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Agricultural Biotechnology: Sharing Resources, Experiences, and Lessons Learned

    August 16, 2022-August 17, 2022
    8:00 am - 11:30 am
    Virtual (Time in UTC+7)
    Bangkok, Thailand

This two-day virtual workshop brought together regulators and policy makers to discuss the potential for developing a webpage for information sharing among members of the APEC HLPDAB. The workshop was organized by the Agriculture & Food Systems Institute (AFSI), with the United States as the sponsoring economy and host of the event.

Project Objectives

Led by experts, the workshop will include presentations on shared resources that can facilitate science-based regulation of products of agricultural biotechnology. The project’s objectives are:

  1. Create foundational knowledge of the resources available to help inform regulation of agricultural biotechnology.
  2. Increase information sharing between APEC member economies to facilitate science-based, efficient policy and regulatory decision making and approval of products of agricultural biotechnology.
  3. Increase understanding among participants about how sound information sharing strategies can affect the outcome of regulatory decisions and increase public acceptance of agricultural biotechnology.
  4. Create an enabling environment for the adoption of products of agricultural biotechnology.

Agenda

August 16, 2022

Day One: Importance of Regulatory Alignments and Approaches to Support Harmonization

8:00 am

Meeting Introduction

Anastasia Bodnar
Agricultural Biotechnology Advisor, United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)

8:20 am

Summary of the Outcomes of the FY 2021 Plenary Meeting

Anastasia Bodnar
Agricultural Biotechnology Advisor, USDA

8:30 am

Summary of Pre-Event Survey

Rachel Melnick
Senior Manager – Scientific Programs, Agriculture & Food Systems Institute (AFSI)

8:40 am

Lightning Session: Examples of Regional Collaboration

Series of 5-minute lighting talks highlighting projects on regulatory cooperation.

9:00 am

Lightning Session: Examples of Regulatory Harmonization

Series of 5-minute lighting talks highlighting harmonization of regulation.

9:20 am

Practical Examples

Participants will be given practical examples and resources from the lightning presentation to complete homework-style questions. The goal is to provide participants with hands-on experience applying and using the provided resources.

10:20 am

Review of Practical Examples

Meeting Moderators

10:40 am

Group Discussion: What Resources Does Your Economy Use and How Do You Access Them?

Andrew Roberts
Chief Executive Officer, AFSI

11:15 am

Closing Remarks and Technical Overview of Day Two

Rachel Melnick
Senior Manager – Scientific Programs, AFSI

August 17, 2022

Day Two: Information Sharing on International and Domestic Resources Between APEC Economies

8:00 am

Welcome and Introduction

Andrew Roberts
Chief Executive Officer, AFSI

8:05 am

Pre-Recorded Lightning Session: Resources and Tools

Series of 5-minute lighting talks highlighting online biosafety tools.

8:25 am

Practical Examples in Breakout Groups

Participants will be given questions to answer based on the three tools discussed in the lightning presentation. To work through this exercise, they must visit and use the online resources.

9:25 am

Discussion with Full Group

Review of the practical examples.

9:45 am

Presentation of Potential for Portal for Agricultural Biotechnology

Andrew Roberts
Chief Executive Officer, AFSI

10:00 am

Moderated Group Discussion

Rachel Melnick
Senior Manager – Scientific Programs, AFSI

How the HLPDAB can facilitate information and resource sharing through a portal. Solicit and discuss options, including the creation of a “how to use resources” guidance document, posting links to resources and their descriptions on the HLPDAB website, the development of a simple HLPDAB portal to share information, etc.

10:45 am

Moderated Group Discussion: Next Steps and Plans for APEC 2023

Anastasia Bodnar
Agricultural Biotechnology Advisor, USDA

11:15 am

Conclusion and Call to Action

Anastasia Bodnar
Agricultural Biotechnology Advisor, USDA

 *AFSI is supported by a grant from the USDA FAS New Technologies and Production Methods Division.

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