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Agricultural Biotechnology Seminar Series 2026 | Seminar 2: Artificial Intelligence – A Tool in Regulatory Risk Assessment for Products of Modern Biotechnology

    July 23, 2026
    8:00 am - 10:15 am
    Virtual (PHT/UTC+8)
    Manila, The Philippines

APEC economies continue to review and make regulatory decisions on genetically modified food and feed products under established biosafety and food safety frameworks. The APEC Update of the Baseline Study on Agricultural Biotechnology Regulations documents more than 1,260 submissions and food safety decisions across 28 economies, reflecting sustained regulatory activity and the continued need for efficient, science-based assessment systems. In parallel, APEC economies are actively developing and implementing regulatory approaches for genome editing technologies, with recent APEC discussions emphasizing the importance of predictable, transparent, and consistent regulatory pathways to support innovation while maintaining safety standards.

As regulatory agencies in the field of agricultural biotechnology face expanding bodies of scientific literature and increasingly complex technical dossiers, Artificial Intelligence (AI) is being explored across regulatory systems to strengthen evidence management and support scientific workflows. Some examples include AI-supported evidence management processes in risk assessment, literature retrieval, screening, data extraction, and knowledge organization, while maintaining a “human-in-the-loop” approach to ensure scientific oversight and accountability. These developments consistently position AI as a decision-support tool, augmenting—rather than replacing—expert scientific judgment.

Other public-sector domains provide useful forward-looking insights into how AI can be responsibly integrated into regulatory systems. In the healthcare sector, regulatory and research institutions are increasingly applying AI to support diagnostics, data analysis, and clinical decision-making, demonstrating how AI can enhance the handling of large and complex datasets while maintaining human oversight. In the Philippines, initiatives supported by the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) have showcased AI-enabled health innovations, including diagnostic support tools and digital health systems, while national efforts have also highlighted the use of AI in areas such as disease screening and health service delivery.

These cross-sector experiences highlight potential outcomes of AI adoption that are directly relevant to regulatory risk assessment, including improved efficiency in evidence processing, enhanced consistency and traceability of evaluations, and strengthened transparency in decision-making processes. Against this backdrop, there is a clear opportunity for APEC economies to explore how AI can be responsibly and strategically integrated into regulatory risk assessment systems for modern biotechnology.

The second installment in the 2026 Agricultural Biotechnology Seminar Series, this virtual seminar aims to foster learning, discussion, and collaboration outside of the annual APEC High Level Policy Dialogue on Agricultural Biotechnology (HLPDAB) meeting. This session’s objective is to provide a forward-looking yet practical platform for sharing experiences and strengthening capacity for AI-enabled regulatory modernization in agricultural biotechnology.

The sponsoring economy for this session is the Philippines.

Agricultural Biotechnology Seminar Series

By bringing together policymakers, risk assessors, and scientists, the series seeks to foster greater participation and enhance engagement in the APEC High Level Policy Dialogue on Agricultural Biotechnology (HLPDAB) outside of the annual meeting.

This seminar’s objectives are to:

  • Discuss potential practical entry points for the use of AI in regulatory risk assessment for products of genetic engineering and genome editing.
  • Share case examples of integrating AI into product development.
  • Deliberate on the appropriate and responsible use of AI as a decision-support tool.
  • Provide APEC economies with ideas for piloting AI tools in a regulatory context.

 

Agenda

8:00 am

Welcome and Introduction | Overview of the Seminar

Bhavneet Bajaj, Ph.D., PMP
Senior Manager–Scientific Programs, Agriculture & Food Systems Institute (AFSI), USA

8:05 am

Opening Remarks

Dr. Paul C. Limson
Director, Philippine Agriculture and Fisheries Biotechnology Program, Department of Agriculture (DA Biotech Program), The Philippines

or

Dr. Reynaldo Ebora
Executive Director, Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development, Department of Science and Technology (DOST-PCAARRD), The Philippines

8:15 am

From Data to Deployment: Responsible AI for Agri-Food Biotechnology and Innovation in the Philippines

Mr. Elmer C. Peramo
Assistant Scientist, Advanced Science and Technology Institute, Department of Science and Technology, (DOST-ASTI), The Philippines

8:30 am

AI as a Support Tool: FSANZ’s Experience

Dr. Shai Joseph
Senior Regulatory Scientist–New Foods, Food Standards Australia New Zealand

8:50 am

Artificial Intelligence as a Support Tool for Regulatory Decision-Making in Biotechnology

Ms. Florencia Goberna
Coordination of Innovation and Biotechnology, Undersecretariat of Agricultural and Forestry Production, Secretariat of Agriculture, Livestock, and Fisheries, Argentina

9:05 am

Use of AI in Product Development: Perspective from the Private Sector (recorded presentation)

Pieter Windels
Head Regulatory Science, S&T Belgium, BASF

9:20 am

Break

9:25 am

Panel Discussion

Dr. Bhavneet Bajaj (moderator)

All Speakers

Dr. Mitscheli Sanches da Rocha
Global Regulatory Policy Manager–Seeds & Traits, BASF

Dr. Alan Pearson
Assistant Deputy Administrator, United States Department of Agriculture Animal & Plant Health Inspection Service (USDA APHIS), USA

Additional Panelists from the USA & Brazil (TBD)

10:10 am

Closing Remarks

Dr. Bhavneet Bajaj

 * AFSI is supported by a grant from the USDA Foreign Agricultural Service.

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