Sericulture Status and Developing Strategies in Romania

Transcription

1 Bulletin UASVM Animal Science and Biotechnologies 70(1)/2013, 1-8 Print ISSN ; Electronic ISSN X Sericulture Status and Developing Strategies in Romania Daniel S. DEZMIREAN, Liviu Al. MĂRGHITAŞ University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Animal Science and Biotechnologies, 3-5 Mănăştur Street, Cluj-Napoca, Romania; Abstract. The present document is intended to be a radiography of the sericultural potential of our country in the context of the sector relaunch in accordance with the current directions of development. The favorable pedoclimatic conditions to mulberry cultivation and the secular sericultural tradition enable Romania to represent one of the reference centers of European sericulture with a potential that can be exploited to the maximum, now, during this period that is favorable to sustainable development and promotion of natural products obtained by traditional methods. However, considering the biotechnological potential as a technological platform of this branch of agriculture and life sciences, the progresses lately achieved (registered) impose its exploitation both in terms of economic and scientific importance (the view of its economic and scientific importance). Keywords: sericulture, development, CRCAS-PPM, research, silkworm, silk, promotion INTRODUCTION Sericulture is one of the oldest branches of agriculture spread differently in the world, known and appreciated as part of Asian culture, which currently involves several million people with direct and indirect activity in this area. According to FAO statistics, there are currently between countries involved in sericulture. The main purpose of sericulture is obtaining natural silk yarn from cocoons for use in garments and other related fields. These insects are important to humans and biodiversity, being included in the category of useful insects, along with honeybees. Due to the scientific progress in the domain of species biology and exploitation technologies, currently there are other horizons and areas of interest for a higher degree of applicability of sericulture in everyday life. Today, silk is discovered to have more surprising uses and properties in the field of biotechnology and advanced nanotechnology, optics, electronics, genetic engineering and the silk genome open a new silk road for insect science and its applications (Mita, 2011). The biocompatibility of these products including with the human body, is of particular interest for obtaining collagen, edible sensors, and optical devices, implanted in the body, considering also the non toxicity properties and biodegradation. Silk fiber ennoblement with antimicrobial properties is only one of the successful applications that are suitable for silk thread. Silkworm biotechnology has a major contribution in the field of life sciences, with applications in industry and in the academic environment (Nagaraju, 2006). It can be mentioned the production of functional human interferon, gene expression, production and marketing of protein and applications in medicine, transgenic silkworms which, by exploiting, a stable production of recombinant proteins can be obtained, and many other (Kato, 2010; Park, 2012). Introduction and promotion of exploitation techniques at household level or small farm, the possibility to mechanize some production phases (the mechanized exploitation of mulberry, directly from the plant -mulberry bush plantation), change of the production destination, from the predominantly textile one (silk) to more complex ones (the 1

2 biotechnology potential secondary sericultural products etc.) can induce a dynamism of sericulture production that deserves to be exploited. The monopoly of global sericulture production is divided between three major producers China, India and the bordering countries of BACSA (Black, Caspian Seas and Central Asia Silk Association- The countries with sericultural tradition from Europe: France, Spain, Italy, Romania, Bulgaria and Greece, continue to be pillars of reference for global sericulture because ever since the famous Silk Road, in this place it was created a cult of sericulture products, but also a valuable source of biological material both, concerning the species Bombyx mori as well as Morus sp. In recent decades, due to the exacerbated dynamism towards some more appealing areas, sericulture throughout Europe began to decline, even though, the fashion industry, for example, which uses a significant amount of silk production, continues to import all the raw material from Asian countries. For example, lately, Italy and Switzerland require increasing amounts of silk for the manufacturing industry, but unfortunately the supply is quite low (Tzenov, 2013). It comes from China, which continues to increase the price and provide poor quality silk. For these reasons the two countries shift to the Eastern and Southern Europe silk production (countries like Romania, Bulgaria, and Greece). This can be easily reactivated taking into account the tradition and the sericultural potential of the countries in the area. Due to these issues and to the problems related to the reduced number of breeders, the Western countries have decided that the preservation and conservation of the sericultural genetic fund is a major priority and allocate funds for this activity, but also for subsidizing the breeders (see EU Directive). It must be noted that currently in Europe, there are few countries with reference units for sericulture (research and production) of which can be mentioned only Italy, Romania, Bulgaria and Greece. In Europe and Central Asia, the commercial production of eggs as the seed of silkworms remains a problem. Countries with developed sericulture (Greece, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan continue to import seed from China, of poor quality, in proportion of 50-70% (Tzenov and Capelozza, 2013). Highlighting the values and the performances of the entire sericultural chain, due to the research results accumulated over time, and the technology transfer towards the private sector, that through this project can provide an alternative for rural development with major socio-economic implications. The revival of the interest in traditional rural activities, environmentally friendly, with direct involvement for the environment and preservation of the biodiversity, having in view of all the sericultural chain (primary products and derivatives of sericulture industry), represents an important opportunity to gain from all points of view (Sanginjon, 2013). Given the fact that so far in Romania, even if there is demand for silk and there is a desire from the part of breeders to organize breeding, even with a fodder base represented only by scattered mulberry trees, the major problem is the absence of a silk mill and the primary processing of raw silk or the identification of international processors interested in the Romanian production. HISTORY OF THE ROMANIAN SERICULTURE PRODUCTION Romanian sericultural tradition is internationally known (founding member of the International Sericultural Commission (ISC) located in France at Lyon, and now in Bangalore, India For several centuries, silk was known in our country, and used in the confection of the traditional Romanian female shirts, head kerchiefs and other popular clothing items. Sericulture has taken root in our country relatively quickly, especially due to the favorable climate to mulberry. Pop and Sabău (1964) cites evidence that in 1860, Romania exported 6064 kg seed free of pebrine! Craiciu (1970) reported a mulberry leaf 2

3 production of around tons in Romania, representing 0.35% of world production. Sericulture development in our country imposed the emergence of geographic areas with a high sericultural potential, subsequently recognized as leading providers for the sericultural industry. Based on a development plan and organization throughout the country, Romanian silk production became significant, being intended both for domestic consumption and for export, and ranked Romania among the top countries in the world for silk production immediately after the major producing Asian countries and on the second place in Europe. After 1989, sericulture faces a global decline due to very high yields and China s dumping prices that continue to dominate the world market, to set the price at approx % lower, for a low quality silk and also offer the breeders subsidies and facilities. CURRENT STATUS OF SERICULTURE IN ROMANIA Immediately after 1990 in Romania, sericulture was reorganized by G.D. 199/1991 at the level of 20 state-owned companies merged within the business organization Silk Road and also a sericultural farmers association. The central unit of reference for Romania, represented by SC SERICAROM SA, holds the genetic heritage for silkworms (the species Bombyx mori and Philosamia ricini) and mulberry (Morus sp.), coordinate the production and distribution of controlled silkworm seed and pebrine free, performing also seed export to countries in Europe (Italy, Greece). The spinning from Lugoj, a reference unit for Europe, which had a production capacity that served all Romania, currently does not exist anymore. The production of cocoons, respectively raw silk in Romania is currently very limited, almost non-existent, identifying only a few breeders in the south and some organized breedings at Sericarom SA, to maintain the gene pool, respectively at UASMV Cluj for experimental purposes and PhD theses. The recovery of the Romanian silkworm production stipulates an exigency towards the quality of fibers, affecting the silk price of silk processors and silk consumers, promotion of small and medium sericulture farms that should also exploit by-products resulting from breeding and last but not least efficient sericultural marketing. SERICULTURAL DATA In the recent years there have not been high productions of cocoons in our country but Romania has not been absent from the silk market and carried out import and export activities presented in the data below. Tab. 1 The Romanian export of raw silk in the last 10 years (tons) Year Product name Country Exported quantity - tons Raw silk Italy 199, , Raw silk Italy 482,3 6990, Raw silk Italy 140, , Raw silk Italy 239, , Raw silk Italy 80, , Raw silk Italy 114, , Raw silk Italy 131, , Raw silk Italy 94, , Raw silk Italy 27, ,481 *Source: INS + National Customs Authority 3 Value - thousand Euros -

4 The Romanian export of raw silk in the last 10 years (tons) Tab. 2 Year Product name Country Imported quantity Value - tons - - thousand euros Raw silk China 514, ,597 Italy 15, ,797 China 869, , Raw silk Italy 1,23 13,497 Germany 0,018 0,371 Silkworm cocoons R. Moldavia 0,1 2,943 Italy 711, , China 521, ,189 Raw silk Japan 17, ,857 Poland 1,154 5,686 Sweden 0,011 0,179 China 1323, , Raw silk Italy 290, ,328 Germany 7,16 21,878 Silkworm cocoons France 0,001 0, China 349, ,595 Raw silk Italy 201, ,923 Silkworm cocoons Hungary 0,05 0, China 440, ,868 Raw silk Italy 267, ,455 Hong Kong 65, ,43 Silkworm cocoons Hungary 0,03 0, Italy 1206, ,144 Raw silk Republic of China 782, ,402 Hong Kong 0,005 0,838 Republic of 2012 Raw silk China 704, ,156 Italy 242, ,898 Republic of 2013 Raw silk China 348, ,494 Italy 63, ,826 *Source: INS + National Customs Authority Currently, sericulture can be relaunched all over the country through the implementation of a breeding strategy in sericulture family modules (SFM), that should introduce improved breeding biological material, authorized by ANARZ, to exploit the productive potential of breeds and hybrids, but also of mulberry varieties, created within the pedoclimatic conditions of our country, and the operation of mills for spinning cocoons, necessary for silk primary processing. All these premises exist, and taking into account that following the silkworm improvement programs, it was achieved an increase in the production of silk with 25% per box, an increase of the weight of the silk with 15%, an increase of the silky coating with 10.5 %, and with 20% of the length of the fiber, therefore emerging the guarantee of obtaining high yields when the breeding technologies are followed. In this way, 4

5 the exploitation of valuable breeds of silkworm can be taken into consideration, created for the specific environmental conditions mentioned above, but also mulberry varieties with very high productivity and resistance to the pedo-climatic conditions. Biological Material. The genetic resources are represented by 65 silkworm races and 59 mulberry varieties. Given the fact that in recent years operation difficulties at Sericarom S.A. were reported related to the activity of maintaining the genetic germplasm, its reassessment is required, both in terms of silkworm breeds and hybrids as well as of mulberry varieties. Current situation regarding the species of mulberry silkworm and Eri silkworm. The silkworm races belong to the two species Bombyx mori L. and Philosamia ricini. The headquarters in Bucharest of SERICAROM S.A. currently preserve the genetic heritage of the two species (silkworms and mulberry). The quality of the genetic material can be a problem, but after organized breeding for the establishment of the biological and technological parameters, the productive potential can be identified relatively quickly. Proposed situation. Considering that in the present UASVM Cluj-Napoca is the only entity with concerns in this area in the country, and has also initiated the necessary endeavors for the international recognition of the Reference Centre for Advanced Research in Sericulture and Silk Production Promotion that already functions within the university, we propose the creation of a reserve of the genetic germplasm for the conservation and characterization of indigenous races through recognized techniques and at a molecular level (Dezmirean et al., 2010; Paşca et al., 2008). This reserve can contribute to saving the endangered genetic heritage and also currently preparing a framework for organizing the production of biological material (silkworm eggs - seed - and mulberry seedling) in order to provide it to the farmers. RCARS PSP - within UASMV has as main object of activity the advanced research in this area, whose results can be very useful in determining the quality of the biological species of Bombyx mori, both in terms of genetic variability and also related to problems of sericultural pathology. The data obtained in the laboratory can be compared with the IDSA reference laboratory. Moreover, the topics covered for doctoral and postdoctoral research are of international interest and the fact that the International Sericultural Commission accepts the recognition of RCARS-PSP as the unit of reference for research on sericulture provides the guarantee of the obtained results. Regarding the commercial seed production, Romania currently cannot produce the necessary quantities to start production increases across the country. The demand in Europe and Central Asia is high (Tzenov and Capelozza, 2013) because there are few countries that can still produce the necessary quantities of seed for production. For silkworm eggs production, profitable from an economic point of view, qualified personnel is needed, the availability of the management of valuable biological material, F1 hybrids, and low production costs. Properly organized, commercial seed production could constitute for Romania the solution for motivating all potential breeders of silkworm because it would ensure the sale of the finished product, obtained after the breeding. Given the current situation, the sericultural potential, Romania s logistics, the international recognition of RCARS-PSP, where there is the possibility to control the quality of the silkworm eggs, using modern molecular techniques, as well as the ability to easily organize the extension, organizing a training in commercial seed production, it is of major interest to stimulate the establishment of many private units (sericulture farms) with this specific. The current status of the germplasm of mulberry varieties. The mulberry germplasm is also managed by SERICAROM SA and contains domestic and foreign varieties introduced in operation since the early national organization of sericulture. According to the 5

6 data, there are in genetic reserve 59 mulberry varieties of which 10 are domestic and 49 foreign. This genetic material was formed into the pedoclimatic conditions of our country, contains varieties with high resistance to frost and drought, and presents a vigorous growth, with high yields of leaf of the highest quality, adaptable to intensive plantations. Given the potential for the cultivation of mulberry in our country, the amount of seedling owned by SERICAROM SA is insufficient. Currently, analyzing the situation of the mulberry tree plantations from Romania, it can be stated that there does not exist a clear evidence of data on their distribution over the areas with sericultural potential. According to older classifications, by groups of sericultural regions, there exist III large groups of counties with very favorable conditions to the development of mulberry silkworm rearing (Craiciu, 1971). From the data provided by SC Sericarom S.A. (2009), in all Romania there are only 300h mulberry plantation compared to 4187 ha that was available in Proposed situation. The biological material, which constitutes the germplasm reserve can be exploited and multiplied for the full exploitation of the productive biological and technological performances, for which it was created. The biological particularities of the mulberry tree allow a very rapid regeneration, and the adaptability and suitability to classical methods, but also to biotechnological ones (micropropagation) of breeding determines the production of mulberry saplings from valuable species to be easily obtained. Given the fact that Sericarom cannot produce mulberry saplings due to the difficulties that it faces, there exist in the country units that produce, during a short period of time, a considerable amount of seedlings. RCARS-PSP can provide solutions both for obtaining the seedlings by conventional techniques and also by micropropagation and, if needed, even space and logistics for the germplasm. It should be noted that from a technical standpoint, after setting up, a plantation of bush type, the one recommended for all plantations, may enter into exploitation after 2-3 years after cutting, as compared to classical plantations that enter production after seven years. FACILITIES RELATED TO THE AVAILABLE INFRASTRUCTURE Like any other field of agriculture, sericulture also depends on the interaction of a number of actors involved at all levels in the market economy. In Romania, there exists an internationally recognized unit, Sericarom S.A., specialized in producing sericultural germeplasm of the genus Bombyx mori, Philosamia ricini i Morus sp., with a remarkable experience on the sericultural market, but currently under restructuring. At central level, the policies of sector development, imposed by the ministry, are related to the Common Agricultural Policies and that of international forums regarding the development of sericulture. For the next period of , it is expected that sericulture is included in the National Rural Development Program, with the possibility of developing agribusinesses at the level of family farms, associations etc. The extent of the activities of rearing silkworms within family farms in Romania is not an item that can be quantified and that is relevant to statistics. There are breeders in many areas of the country that procure their biological material from different sources, and capitalize it by their own means, for handicrafts or direct capitalization of cocoons or raw silk. At the level of institutions involved in the sericultural field, Romania has through the educational system, colleges and faculties of animal husbandry profile and agricultural biotechnologies, specialized in textiles and processing secondary elements of sericulture, which prepare specialists in this field. Through the four major universities with an agricultural profile and those from the textiles and biochemistry fields, technology transfer is performed and also a high tech approach of the research in the domain of sericulture. An 6

7 important actor at this level is the Reference Centre for Advanced Research in Sericulture and Silk Production Promotion (RCARS-PSP) This centre is organized as a research entity within the University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine (UASMV) Cluj-Napoca and has specialized personnel (teachers and researchers, PhD students and postdoctoral students) employed for an indefinite period, has an organigram of its own, also a Biobase for research, laboratories equipped with latest generation research equipment and an auto laboratory for interventions in the field and other facilities. The equipment and logistics correspond at present to an international reference centre that meets the requirements of ISC and works in its interest. It was proposed to function under the aegis and in the interests of ISC. The activity of RCARS-PSP is coordinated by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development of Romania and corresponds to the promotion policies of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs portfolio. The main objectives of RCARS-PSP are the development of the advanced research component of the sericultural and biotechnology domains; offer diagnostic services for silkworm diseases from Romania and the ISC member countries in the region, promoting silk production in view of reinvigorating sericulture (production and silkworm eggs distribution, consulting, intermediation of business relationships with a sericulture profile etc.) in the country and in the European region. PROPOSALS FOR DEVELOPMENT Romania has established a strategy for the revival and development of sericulture for the following period, developed at the level of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Ministry of Education and Ministry of Foreign Affairs and proposed for debate and implementation throughout the country. The recovery of the Romanian sericulture production, exigency towards the quality of the fibers, aspect that influences the price of silk of silk processors and consumers, modernization r and promotion of small and medium sericulture farms that should exploit byproducts resulting from rearing, and last but not least, efficient sericultural marketing are just some of the objectives that can reinvigorate this domain with potential for rural socioeconomy. Given the huge potential that Romania offers for this domain, the fact that the growth technologies are environmentally friendly technologies and provide a sustainable development in the area, the implementation of the development strategy and revival of silkworm rearing and processing of primary and secondary products from this domain is required. At present, sericulture can be relaunched throughout the country due to the implementation of the strategy of silkworm rearing in family sericulture modules (FSM) (Mărghitaş et al., 2005). These can use an improved biological material, to benefit from the productive potential of the races and hybrids, and also of varieties of the mulberry created in the pedoclimatic conditions of our country, as well as the exploitation of silk cocoons spinning machines needed for the primary processing of silk. In view of the current sericultural potential of Romania, given the fact that it is not known precisely the existing surface of mulberry trees, it is proposed that, at country level, three areas of interest to be exploited, given the existence of some mulberry plantations, respectively the experience and interest in the development of a business in the field of silkworm rearing. Collaboration with traditional sericultural countries in the area (Italy, Swiss, Greece, Bulgaria and Moldavia) as well as the ones from ISC and BACSA can guarantee the relaunching of this field of activity, while the exchanges of biological material, rearing and processing technologies, as well as the relaunch of traditional activities are the most efficient ways to increase the interest in sericulture. 7

8 CONCLUSION The strategy project concerning the revival of sericulture proposes a solution for highlighting the values of the sericultural chain as well as the relaunch and development of a domain that provides socio economic involvement, conservation of biodiversity and of the local sericultural potential, combining tradition with technology challenges and breeding performances, culture and modern biotechnology opportunities. To achieve these objectives, the project is constituted as an interface between the researches components developed in time and effectively capitalizes the genetic and economic potential. The proposed strategy focuses on implementing the concept of efficient production farm and increasing the economic profitability by introducing in exploitation at the level of sericulture production farms the most efficient silkworm races and the mulberry tree varieties, as agribusiness solutions. Given the genetic potential of this indigenous biological material (breeds and varieties), characterized by established and molecular techniques, the experience gained in many national and international research projects, the fact that currently UASMV is the only structure with a potential of research and provision of international services in the sericultural field, the invention patent submitted, related to the in situ conservation of indigenous breeds, the direct involvement in the International Sericultural Commission, they all offer the guarantee of obtaining excellent results and performance. Acknowledgments. We thank you for Animal Husbandry Department from Romanian Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development for give us the opportunity to participate as members of Romanian Delegation, in all ISC meetings in interest of Romanian sericulture development. REFERENCES 1. Craiciu, E. (1971). Aprecieri asupra unor caractere care determină potenńialul productiv al soiurilor de dud. Sericicultura, VII(1): Dezmirean, D.S., I. Pasca, A. Matei, M. Bentea, E. Furdui and G. Lenghel (2010). Manual de prezentare a raselor din fondul genetic sericicol autohton, Ed. AcademicPress, Kato, T., M. Kajikawa and K. Maenaka (2010). Silkworm expression system as a platform technology in life science. Appl.Microbiol. Biotechnol. 85: Marghitaş, L.A., D. Dezmirean and I. Paşca (2005). Practicum Sericicol, Editura Todesco, Mita, K. (2011). Silk genome opens new silk road for insect sciences and its applications, 22 nd Congress of International Sericultural Commision Silk for the better life, Chang Mai, Thailand. 6. Nagaraju, J. (2006). Poised for a big leap. Biotech News I(3): Park, E.Y. (2012). Potential of Silkworm in Biotechnology. J Biotechnol & Biomat. S9;e001.doi: / x.S9-e Paşca, I., R. Morar, D. Dezmirean, A. Matei and L. Mărghitaş (2008). Sericicultura teoretică şi practică, Editura Risoprint, Pop E.C. and A. Sabau (1964). Curs de Sericicultură, Editura Tipo Agronomia, Cluj. 10. Sanginjon, S. (2013). The national strategy for the revival and development of sericulture in Tajikistan, 6 th BACSA International Conference Building Value Chains in Sericulture BISERICA 2013, April 7-12, Padua, Italy. 11. Tzenov, P. and S. Cappellozza (2013). The role of regional cooperation between BACSA member countries in building value chains in sericulture, 6 th BACSA International Conference Building Value Chains in Sericulture BISERICA 2013, April 7-12, Padua, Italy. 8