On 29-30 June 2000, the Regional Conference on Agricultural Biotechnology in Bangkok, Thailand carried the theme Needs and Priorities in the Context of Southeast Asia's Agricultural Objectives. The conference was organized by SEAMEO Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA), and co-sponsored by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the Asia and Pacific Seed Association (APSA).

The high-level assembly discussed regional "enabling environment" to allow the efficient transfer, delivery, and utilization of agricultural biotechnology applications and products in the region. Among the recommendations was the establishment of a "highly credible, sound and factual biotechnology information center to address the agricultural biotechnology information needs of the Southeast Asian region".

"To address the needs of the region for a highly credible, sound and factual biotechnology information center in the Southeast Asian region accessible to various stakeholders."

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• To serve as the hub of the regional network for science-based information on agricultural biotechnology;
  


• Act as information broker among various stakeholders;
  


• Coordinate with regional and national network nodes on the exchange, processing, packaging, and distribution of agricultural biotechnology information;
  


• Support national programs on agricultural biotechnology by providing strategic information for decision-making;
  


• Synthesize and package science-based information using appropriate formats.

• legislators, policy makers, administrators
  


• scientists
  


• conservationists/environmentalists
  


• regulators
  


• food producers (farmers, processors)



• media
  


• public

1. BIC organizes and coordinates training, study visits, workshops, fora, consultations, and other similar activities that may serve as venues for objective discussions on biotechnology.

2. BIC makes use of different communication modalities to promote awareness on biotechnology, such as:

Information, Education, and Communication (IEC) Materials
IECs from agencies working on biotechnology are packaged into appropriate formats (comics, primer, posters, mentor’s kit, brochures) or made available to public.

The BIC Web
The BIC Website (www.bic.searca.org) provides general information on biotechnology, news, events, downloadable documents, educational materials, and proceedings from seminars/workshops.

The BIC E-group (bic at searcaweb.org)
An electronic newsgroup is also a venue for members to communicate, collaborate, share and exchange information. One can join by going to this link: http://searcaweb.org/mailman/listinfo/bic_searcaweb.org

Tekno-Buhay (Biotech-on-the-air)
Radio and other mass media channels are tapped for broadcasting education materials and serve as venues for interaction with biotech practitioners and entrepreneurs

Media Releases
BIC provides backgrounders, sends out news releases, and feature articles.