In the book titled Preparing for the Twenty-First Century,
Paul Kennedy projected the importance of biotechnology:
Like the steam engine and electricity,
biotechnology seems likely to introduce a new historical era
and greatly change the way people live. It offers new products
and improved ways of creating existing ones. It opens new markets,
reduces the costs of many manufactures and services, and might
alter the pattern of international trade. It could change the
way national economies are structured, how investment capital
is allocated, and the spectrum of scientific knowledge. It will
create many jobs and eliminate many traditional ones.
He also projected the controversies
biotechnology will generate and the "differentiated responses"
of various sectors of society. For developing countries, Kennedy
discussed the opportunities (avoiding the Malthusian trap, high
probability of making significant contribution) and threats
(increased dependence on large MNCs for biotech inputs, loss
of markets of agricultural products as the West develops "synthesized"
substitutes) of this technology.
Recent developments in the country
and throughout the world verify Kennedy’s projections. It is
thus important that by means of its knowledge of this technology,
the University is able to enlighten decision-making on policy
issues in the case of political leaders and investment decisions
in the case of the private sector. Regardless of the controversies,
biotechnology and its scientific foundation (molecular biology)
are exciting fields of knowledge. As the premier academic institution
in the country, the University of the Philippines should take
the lead in generating knowledge in this field.
