Brasília - The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development of Angola, Gilberto Buta Lutucuta, was at the Brazilian Farm Research Corporation (Embrapa) on Friday visiting its Genetic and Biotechnology center (Cenargen) in Brasilia. Lutucuta declared he was interested in the transfer of Embrapa technology and products to Angola.

The minister said Brazilian-Angolan cooperation is on a fast track. Training for Angolan personnel in the collection and classification of genetic resources techniques developed by Cenargen will soon begin.

Among other things, Lutucuta said he was interested in the bioinsecticide known as "Sphaerus SC," which Cenargen recently launched in partnership with Bthek Biotecnologia, and is used against the mosquito that transmits malaria, as well as some urban mosquitoes. Malaria is a serious problem in Angola.

There is also interest in methods for transfer of cow embryos, an area where Embrapa has been very successful. According to the International Embryo Transfer Society (IETS), in 2002, significantly, 50% of all embryos created in laboratories worldwide were produced in Brazil.

Agência Brasil
Translator: Allen Bennett
10/04/2004