Bishkek – Biosafety is directly linked to the control of genetically modified organisms (GMOs). Therefore, initiatives aimed at strengthening laboratory capacity and enhancing capabilities for conducting accurate analyses are of particular importance.

As part of these efforts, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has provided Kyrgyzstan with modern laboratory equipment, consumables, and diagnostic test systems for the detection and identification of GMOs. The United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) provided assistance in the procurement and delivery of the equipment to Kyrgyzstan.

The official handover ceremony took place on 18 December in Bishkek at the Republican Central State Veterinary Laboratory.

This technical assistance is provided within the framework of the FAO project “Implementation of the National Biosafety Mechanism in accordance with the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety.” The project has been implemented in Kyrgyzstan since 2023 with financial support from the Global Environment Facility. Its goal is to assist the country in developing and implementing a consistent biosafety policy, as well as in forming a national regulatory, legal, and institutional framework.

Oleg Guchgeldiyev, FAO Representative in Kyrgyzstan, noted that strengthening laboratory capacity is one of the key directions of the project. According to him, the provision of equipment represents a significant practical step towards expanding national capabilities in monitoring, identifying, and assessing biotechnological products, as well as analyzing potential risks to the environment and public health.

“Within the project, technical capacity is being built. First and foremost, this involves equipping laboratories for the detection of GMOs, living modified organisms (LMOs), and enhancing the staff capacity of laboratory personnel. Combined with other measures, this will allow Kyrgyzstan to ensure reliable and effective protection against adverse impacts on the country's ecosystem and biodiversity, and will eliminate risks to citizens' health,” he remarked.

The sets of modern equipment were provided to:

• The Chemico-Toxicological Department of the Center for Veterinary Diagnostics and Expertise of the Veterinary Service, Livestock Development, Pastures and Fodder;
• The Laboratory of Molecular-Genetic and Virological Research of the Department of Disease Prevention and State Sanitary-Epidemiological Surveillance of the Ministry of Health of Kyrgyzstan;
• The Testing Laboratory for Food and Agricultural Products of the Center for Standardization and Metrology (Kyrgyzstandart);
• The Institute of Biotechnology of the National Academy of Sciences under the President of the Kyrgyz Republic.

Aigul Zhumakanova, Head of the Laboratory Testing Center of the Department of Disease Prevention and State Sanitary-Epidemiological Surveillance, noted the significant contribution of the FAO project to strengthening national laboratory capacity. According to her, over the past two years, the center's specialists have been trained in methods for detecting GMOs in food products, primarily of plant and dairy origin.

“The FAO project combines human capacity development with the technical equipping of laboratories. We received a spectrophotometer, a laboratory mill, a homogenizer, as well as consumables and test kits, which enables continuous and high-quality monitoring of food products for the presence of GMOs,” she said.

The provided equipment will enhance the accuracy, reliability, and efficiency of laboratory analyses. Combined with other measures, this will help improve Kyrgyzstan's capabilities in detecting LMOs and GMOs, as well as establish an effective system for assessing and monitoring the safety of those food products and agricultural crops that enter the country through international trade and which contain GMOs.

Source: https://www.fao.org/kyrgyzstan/news/detail/fao-provides-laboratories-in-kyrgyzstan-with-modern-equipment-for-detecting-gmos/en