Articles in the June 22, 2012 Issue of Crop Biotech Update

NEWS Global • CGIAR Issues Call to Action for Global Leaders Attending Rio+20 Meet  • Two Events in Rio+20 Discuss Sustaining Agriculture Amid Various Threats  • FAO, IFAD, WFP, Bioversity Cite Food Security as Key Player in Sustainable Development  • Revised Multi-Crop Passport Descriptors Now Out  Africa • Rwanda Releases Iron-rich Beans  • Scientists Discuss Importance of Agri-biotech  • Juma: Biotech has the Potential for Success in Kenya Just Like Mobile Phone  • Kyetere: Improved Seeds and Technology Needed for Smallholder Farmers  • A Roundtable on Opportunities In Science, Technology And Innovation In Egypt  • Biosafety of GMO Workshop in Egypt  • Breeding Options for Adaptation of Pearl Millet and Sorghum to Climate Variability in West Africa  Americas • Improved Potato Varieties Ensure Food Security in Peruvian Communities  • Scientists Call for Increase in Refuge Percentage  • U of S, Kenyan and Ethiopian Partnership to Combat Hunger  • USDA Secretary Vilsack Challenges Seed Industry  • Launch of the New NEXGROW Alfalfa  Asia and the Pacific • Investments Aim to Crack Wheat's "Tough Nuts"  • Castor Bean As New Biodiesel Crop  • The Importance of Addressing Stacked Traits Issues in Agbiotech Dev't Projects  • Evogene and Rasi Seeds to Develop Better Rice  Europe • GM Oilseed to Produce More Healthful Oil  • New Website to Support Wheat Research  • Germany Sends Mixed Messages on Agricultural Biotechnology  • 10 Years Integrated Research Delivers for Improved and Safer Food Chain in the EU  Research • Field Performance of GM Egyptian Cotton Varieties Expressing Bt Toxins Against Bollworms  • Effects of Pathogenic Roundworms on Evolution of Pink Bollworm Resistance to Cry1Ac  • Bt Cotton Adoption Promotes Biocontrol Services  Document Reminders • Proceedings of International Workshop for Islamic Scholars on Agri-biotechnology  • Meeting the Challenges of Global Climate Change and Food Security through Innovative Maize Research

A Roundtable on Opportunities In Science, Technology And Innovation In Egypt

An interactive roundtable on opportunities in science was organized by the Egyptian Competitiveness Council (ENCC) to identify and prioritize innovative scientific and technological developments in agriculture last June 12, 2012. The event held in Cairo was sponsored by USAID, Egyptian's Competitiveness Program and ENCC. It was attended by 50 participants from both government and the private sectors.

The round table discussion was moderated by Tarek Tawfik, ENCC Member and Head of Food Security and Safety Sub-council, who gave an update on global food security and developments in biotechnology to address agricultural challenges. Mrs. Amina Ghanem, Executive Director of the ENCC, noted that Egypt's score on the Global Competitiveness Index (GCI) has been decreasing, from 83 out of 131 countries in 2009-2010 to 103 in 2011- 2012. She said that this is cause for alarm and that Egypt should spur developments to avoid future crises.

The participants stated that Egypt needs to initiate and facilitate trust between private sectors, researchers, and decision makers. Important issues that need to be addressed include the need for transparency to maximize the benefits of research and communication to reach out to stakeholders. In addition, IPR and plant varieties protection should be taken into consideration. Among the recommendations were to decentralize research, create a non-centralized knowledge park, facilitate access to innovation, maximize the role of the private sector, and create long term working groups.

For more news about biotechnology in Egypt, email  Dr. Naglaa Abdalla of the Egypt Biotechnology Information Center at nabdallah@e-bic.net.

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This article is part of the Crop Biotech Update, a weekly summary of world developments in agri-biotech for developing countries, produced by the Global Knowledge Center on Crop Biotechnology, International Service for the Aquisition of Agri-Biotech Applications SEAsiaCenter (ISAAA)

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