for short-term retraining lasting from six months to one year;

- Sending doctoral and master's students to countries with advanced aquaculture biotechnology for training according to the research contents of the Project;

- Training domestic engineers, doctors, and masters in aquaculture biotechnology according to the research contents of the Project;

- Training technical staff in aquaculture biotechnology to implement the Project's contents at localities and enterprises;

- Training aquaculture biotechnology staff with high professional expertise, while also having solid knowledge about intellectual property rights in the field of aquaculture breeds;

- The training of human resources for aquaculture biotechnology should achieve the following targets: retraining 5-7 people, new training: 15-20 masters, 8-10 doctors, 150-200 technicians during the period 2007-2010; retraining 8-10 people, new training: 35-40 masters, 15-20 doctors, 300-350 technicians during the period 2011-2020;

b) Building physical infrastructure and modernizing machinery and equipment:

- Investing in upgrading and modernizing research and training facilities in aquaculture biotechnology; supplementing and modernizing technical infrastructure, machinery, and equipment for existing laboratories in aquaculture biotechnology to strengthen research capabilities, develop, and apply aquaculture biotechnology in practical production;

- Supplementing and investing in building new key laboratories for genetic breeding and conservation of rare and precious aquaculture genetic resources;

- Establishing a website and national database system on aquaculture biotechnology to provide and share information promptly with relevant units and individuals;

3. Building and developing the aquaculture biotechnology industry:

- Establishing and encouraging businesses of all economic sectors to invest in technology transfer, reception, and widespread, effective application of new and advanced technological progress to produce, trade, and service key products and goods created by aquaculture biotechnology, meeting domestic consumption and export needs;

- Forming and strongly developing the aquaculture biotechnology industry, creating a favorable and transparent market to promote business investment in production, trading, and service of key aquaculture products and goods;

4. International cooperation in the field of aquaculture biotechnology:

- Closely cooperating with developed countries worldwide in transferring, receiving, mastering, and applying new, advanced biotechnologies in the aquaculture sector for production and daily life in Vietnam;

- Implementing approximately 30 joint research projects and programs in aquaculture biotechnology with countries, organizations, and scientists around the world, contributing to promoting the development and application of aquaculture biotechnology in the country;

III. SOME KEY SOLUTIONS

1. Promoting the application of research results in production, encouraging technology transfer activities, creating a favorable investment market, and strongly developing the aquaculture biotechnology industry:

- Promote the implementation of basic research topics, applied research, scientific research and technological development (R&D) to create advanced technologies and widely apply them in production to produce new aquatic products and breeds with high productivity and quality; effectively implement trial production projects (P projects), international cooperation projects, and industrial-scale production projects of key products in the field of aquatic biotechnology.

- Establish favorable markets and strongly promote the formation and development of the aquatic biotechnology industry to produce, trade, and provide services for key aquatic products at an industrial scale, with high quality and competitiveness in the market, serving domestic consumption and export needs. The State shall have preferential policies on credit loans, taxes, land use rights, etc., for enterprises investing in the development and application of biotechnology in the aquaculture sector.

2. Strengthen and diversify investment capital to effectively and timely implement the contents of the Project:

- The total budget for implementing all contents of the Project shall be determined based on the budgets of each research topic, project, and specific task under the Project approved by the competent authority. Annually, the State shall allocate investment capital from the state budget to implement the contents of the Project. In addition to the state budget, it is necessary to strengthen and diversify other sources of investment capital from domestic and foreign enterprises, organizations, individuals, foreign economic cooperation funds (ODA, FDI, etc.), and other international cooperation funds related to the effective development and application of biotechnology in the aquaculture sector.

- The total state budget capital for implementing the contents of the Project over the first ten years is expected to be approximately 500 billion VND (on average 50 billion VND per year). The state budget capital allocated for basic research tasks; applied research; scientific research and technological development (R&D); research to improve and innovate technology to enhance productivity, quality, and competitiveness of products; support for trial production projects (P projects: eligible for a recovery rate of 60% of the total project budget); support for technology transfer to produce key products of aquatic biotechnology at an industrial scale; deep investment to build technical infrastructure, modernize machinery and equipment, laboratory systems of research institutes and universities in the field of aquatic biotechnology; training human resources, international cooperation, and other relevant contents of the Project.

The Ministry of Fisheries shall prepare annual and long-term state budget plans to implement the contents of the Project and submit them to the Ministry of Planning and Investment and the Ministry of Finance for consolidation and submission to the Prime Minister for approval.

- The development capital for the main aquatic biotechnology industry is mainly the responsibility of enterprises.

3. Enhance the capacity of aquatic biotechnology in terms of technical infrastructure and human resource training:

- Vigorously build technical infrastructure and modernize machinery and equipment for the system of laboratories, research institutions, and training facilities to enhance their research capabilities, technological development, and human resource training, meeting the development needs of the aquatic biotechnology sector.

- Vigorously train high-quality human resources at all levels both domestically and internationally to meet the human resource requirements for managing and effectively implementing the contents of the Project, contributing to the sustainable development of the aquatic biotechnology industry in the country.

4. Strengthen the construction and improvement of institutional mechanisms, policies, and regulatory legal documents on the development and application of biotechnology in the aquaculture sector:

- Vigorously develop, review, amend, supplement, promulgate, and perfect the system of institutional mechanisms, policies, and regulatory legal documents on the development and application of biotechnology in the aquaculture sector. These mechanisms, policies, and legal documents shall be issued in such a way that research institutes, universities, enterprises, organizations, and individuals investing in activities related to the development and application of biotechnology in the aquaculture sector enjoy the most favorable policies regarding loan ceilings, credit, tax rates paid into the state budget, land use rights, stimulus policies, and other related policies according to current laws.

- Fully enforce intellectual property regulations to protect copyright and industrial property rights for aquatic breeds, technological processes, machinery, equipment, inventions, patents, etc., in the field of aquatic biotechnology.

5. Expand and strengthen international cooperation in the field of aquatic biotechnology:

- Strengthen bilateral cooperation and expand multilateral cooperation with countries having advanced aquatic biotechnology, with foreign organizations and individuals rich in potential to learn experiences in developing and applying biotechnology in the aquaculture sector.

- Proactively propose, establish, and implement international cooperation programs, topics, and projects with countries having advanced and modern aquatic biotechnology industries to take advantage of assistance in experience, intellect, financial, material resources, and attract investment to sustainably develop the aquatic biotechnology industry in the country.

IV. IMPLEMENTATION

1. Ministry of Fisheries:

- Take the lead and coordinate with the Ministry of Science and Technology, relevant ministries, sectors, and localities to effectively and timely implement the contents of the Project, regularly report results annually to the Prime Minister.

- The Minister of Fisheries shall establish an inter-ministerial steering committee to organize the implementation of the "Project on Development and Application of Biotechnology in the Aquaculture Sector until 2020," with the Minister of Fisheries serving as the Chairman. The composition and operational rules of the inter-ministerial steering committee and its office (located at the Science and Technology Department) shall be decided by the Minister of Fisheries, who also serves as the Chairman of the inter-ministerial steering committee.

2. The Ministry of Science and Technology shall, based on its functions, tasks, authorities, and scope of state management in its sector, coordinate with the Ministry of Fisheries in selecting; organizing the implementation of contents, tasks, topics, and projects; evaluating and accepting the results of implementation; organizing the transfer and application of technologies and technical advancements created by the Project to enterprises for the production of key biotechnology aquatic products serving consumption and export.

3. The Ministry of Education and Training shall take the lead and coordinate with the Ministry of Fisheries to organize the training of high-quality human resources to meet the needs of scientific research, development, and application of biotechnology in the fisheries sector.

4. The Ministries of Planning and Investment, Finance, and Science and Technology shall balance, allocate, and guide the use of capital to effectively implement and complete on schedule the contents, tasks, topics, and projects of the Project.

5. Other relevant ministries, sectors, localities, organizations, and individuals: those wishing to participate in implementing the contents, tasks, topics, and projects of this Project shall register with the Ministry of Fisheries and the Inter-Ministerial Steering Committee for consideration and resolution.

Article 2. This Decision shall take effect fifteen days from the date of publication in the Official Gazette.

Article 3. The Minister of Fisheries shall be responsible for effectively organizing the implementation of the contents of this Project according to schedule.

The Ministers, Heads of ministerial-level agencies, Heads of government-affiliated agencies, Chairpersons of People's Committees of provinces and centrally governed cities, and related organizations and individuals shall be responsible for enforcing this Decision./.