The potential of agribiotechnology to contribute to sustainable agriculture depends on R&D and the integration of other factors such as effective communication, science-based national regulatory frameworks, and an adequate understanding of international legal instruments. Strong collaboration among scientists, regulators, policymakers, and lawyers is important so that science and regulation can co-evolve and society can benefit from modern biotechnology while risks are minimized.
The Asian Short Course on Agribiotechnology, Biosafety Regulation, and Communication (ASCA) is a capacity-building initiative of the Malaysian Biotechnology Information Centre (MABIC) and the International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-biotech Applications Inc. (ISAAA Inc.) to create a platform for Asian scientists and regulators to be competent in the regulations and policies related to biotechnology. This will enable a strong voice for science-based regulations supporting R&D, commercialization, and trade. It also enables more Asian stakeholders to be trained, given the limited resources in developing countries.
ISAAA Inc., MABIC, and BioTrust-ISAAA will hold the 7th Asian Short Course on Biotechnology Regulation and Communication (ASCA 7) in Bangkok, Thailand, on September 2-6, 2024, to be co-hosted by the Department of Agriculture and Biotechnology Alliance Association.
ASCA was conducted in Malaysia in 2018, in the Philippines in 2019, hosted by ISAAA Inc. virtually in 2020 and 2021, in the Philippines in 2022, and Bogor, Indonesia in 2023.
The short course is focused on the following learning themes:
- value chain related to the research, development, commercialization, and trade of living-modified organisms (LMOs) and gene-edited crops/organisms;
- national and international legal instruments governing LMOs and products of gene editing;
- effective communication of agricultural biotechnology innovations and biosafety regulation;
- bioethical considerations and stewardship; and
- role of science diplomacy in international negotiations
Scope of the Training
- Conceptual first-hand information from scientists, the development of biotech (genetic modification and genome editing) crops and animals (from the lab to the market).
- Lecture, discussion, and exercises on environmental and food/feed safety assessment of biotech products.
- Innovations in agriculture biotechnology, benefits and impact on trade and economy.
- Biosafety regulations, bioethical considerations, and stewardship.
- Strategic communication methods (in quad media) including risk communication.
- Basics of science diplomacy and its use in international negotiations.
Fees
Participants' Fees: US$1,000 (exclusive of fund transfer service charges, accommodation, and airfare).
Inclusive: Lunch, snacks, and welcome dinner during the workshop, transport during visits to biotech farms and research institutions, and access to workshop and training kits (bios, abstracts, PPT presentations, and related references).
Payment methods: Paypal. For other methods, please contact us.
Contact Person
Clement Dionglay
Project Assistant, ISAAA Inc.
cdionglay@isaaa.org