The Role of Agricultural Biotechnology to Address Climate Change
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April 20, 2022-April 21, 2022
8:00 am - 11:00 amVirtual Workshop (Time in MYT/UTC +8)
Bangkok, Thailand
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The Agriculture & Food Systems Institute organized a two-day virtual workshop under the APEC project The Role of Agricultural Biotechnology to Address Climate Change. The workshop was sponsored by the United States of America and co-sponsored by Canada and Thailand. The workshop’s objective was to increase participants’ knowledge of how agricultural biotechnology can be used to adapt and mitigate the impacts of climate change on agriculture. The virtual event encouraged APEC economies to exchange experiences and promote knowledge for the adoption, use, and trade of products of agricultural biotechnology in support of mitigation and adaptation to the impacts of climate change. Additionally, the workshop provided participants with real-life examples of how agricultural biotechnology is one tool that is part of a larger systems approach, which can help farmers adapt to and mitigate the effects of climate change and ultimately increase food security.
This virtual workshop was by invitation only. Nominations were submitted through APEC HLPDAB representatives.
Background
This virtual workshop is being organized as part of the APEC project The Role of Agricultural Biotechnology to Address Climate Change, which aims to increase knowledge of how agricultural biotechnology can be used to adapt and mitigate the impacts of climate change on agriculture.
Project Objectives
- Encourage APEC economies to share resources, exchange experiences, and promote knowledge for the adoption, use, and trade of products of agricultural biotechnology in support of mitigation and adaptation to the impacts of climate change.
- Increase knowledge of participants through real life examples of how agricultural biotechnology is one tool that is part of a larger systems approach that can help farmers adapt to and mitigate the effects of climate change and ultimately increase food security.
- Create an enabling environment to allow member economies to provide insight on how climate change is impacting their agricultural production. Case studies presented will be regionally relevant and allow participants to apply what they learned from the case study to their own situations.
Agenda - Day 1
April 20, 2022 | 8:00-11:00 MYT
Time presented in the agenda is in MYT/UTC+8
| Time | Presentation/Activity | Speaker/Facilitator | |
| 8:00 am | Introduction and Overview of the Workshop | Andrew Roberts CEO, Agriculture & Food Systems Institute United States of America |
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| 8:05 am | Welcome Remarks | Anastasia Bodnar Agricultural Biotechnology Advisor and USDA Biotechnology Coordinator, United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) United States of America |
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| 8:10 am | Climate Change and Agricultural Production: Global Systems for Crop Alerts to Help Producers Choose Improved Varieties
This will be a scene-setting talk, providing background on the impacts of climate change on agriculture, followed by a discussion of how crop monitoring tools could predict which conditions might occur during a growing season. Such knowledge allows producers to pick varieties that are most adapted to the predicted condition, including those generated by agricultural biotechnology. |
Shinichi Sobue Lead, Asia-RiCE, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency Japan |
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| 8:25 am | Global Initiatives to Address Climate Change and Agriculture
The Agriculture Innovation Mission for Climate (AIM for Climate/AIM4C) is a joint initiative by the United States of America and the United Arab Emirates. AIM for Climate seeks to address climate change and global hunger by uniting participants to significantly increase investment in, and other support for, climate-smart agriculture and food systems innovation over five years (2021-2025). This session will present the AIM4C initiative, as well as a general talk about the impact of climate change on agriculture and what is needed to build climate smart production systems. This talk would demonstrate a global commitment to build climate resilient agricultural systems. |
Jaime Adams Senior Advisor – International Affairs, United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) United States of AmericaJohn Roche Chief Science Adviser, Ministry for Primary Industries New Zealand |
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| 8:45 am | Panel Discussion – Climate Change Mitigation: How Agricultural Biotechnology Can Build Climate Resilient Systems and Build the Bioeconomy
This session will present how agricultural biotechnology can be used to mitigate climate change by presenting regionally relevant examples. The moderator will give a brief introduction to the bioeconomy and how it can mitigate climate change. The panellists will have a moderated panel discussion to address how agricultural biotechnology is being used to mitigate climate change in a range of different agricultural production systems and the opportunities that these bring for APEC member economies. |
Panelists: John Sedbrook Professor, Illinois State University United States of AmericaVasanth Subramanian Chief Executive Officer, JOil (S) Pte Ltd Singapore |
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| 9:30 am | Break | ||
| 9:45 am | Breakout Rooms
Participants will be presented with case studies to facilitate discussion about products of agricultural biotechnology that can address climate change. |
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| 10:50 am | Closing Remarks
Participants will reconvene in the main room for closing remarks. |
Agenda - Day 2
April 21, 2022 | 8:00-11:00 MYT
Time presented in the agenda is in MYT/UTC+8
| Time | Presentation/Activity | Speaker/Facilitator | |
| 8:00 am | Opening Remarks | Andrew Roberts CEO, Agriculture & Food Systems Institute United States of America |
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| 8:05 am | Report Out from the Breakout Session
Breakout moderators will briefly describe the discussions that took place during the breakout session on the first day. |
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| 8:45 am | Introduction – Animal Production Systems and Climate Change: Agricultural Biotechnology to Adapt to and Mitigate Climate Change | Rachel Melnick Senior Manager – Scientific Programs, Agriculture & Food Systems Institute United States of America |
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| 8:50 am | Panel Discussion – Agricultural Biotechnology to Climate Resilient Animal Systems: Aquaculture Systems
The panel will discuss how agricultural biotechnology can help build climate resilient aquaculture systems. |
Panelists Jose Manuel Yañez Director of Research and Development, Faculty of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, University of Chile ChileRhoda Mae Simora Assistant Professor, College of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences, University of the Philippines Visayas The Philippines |
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| 9:20 am | Panel Discussion – Agricultural Biotechnology for Climate Resilient Animal Systems: Improved Feed
Feed represents 60% of the production costs and 80% of the environmental footprint for animal agriculture. Improving the digestibility of animal feed reduces GHG emissions from livestock production. This panel will discuss how agricultural biotechnology can improve feed to reduce GHG emissions from livestock production. |
Panelists Ian D. Godwin Centre Director – Crop Science, Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation AustraliaSinead Leahy New Zealand Agricultural Greenhouse Gas Research Centre (NZAGRC), New Zealand |
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| 9:50 am | Panel Discussion – Agricultural Biotechnology for Climate Resilient Animal Systems: Barriers to Global Trade of Animal Feed
Global trade of animal feed can help address needs where production is not adequate to meet local demand or to address shortages that arise from extreme events. Shortages can be addressed by importing feed; however, barriers to importing genetically engineered products limits the availability of feed for producers. This talk will address how agricultural biotechnology is being used to adapt crops to biotic and abiotic stresses and how conditions that encourage trade can help to address feed shortages caused by extreme events. |
Panelists Krista Thomas Vice President, Trade Policy & Seed Innovation, Canada Grains Council CanadaLe Huy Ham Chairman, F&F Committee Vietnam |
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| 10:20 am | Creating an Enabling Environment to Allow Adoption of Agricultural Biotechnology to Address Climate Change
This discussion will focus on how an enabling regulatory environment could aid in addressing climate change by facilitating trade in goods and enhanced adoption of commodities developed using agricultural biotechnology that are adapted to and mitigate climate change. |
Ma Lorelie Umali Agbagala Assistant Scientist, Department of Science and Technology and National Committee on Biosafety of The Philippines (NCBP), Head Secretariat The Philippines |
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| 10:50 am | Closing Remarks and Thanks | Anastasia Bodnar Agricultural Biotechnology Advisor and USDA Biotechnology Coordinator, United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) United States of America |
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