Eighteen agri-science journalists from print and broadcast industry participated in a media workshop held at SEARCA, College, Laguna, on 10 – 11 June 2008.

The workshop titled, “Media Workshop and Study Visits on Biotechnology and Biodiversity” aimed to enhance awareness and appreciation by the participants of biotechnology’s role in enhancing biological diversity specially in plant genetic resources (PGR) as well as in its conservation and sustainable use.

Topics included biotechnology applications on enhancing plant genetic resources; status of biotech crops; and public and international initiatives on crop genetic resources conservation, enhancement, and use.

Resource persons from the University of the Philippines Los Baños - Institute of Plant Breeding (UPLB-IPB) , the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Forestry and Natural Resources Research and Development (PCARRD), the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), and the International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-biotech Applications (ISAAA) briefed the media participants on its PGR and crop biotechnology programs.

Media participants also visited UPLB-IPB’s National Plant Genetic Resources Laboratory, the confined trial of papaya ringspot-virus resistant (PRSV-R) papaya , and IRRI’s TT Chang Genetic Resource Center.

The workshop and study visits were organized by the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture - Biotechnology Information Center (SEARCA BIC), in partnership with the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Forestry and Natural Resources Research and Development (PCARRD), and the International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-biotech Applications (ISAAA).

Topics presented and photos taken during the workshop and study visits can be viewed at the link below:

http://www.bic.searca.org/seminar_proceedings/index.html#media

(Rochella B. Lapitan, SEARCA BIC).