Filipino Regulators and Experts Dialogue on Biotech Issues and Concerns

Twenty regulators from various regulatory institutions learned about the issues and concerns surrounding agricultural biotechnology after completing the Capacity Building Training on GM Animals for Regulators (Level 1B) held on November 12, 2019 at the Department of Agriculture (DA) Agricultural Training Institute, Quezon City, Philippines.

The event is the second installment of training, which is part of the Progressive Manpower Enhancement Program developed by DA Biotechnology Program Office and the International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-biotech Applications (ISAAA). The objective of the training is to increase skilled manpower in research and development, regulatory, managerial, policy, and communication aspects in agricultural biotechnology. The program has a track-specific, ladderized structure focusing on building core technical and leadership competencies. The training commenced in August 2019.

Dr. Dionisio Alvindia, Director-Coordinator of the DA Biotech Program welcomed the participants and encourage them to dialogue with the experts to fully understand the issues and concerns on biotechnology. Before the lectures, the participants listed the frequently asked questions on biotechnology. The questions were answered by the invited experts after each talk. The topics discussed were addressing the safety issues of modern biotech products, GM food safety, impact of living modified organisms on biodiversity and the environment, socio-economic benefits of GM crop adoption, and the ethical issues on biotechnology.

The training was also a build up activity for the National Biotechnology Week which will be held on November 25-29, 2019 at the National Kidney and Transplant Institute, Quezon City.

For more information, send an e-mail to knowledge.center@isaaa.org.