Filipino Farmers Trained on Biotech and Science Communication

Farmer-leaders and members of the Asian Farmers Regional Network Philippines (ASFARNET) from all over the country learned about the products, science, safety, and potential benefits of biotechnology as well as strategies and skills for biotech communication during the Trainer's Training-Workshop Series 2017: Agri-biotechnology Capacity Building for ASFARNET-Philippines on September 21-22, 2017 at the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice), Muñoz, Nueva Ecija.

Tackled in the training were the development of Golden Rice in the Philippines, science communication, local government communication support strategies, and social media for biotech communication, among others. Resource persons include the Director of PhilRice's Crop Biotech Center Dr. Roel Suralta for Golden Rice; PhilRice's Chief Science Research Specialist Dr. Karen Barroga for science communication; and ISAAA's social media managers, Ms. Kristine Tome and Ms. Clement Dionglay for the biotech advocacy on social media. The group also visited the Philippine Carabao Center and the Department of Agriculture - Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources.

The activity was organized by ASFARNET, PhilRice, the Department of Agriculture – Biotech Program Office, and the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture – Biotechnology Information Center (SEARCA BIC).

For more updates about biotechnology in the Philippines, visit SEARCA BIC's website.