The Third Asian Biotechnology Conference was conducted on 9-10 November 2006 at Diamond Hotel, Roxas Blvd., Manila with the theme “Biotechnology Opportunities for Developing Countries.”

The conference brought together representatives from the government, private sector, academe, and environmental conservation groups to review and discuss issues on biotechnology, and to identify how this technology can be used to spur growth of countries within the Asian region.

Papers presented focused on biocommercialization; biotechnology issues such as governance, biosafety and biosecurity, bioremediation, intellectual property rights, poverty reduction and public interest; applications of biotechnology; and status of biotechnology crops.

The conference was sponsored by the Biotechnology Coalition of the Philippines (BCP), Department of Agriculture (DA), Department of Science and Technology (DOST), Research and Information Systems for Developing Countries (RIS), Bureau of Agricultural Research (BAR), United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), Program for Biosafety Systems (PBS), International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-biotech Application (ISAAA), CropLife Asia, Philippine Council for Advanced Science and Technology Research and Development (PCASTRD), Philippine Council for Agriculture, Forestry and Natural Resources Research and Development (PCARRD), SEARCA BIC, National Academy of Science and Technology (NAST), Hybridigm Consulting, Manila Bulletin, The Philippine Star, and Manila Bulletin Agriculture Magazine. (SEARCA BIC).