This is Sanjeev Raikar from SGS India Pvt Ltd, Hyderabad, Head Biotech Operations.

After going through a few of the messages which have mostly stressed on how and when genomics would be efficiently put to use in breeding activities especially if we were to improve the wide variety of crops mostly in our tropical developing countries.... Many views have been expressed such as lack of thorough understanding of genomics as a tool by breeding scientists in developing countries, the constant upgradation of equipments, changing methodology or protocols, the millions of dollars involved in upgradation of equipments, and above all the skill shortage in the regions to understand precisely and successfully execute the job bringing a logical conclusion to the whole exercise. In short, the question is surrounding the capability... Are the developing countries capable enough to execute such advanced work...

I feel there are many options which could address these issues. One of the options is by forging partnerships with already established entities in the field of genomics who have proved themselves through peer assessments either overseas or within the country. A partnership wherein you would be able to outsource the work at the same time get your own staff trained which would address the long term plans. Private companies such as SGS having global presence have the capabilities to invest in setting up such sophisticated high throughput facilities in providing these services. I think such kind of models would greatly help conducting the most sophisticated work in developing countries efficiently and economically which would greatly accelerate the pace of crop improvement in developing countries and should help in closing the knowledge gap. We should capitalise by implementing such kind of working model. It would also help in bringing together the different stakeholders across table which in turn would greatly facilitate the whole exercise

Sanjeev Raikar PhD.
Lab Manager
SGS India Pvt Ltd,
Hyderabad Laboratory,
Plot no SS-1,Phase-3,IDA,Cherlapally,
Rangareddy(Dt)Hyderabad-500051
India.
m: +91 9000040586
email: sanjeev.raikar (at) sgs.com
Web: http://www.seedservices.sgs.com/ , http://www.in.sgs.com

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