For more information, visit:
http://www.cgiar.org/cgnas.htm or write to
Dr. Manuel Lantin (Mlantin@worldbank.org)
The CGIAR Secretariat
The World Bank 1818 H Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20433, USA
Telephone: 202.473.8951 Fax: 202.473.8110
Some topic areas are highlighted here. See the web for more information
http://www.cgiar.org/cgnas.htm
[cut]
"Specific topics to be addressed are: Risks to environment
* Risks to human health
* Risks and impact on social and economic order
* Ethical challenges
* Roles of public and private sectors in biotechnology research for
developing country agriculture
* Intellectual property management "
A special session on "Communicating Biotechnology" will focus on the
important role of the media in informing the public about risks and benefits
and in promoting a balanced discussion of the issues."
[cut]
"Specifically, the sessions will address the following questions:
* What are the challenges?
* What are the opportunities for deploying biotechnological approaches?
* What are the constraints to the use of these approaches?
* How can the CGIAR and international agricultural research centers assist
developing countries to build national capacity in areas of
biotechnology, including risk and regulatory issues and intellectual
property management?"
[cut]
An International Conference on Biotechnology in developing countries is
being organized by CGIAR during October 21-22, 1999 at The World Bank
Washington, DC. Some very topical and interesting issues such as risks
from biotech, IPR issues, and 'communicating biotech' are being discussed in
an open forum plus invited talks by Van Montagu, Bruce Alberts, Serageldin
and Swaminathan. The registration is free but slots are limited.
For more information, visit:
http://www.cgiar.org/cgnas.htm or write to
Dr. Manuel Lantin (Mlantin@worldbank.org)
The CGIAR Secretariat
The World Bank 1818 H Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20433, USA
Telephone: 202.473.8951 Fax: 202.473.8110
- Prakash
================================
Convened by the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research
(CGIAR) and the US National Academy of Sciences
Biotechnology and its potential impact on agriculture in developing
countries will be the theme of an international conference on October
21-22, 1999 at the World Bank in Washington, DC. The conference is
sponsored by the Consultative Group on International Agricultural
Research (CGIAR) in partnership with the U.S. National Academy of Sciences
(NAS). There are two key objectives: (1) to broaden awareness of developing
countries' views on issues associated with biotechnology, their experiences
with its use, and their needs and priorities; and (2) to contribute to a
science-based understanding of the issues and public concerns related to
biotechnology and how these might be addressed.
By providing a forum for scientific debate and review of the best
available evidence on these issues, the conference aims to advance public
understanding through open, inclusive, and participatory debate that is
grounded in scientific evidence and concerned with the common good.
Representatives of national research organizations, academics, scientists,
international agricultural researchers, non-governmental and
community-based organizations, the private sector, development
communicators, and the media have been invited to contribute their
perspectives. The conference will explore a diverse range of
issues-technological, environmental, ethical, economic and
social-specifically regarding the needs of small farmers in developing
countries.
The secretariat for the conference is provided by the CGIAR. Manuel Lantin,
Science Advisor, is the conference coordinator. For information see the
CGIAR website at www.cgiar.org or contact: The CGIAR Secretariat The World
Bank 1818 H Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20433, USA Telephone:
202.473.8951 Fax: 202.473.8110
Conference Organization
Bruce Alberts, President of the US National Academy of Sciences,
Ismail Serageldin, World Bank Vice President and CGIAR Chairman, and
distinguished scientists M.S. Swaminathan and Marc Van Montagu will open
the conference with keynote addresses on the challenges to agriculture
faced by developing countries and the potential role that biotechnology
can play in addressing such challenges.
Senior policy makers and leaders of national agricultural research systems
from developing countries in Asia-Pacific, Sub-Saharan Africa, West Asia
and North Africa, and Latin America and the Caribbean will share their
views on and experiences with biotechnology in parallel sessions.
Specifically, the sessions will address the following questions: What are
the challenges? * What are the opportunities for deploying biotechnological
approaches? * What are the constraints to the use of these approaches? *
How can the CGIAR and international agricultural research centers assist
developing countries to build national capacity in areas of biotechnology,
including risk and regulatory issues and intellectual property management?
Critical issues and public concerns related to biotechnology, particularly
in the context of developing countries, will be discussed in plenary.
These sessions will draw upon the presentation and discussions in the
preceding parallel sessions.
Specific topics to be addressed are: Risks to environment * Risks to human
health * Risks and impact on social and economic order * Ethical challenges
* Roles of public and private sectors in biotechnology research for
developing country agriculture * Intellectual property management A special
session on "Communicating Biotechnology" will focus on the important role
of the media in informing the public about risks and benefits and in
promoting a balanced discussion of the issues. The closing plenary will be
devoted to presentation of a conference summary report.
CGIAR and NAS will publish the edited proceedings of the conference.
================================================
C. S. Prakash
Tuskegee University
Center for Plant Biotechnology Research
Tuskegee, AL 36088 USA
Email: Prakash@tusk.edu
Phone (334) 727 8023; Fax (334) 727 8067
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