Regulators and Experts from 8 Asian Countries Train on Communicating Biotech and Biosafety

Thirty-two regulators, biosafety experts, and scientists from Cambodia, China, Indonesia, South Korea, Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam sharpened their communication skills and got updated on biotech and biosafety during the Regional Workshop on Enhancing Knowledge and Communication Skills on Biotechnology and Biosafety on October 29-30, 2013 at Century Park Hotel, Bangkok, Thailand. The participants were involved in biotech crops research and came from government biosafety regulatory agencies and research institutions from public and private sectors.

Director of the Global Knowledge Center on Crop Biotechnology of ISAAA Mariechel Navarro and Dean of University of the Philippines Los Baños-College of Development Communication Dr. Ma. Theresa Velasco conducted exercises and delivered lectures on effective science communication. The activity also aimed to enhance the participants' knowledge on biotechnology and biosafety in the global and regional contexts and build their capacities on biosafety and environmental assessment. ISAAA Global Coordinator and SEAsiaCenter Director Dr. Randy Hautea talked about the adoption and future prospects of biotech crops while Agricultural Biotechnology Support Project II (ABSPII) Director Dr. Frank Shotkoski shared the public sector initiatives and experiences in biosafety and development of biotech products.

Researchers and regulators from Indonesia, Thailand, and the Philippines involved in field trials of biotech crops shared their experiences and best practices in its implementation and management. The workshop was organized by ISAAA, Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA), Program for Biosafety Systems Philippines (PBS Philippines), ABSPII, Indonesian Biotechnology Information Center (IndoBIC), Biotechnology Alliance Association (BAA), and Biosafety and Biotechnology Information Center in Thailand (BBIC).

For more information about the workshop, visit SEARCA Biotechnology Information Center's website at www.bic.searca.org or send an e-mail to bic@agri.searca.org.