Workshop 2:
Biosafety and Issues Facing the Development of Genetically Modified Crops in Monsoon Asia: Current Status and Future Prospects

Objectives

Asia has experienced the most conspicuous population growth in the world. Food security in this region is therefore an extremely important problem. To solve this problem, there has been an increasing tendency to introduce genetically modified (GM) crops both in domestic production and in imported food and feed crops, such as rice, soybean, and maize. In 2011, 16.7 million farm producers were growing GM crops in 160 million ha in 29 countries around the world. However, only five countries in monsoon Asia (China, the Philippines, India, Pakistan, and Myanmar) currently grow GM crops domestically, although GM crops are expected to soon make their appearance in many other countries of monsoon Asia. Each country has been improving its management and approval systems while making extensive research progress in developing GM crops and biosafety assessment. This workshop offers a place to exchange information on research, development and utilization of GM crops in monsoon Asia from various perspectives and using a range of strategies and tactics. In this workshop, we aim to develop a common recognition of the criteria for biosafety of GM crops in monsoon Asia through discussions of the current situation and future prospects for the utilization of GM crops. The following points will be emphasized:

1. What kinds of GM crops and traits are being studied?
2. What is the current situation for import and export of these crops and their domestic cultivation?
3. How can we assess the impact of GM crops on biodiversity from a biosafety perspective?

Convener

Kazuhito Matsuo, National Institute for Agro-Environmental Sciences, Japan

Program [Simultaneous Japanese-English interpretation will be provided.]
September 26, Wednesday, 9:00 – 17:00

1. Objectives of the Workshop 2 based on the current status of GM crops in monsoon Asia
   • Kazuhito Matsuo [National Institute for Agro-Environmental Sciences, Japan]
2. Domestic law, regulation and status quo of genetically modified crops on biodiversity in Japan
   • Yasuhiro Yogo [National Institute for Agro-Environmental Sciences, Japan]
3. Current development of genetically modified crops in Japan and several efforts on developing measures for proper management of genetically modified crops
   • Makoto Takano [National Institute of Agrobiological Sciences, Japan]
4. Current status and future issues of transgenic crops in China (provisional title)
   • An Cheng Cai [Peking University, China]

Lunch 　Poster session

5. The processes for the development of GM crops in the Philippines
   • Gerard Barry [International Rice Research Institute, Philippines]
6. Current status of GM crops in South Korea: Development and regulation

   • Chang-Gi Kim
     [Bio-Evaluation Center, Korea Research Institute for Bioscience & Biotechnology, South Korea]

7. Discussion about presentations in the first day

Program [Simultaneous Japanese-English interpretation will be provided.]
September 27, Thursday, 8:30 – 12:00

7. Current status of transgenic plant research and biosafety assessment in Vietnam
   • Nguyen Thi Quynh
     [Institute of Tropical Biology, Vietnam Academy of Sciences and Technology, Vietnam]
8. Progress and status of regulation of the utilization of genetically engineered crops in Indonesia
   • Muhanmad Herman
     [Indonesian Center for Agricultural Biotechnology and Genetic Resouces, Research and Development, Indonesia]
9. Malaysia’s policy on GMO and biosafety of transgenic crops (provisional title)
   • Nohihan Binti K. Mohd Saleh
     [Plant Biotechnology Center, Institute of Agro-Biotechnology, Malaysia]
10. Discussion about presentations in the second day
11. General discussion

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