Asian Food and Agribusiness Conference on Biotech and Global Competitiveness

The Asian Food and Agribusiness Conference held on July 15-18, 2013 in Taipei, Taiwan carried the theme "Biotechnology and Global Competitiveness" and gathered around 100 key stakeholders such as government officials, professors, scientists, and private sector from countries in the Asia-Pacific, including India, Indonesia, Iran, Malaysia, Mongolia, Nepal, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam. The conference tackled topics such as the global trends in biotechnology, risk-management by agricultural/biotechnology-based SMEs for sustainable business, investment in agricultural biotechnology and agricultural biotechnology and global competitiveness.

Among the speakers were ISAAA Vice Chair Dr. Paul S. Teng who discussed the importance of biotechnology to increasing agricultural competitiveness and ensuring food security; ISAAA SEAsia Center Director and Global Coordinator Dr. Randy A. Hautea presented an analysis of global developments in biotechnology crops, and biotechnology and green food production; and SEARCA Biotechnology Information Center Network Administrator and Special Projects Coordinator Jenny A. Panopio shared the experience of SEARCA BIC on the role of communication in risk management.

The Conference was organized by the Asian Productivity Organization (APO), the Council of Agriculture, China Productivity Center, Food and Fertilizer Technology Center for the Asia and the Pacific Region, in collaboration with the Asia-Pacific Association of Agricultural Research Institutions, Croplife Asia, National Training Institute for Farmers Organizations and ISAAA.

For more details of the conference contact Ms. Jenny Panopio of SEARCA-BIC at jap@agri.searca.org.