Plant biotechnology in Lithuania

Lithuania is the leader of the region in the field of biotechnologies from the very start of modern biotechnology development. Without long falling behind the start of the biotechnology investigations in the world, in 1975 institute of applied enzymology was established in Vilnius (now it is called Institute of Biotechnology). It quickly became the leader in the field of classic fermentation technology investigation. Development plans are prepared for the companies UAB “Biotechfarma” and UAB “Biota”, highlighting their biotechnological profile. In total more than 400 employees work in these companies of the country, production is exported into 86 countries. It is planned to create 200 new direct work places in the biotechnology industry until 2013, annual production volume will reach 0.4 – 0.5 milliards of Litas, 100 – 200 millions of Litas of foreign investments are expected. The issue of usage of plant biomass is becoming more and more relevant. Usage of alternative agricultural products for the purposes of chemistry industry creates pre-conditions for better exploitation of agricultural land and creating new work places. It is planned than until 2015 Lithuanian biotechnology companies will distribute production for 200 – 300 millions of Litas and 800 – 1 000 of people will be working in them. Lithuanian national biotechnology platform (LNBP) should support the creation of common vision of Lithuanian industrial and pharmaceutical biotechnology products, sectors of development of the renewing resources and to prepare strategic plan of investigations in these fields until 2025 – 2030, i.e. to determine the long-term goals of the Lithuanian biotechnology sector and technology development. It should also contribute to the preparation and maintenance of qualified specialists.

Biotechnology specialists of various fields (biochemists, chemists, geneticists, microbiologists, bioengineers and etc.) are prepared in Faculties of Natural Sciences and Chemistry of Vilnius University and Faculty of Fundamental Sciences of Vilnius Gediminas Technical University. Preparation of bioinformatics was started in the Faculty of Mathematics and Computer Science of Vilnius University; Kaunas University of Technology prepares specialists of biomedicine engineering. From 2003 UAB “Fermentas” and Vilnius College together prepare biotechnology specialists with higher education. Lithuanian Biotechnology Research Centres have accumulated large intellectual potential and achieved good results in the fields of pharmaceutical purpose proteins, chemistry and biochemistry of enzymes and nucleic acids, also prokaryote and eukaryote cell molecular biology investigation. Investigations of bioinformatics are rapidly developed.