Biotech Updates

Biotech Information Network Meets in Thailand

March 16, 2012

Some 44 science communication practitioners from Asia (Bangladesh, China, India, Indonesia, Iran, Japan, Malaysia, Pakistan, Philippines, South Korea, Thailand, and Vietnam), Africa (Egypt, Kenya, Uganda), and Latin America (Peru) converged in Phuket, Thailand to share experiences on initiatives to increase awareness and appreciation of crop biotechnology.

The participants highlighted innovative communication strategies to help stakeholders make decisions regarding their acceptance or use of biotechnology. These include animation and cartoons, radio programs, exercises with children, nontechnical news magazine, and exchange visits to biotech farms. A story book on the Adventures of Mandy and Fanny in Kenya: the Future of Sustainable Agriculture was launched by the AfriCenter team. It is the Kenyan adaptation of an educational cartoon book developed by the ISAAA South Asia Office, India. It narrates the story of Mandy (Bt corn) and Fanny (Bt cotton) who provide useful insights on biotechnology and its benefits, as well as clarifies misconceptions.

The workshop highlighted the dynamics of science and society that affect technology acceptance and adoption; hence the need to prioritize knowledge sharing initiatives that reduce misinformation and encourage interaction among stakeholders. It was organized by the International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-biotech Applications (ISAAA) and the Biotechnology and Biosafety Information Center in Thailand.

 

Obtain additional information from knowledge.center@isaaa.org