Indonesian Seminar Highlights Food Biotechnology

Food industry is one of the vital industries in Indonesia. Developing trends of food demand, land requirement, tightening regulation, and increasing competitiveness are challenges for Indonesian food industry performance, which were tackled during the Outlook Seminar of Food Industry 2009, held in the University of Pelita Harapan (UPH), Tangerang, Indonesia. The forum was highlighted by the presentations of Dr. George A. Burdock, President of Burdock Group, who discussed the many advances in the food industry including nanotechnology and biotechnology and their impact on society. David Knight, director of Agri-Com International Ltd., Singapore, discussed about prospects and trends of the global food business.

The Indonesian Biotechnology Information Center (IndoBic) Director Dr. Bambang Purwantara elaborated on the application of biotechnology in food production and industry. He recommended to support more inter-disciplinary and inter -ministerial discussion for better understanding of transgenic agricultural products,  and the establishment of a regulatory system. These actions would convince both developers and opponents that the GM regulatory assessment is on track; and also to assure that biotechnology and biodiversity are in harmony in attaining agricultural sustainability.

Papers on the seminar can be downloaded at http://www.foodreview.biz/preview.php?view&id=162. For more information on this event, email marketing@foodreview.biz. Contact Dewi Suryani of IndoBIC at   dewisuryani@biotrop.org for information on biotechnology in Indonesia.