Biotechnologies as tools for the development of northeast Brazil

Abstract

Biotechnology has been a branch of differential study for various sectors of society, presenting, through bioproducts and bioprocesses, improvements for the advancement and development of the Northeast region of Brazil. It is worth noting that an important means that annually brings innovative additions to the biotechnological area is the academic sector, which through stricto sensu courses at the master's and doctoral level, promote relevant research for various sectors such as economics, agribusiness, health, among others. Examples of this are: the Doctorate course in Biotechnology (RENORBIO) and the Professional Graduate Program in Biotechnology in Human and Animal Health (PPGBiotec). This article is about the path taken by the stricto sensu courses mentioned, as well as emphasizing the relevance of Biotechnology for the Northeast region of Brazil, in its different research fields, with emphasis on Natural Resources, Agriculture and Health. We exemplify biotechnologies using coconut water that has been worked since the 1980's and its evolution to the present day. Based on all the potential of the Northeast Region for the generation of bioproducts and bioprocesses, we emphasize that they will only be useful if they are really treated as technological innovation, generate invoices and have a positive impact on society's well-being.