Biotech Updates

Government Officials in Gorontalo, Indonesia Briefed on Biotech

March 25, 2011

A Workshop on Sustainable Modern Agriculture for government officials of Gorontalo was recently concluded in Gorontalo, Indonesia. In his welcome address, the Governor of Gorontalo, Dr. Ir. H. Gusnar Ismail, expressed his support for the implementation of biotechnology since it can provide possible alternatives to help solve many challenges of conventional breeding techniques.

Prof. Dr. Andi Trisyono from Universitas Gadjah Maha discussed the potential impact of biotech crops on productivity as well as the environmental issues of Bt crops such as gene transfer, effect on non-target insects, weediness potential and pest resistance.

This is the second workshop for agricultural officials co-organized by Badan Pusat Informasi Jagung (BPIJ) and Indonesian Society for Agricultural Biotechnology (PBPI) and supported by SEAMEO BIOTROP, CropLife Indonesia and the International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-biotech Applications. It aims to build biotech knowledge of stakeholders especially among government officials and media and to accelerate biotech acceptance in Indonesia.

Some 200 participants composed of agricultural officials, universities, agricultural stakeholders, and media participated in this event. For information on biotechnology in Indonesia, contact Dewi Suryani at dewisuryani@biotrop.org.