With a long weekend coming up (Monday is Columbus Day here in the US), here are some of the week’s most interesting biotech tidbits from around the globe. Read! Enjoy! Comment!

• An extremely useful article on BIO’s site explains how US states, now locked in competition with countries in Europe and Asia (as well as each other) can develop their biotech industries through workforce training and development. It lists various state initiatives, legislation and imperatives to build a flourishing biotech sector that could conceivably be applied anywhere in the world.
• In the Times of India, noted agricultural scientist M.S. Swaminathan opposes the proposed Biotechnology Regulatory Authority of India (Brai) billbrai-m-s-swaminathan-crops as being against the spirit of Gandhi and decentralized governance. The Brai will approve the research and commercial release of genetically modified crops.
• Finally, this week Toyota showed off some off its green technologies at its Biotechnology and Afforestation Laboratory, including a yeast that increases the production yield of cellulosic ethanol; new technologies for the greening of parking lots and walls; and a “cool spot creation technology” for simulating the effects of greening.

Michael Francisco