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Biotechnology 101 Training Courses
Regulators and constituents
of concerned government agencies who are directly involved
in the monitoring and regulation of biotechnology products
such as biotech crops need to be refreshed and updated with
the principles and applications of biotechnology. Hence, SEARCA
BIC has been conducting training courses on Biotechnology
101. Lessons on the basics, techniques, and potentials of
biotechnology were tackled in such trainings. Existing policies
related to biotech crop regulations are also discussed. The
participants in these learning activities also took part in
hands-on laboratory and field exercises.
Biotechnology Communication Workshops
Another effort of SEARCA BIC
in building the capacities of regulators are the workshops
on communicating about biotechnology issues. SEARCA BIC has
conducted biotechnology communication workshops with key stakeholders
that were identified as among those in the frontlines in answering
queries about biotechnology: project implementers and collaborators,
regulators, farmers, the media, and the academe.
Media Workshops
The media plays a vital role
in educating the public about biotechnology. With this viewpoint,
SEARCA BIC has conducted media workshops that focus on science-based
reporting of biotechnology, its underlying principles and
the issues and concerns surrounding it. During these learning
events, the media are also updated and informed about the
latest in agri-biotechnology, its potentials in addressing
current global issues, its benefits and future prospects.
Biosafety or Risk Assessment Workshops
SEARCA BIC has invited experts
on biosafety regulation and risk assessment and management
to update and review regulators and research collaborators
on the conditions of the national regulatory process and biosafety
policies. Visits to field or laboratory trials were also conducted
for the participants to see first-hand the regulatory and
monitoring procedures..
Socioeconomic and Environmental
Impact Assessment Conference
To better understand the methodologies,
tools, insights and experiences in examining the impacts of
biotech crops, a Socioeconomic and Environmental Impact Assessment
Conference was co-organized by SEARCA BIC. The conference
convened decision-makers from the public sector agencies involved
in biotechnology research, technology developers and entrepreneurs,
the academe and nongovernmental actors who decide on future
investments in the application and adoption of biotechnology
products. Its goal was to come up with priority areas in research
and capacity building, and doable policy options that will
help strengthen public policy on the use of biotech crops.
Knowledge Management Conference
To initiate an integrated regional
KM base through sharing of research, experiences and lessons
on KM interventions in biotechnology research, including technology
transfer and adoption, SEARCA BIC organized a Knowledge Management
Conference attended by policy makers, technology and R&D
managers in agriculture and natural resource management; development
planners, researchers, program officers; and extension, communication
and knowledge managers/officers from 13 countries (Australia,
Egypt, India, Indonesia, Iran, Malaysia, Pakistan, Philippines,
Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam and the USA). The end
goal of the KM Conference was to inform the stakeholders about
the policy and programs in R&D on agricultural biotechnology.
Social Marketing Workshops
Stakeholders, particularly
regulators and technicians or collaborators, are also trained
on the social marketing of biotechnology products through
a SEARCA BIC co-organized social marketing workshop. This
learning event helped in enhancing the skills of the stakeholders
in promoting agri-biotechnology products.
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