As the tenth largest economy in the world today with a population of more than 100 million, Mexico continues to be one of the most attractive locations for foreign direct investment. Individual states like Nuevo Leon, Sonora, Baja California and others are receiving international recognition for the positive business climate and advanced technology platforms. During a February 2007 visit to Tijuana, the Norwegian Ambassador to Mexico, Kurt Solem, observed that Baja California offers a great potential for business and is poised for diversification of its markets not only with the US but also to Europe, Scandinavia and other regions of the world. He specifically pointed out his country’s growing interest commercial exchange in biotechnology as applied to agriculture, marine resources, energy production and other areas.
Mexico’s industrial and agricultural sectors benefit from ongoing modernization and innovation in selected technology areas. The world-class standing of Mexico’s commercial biotechnology companies is illustrated by companies like Laboratorios Silanes, which is developing new technologies for the diagnosis of metabolic disorders. Similarly on the cutting-edge, the company ProBioMed is developing bioactive products for human health care. According to Ing. Elena Arriaga of the Institute of Biotechnology at the National Autonomous University of Mexico, Mexican companies are developing new fermentation processes for the food industry, including production of milk products and beverages. She states that a recent study identified around 180 firms as developing and/or using modern biotechnology. A growing number of firms are working in drug production and diagnostic kits. Others include firms in agriculture, production of livestock vaccines, probiotics, and pollution treatment, including waste treatment for improvement of water, air and soil. Bioenergy is also receiving attention in Mexico; a consortium of farmers is working on plans to combine soybean oil with methanol to be blended with diesel to create another source of fuel.
In Mexico, there are more than 110 research institutions in the country with about 12,000 researchers registered in the National Research System (SNI) who actively publish in peer-reviewed international journals. About 10% of these work in areas related with biotechnology applications to human health, livestock, agriculture, pollution treatment and food production. Of the approximately 1,000 Ph.D. students graduating per year, approximately 10% are trained in biotechnology and related areas. Mexico’s widely respected professional association for biotechnology Mexican Society of Biotechnology and Bioengineering (SMBB) was founded in 1982. Its membership of practicing professionals and students includes more than 800 associates. The SMBB promotes technology transfer between the private and public sectors and serves to advocate for harmonization of regulations affecting biotechnology. SMBB’s 12th National Congress for Biotechnology and Bioengineering will be held June 25-29, 2007 in the city of Morelia, Michoacán, Mexico. For more information, see www.smbb.com.mx. In continuing promotion of Mexico’s strong ties with Europe, US, and other regions of the world, the State of Nuevo Leon sponsors a bi-annual series of international conferences. The details for these conferences held in Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, Mexico, can be seen at www.biomonterrey.org.
The Biotechnology Committee of the National Council of Science and Technology and the National Academy of Sciences is comprised of 23 researchers, industry and government agency representatives. The Committee has published studies on strategic research areas and legislation affecting biotechnology development in Mexico including biosafety provisions. Although the issue of genetically modified (GM) organisms has been the subject of extensive debate in Mexico with proponents and opponents arguing both sides, Mexico’s government published its new Biosafety Law for Genetically Modified Organisms in March of 2005. This law regulates the creation, development and marketing of GM products and essentially removes previous restrictions on the use sale, import, export and farming of GM organisms. It provides for governmental coordination of the oversight and permitting processes.
Please visit the Mexico Pavilion at BIO 2007, booth #1585, sponsored by the Trade Commission of Mexico in New York, Edmundo Gonzalez, Trade Commissioner and Susana Alvarez, Deputy Trade Commissioner, e-mail: salvaree@bancomext.gob.mx
International Delegation Organizer (Mexico): Fernando Quezada, Executive Director, Biotechnology Center of Excellence, www.BioAmericas.org. Special thanks to Ing. Elena Arriaga of the Instituto de Biotecnologia at UNAM for providing the information for this profile.