On April 24, 2012 the Russian government approved'The Comprehensive Program for Development of Biotechnology in the RussianFederation through 2020'. In the document it is argued that the Russian Federation lags behindboth developed and developing countries in the development and applicationof bio-technologies. The fact that more than 80 per cent of the locally consumedbiotechnology production is imported is specifically referred to.

The Program will be implemented in twophases, 2012-2015 and 2016-2020 with a total state financing at the amountof 1.18 trillion rubles ($39billion). The strategicgoal of the program is to develop a leading position of Russia in themanufacturing of biotechnologies; to create a globally competitivebiotechnology sector which will enhance the modernisation of the localeconomy; to create until 2015 internal and export demand forbiotechnologies; to create a production-technological basis for the achievementof these goals.