Apcoab

APAARI Newsletter December 2011

APAARI Newsletter, Vol.20, No.2, December, 2011

Expert Consultation on Agricultural Biotechnology, Biosafety and Biosecurity - Abstracts

This publication includes, besides abstracts, background, messages and program of the expert consultation meeting held by APAARI in collaboration with Council of Agriculture, Chinese Taipei at Taiwan Agricultural Research Institute, Taichung on 27-28 October 2011. Proceedings of the meeting will follow.

Expert Consultation Meeting on Postharvest and Value Addition of Horticultural Produce

This publication reports the proceedings of expert consultation meeting held by APAARI in collaboration with Malaysian Agricultural Research and Development Institute (MARDI) in Malaysia on 29 November � 2 December 2010. It includes details of presentations and discussion in five technical sessions, and recommendations. Strategies and action plans proposed to address key policy, technical and management issues on post-harvest and value of fruits, vegetables, ornamentals, herbs and medicinal plants with special reference to strengthening linkages of farmers to markets in the Asia-Pacific region are also included.

Stakeholders Interface on GM Food Crops

This publication is the outcome of meeting organized by Asia-Pacific Consortium on Agricultural Biotechnology (APCoAB) and Trust for Advancement of Agricultural Sciences (TAAS) with the support of Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) in New Delhi on 19^th May 2011. It includes perspective on the current food needs and agricultural production in India, and recommendations of the interface.

Micropropagation for Production of Quality Banana Planting Material in Asia-Pacific

This publication describes the shoot tip culture based banana micropropagation along with other rapid multiplication methods like macropropagation and somatic embryogenesis. It also provides details of common virus diseases of banana, and methods of their diagnosis and elimination. The chapter on Prospects of Banana Micropropagation in Asia-Pacific, details some success stories of adoption of micropropagation based banana planting material at the farmer field level followed by suggestions on the way ahead to enhance its production and adoption.

Brainstorming Session on Public-Private-Partnership in Agricultural Biotechnology- Highlights and Recommendations (2005)

The publication provides summary of the proceedings and recommendations of the brainstorming session held on this topic in March 2005. The recommendations relate to policy, human resource development, capacity building and infrastructural needs for accelerating public-private partnership in agricultural biotechnology.

Commercialization of Bt Corn in the Philippines: A Status Report (2005)

The report gives a detailed account of development, regulatory testing, release, commercialization and adoption of transgenic corn in the Philippines based on R&D initiative of the national program. It also highlights the emerging issues and concerns expressed regarding field cultivation of Bt corn in the Philippines.

Bt Cotton in India- A Status Report (2006)

The report traces the events that led to commercialization of Bt cotton in India, adoption of Bt hybrids in cotton growing zones, performance of commercialized hybrids under experimental and farm managed conditions, and economic benefits realized from the adoption of Bt technology in India. Based on the experiences gained, strategies have been suggested for achieving improved pest resistance in cotton, revised protocols for large-scale field trials, and better economic benefits especially to small and marginal farmers.

Workshop on �Biosafety Regulations for Transgenic Crops and the need for Harmonizing them in the Asia-Pacific Region�- Highlights and Recommendations (2006)

The publication, besides giving a summary of the workshop proceedings, provides information on biotechnology and regulatory adoption status of the participating countries, and recommendations on harmonization of regulations, capacity building, and future strategies for strengthening biosafety regulatory systems in the region.

Brainstorming Session on Models of Public-Private-Partnership in Agricultural Biotechnology- Highlights and Recommendations (2007)

This publication summarizes the proceedings of brainstorming session held on this topic by APCoAB in April 2007. Besides a general recommendation on the need to expand inter-sectoral partnerships for transferring the benefits of agricultural biotechnology to farmers and other stakeholders, the publication details specific recommendations on (i) Models of Public-Private-Partnership (PPP), (ii) Policy Support to PPPs, and (iii) Capacity Building.