APEC HLPDAB Workshop: Effective Regulatory Approaches for Plant, Animal, and Microbial Biotechnology

The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) member economies continue to work together to realize the benefits of agricultural biotechnology. The High Level Policy Dialogue on Agricultural Biotechnology (HLPDAB) brings APEC economies together to build trust, share developments on science-based regulations, and support sustainable, equitable and resilient agri-food systems. Using recombinant DNA technology and genome editing, plant, animal, and microbial products with beneficial traits continue to be developed and member economies recognize the need for reducing resource costs, increasing efficiencies in regulatory processes, and lowering barriers to innovation and trade. Through the HLPDAB, policymakers develop regulatory frameworks, facilitate technology transfers, encourage investment, and strengthen public confidence in biotechnology in order to increase agricultural productivity and to protect the environment, with the ultimate objective of promoting food security.

Increased emphasis on efforts to align member economies on the oversight of agricultural biotechnologies resulted in the development of the Policy Approaches Document. This white paper for advancing regional cooperation on agricultural biotechnology regulation, reducing barriers to trade, and encouraging innovation in agriculture was developed with input from APEC member economies. As elucidated in the Policy Approaches Document, cooperation among stakeholders in the agricultural biotechnology ecosystem within and among APEC economies is critical to commercialization and unimpeded trade of these products. This year’s HLPDAB workshop will be implemented in the form of three discussion seminars, one each on plant biotechnology, microbial biotechnology, and animal biotechnology. These are intended to support conversations to increase regulatory coordination and streamline approval processes in APEC economies.  The workshop discussion sessions will provide a forum for economies to engage in discussions on issues in agricultural biotechnology and think about solutions that can contribute towards lowering costs and increasing economic prosperity within the APEC region.

Objectives

This three-part virtual discussion series examines regulatory approaches to these products, with each session focused on a different technology area. The workshop aims to present economy-specific regulatory frameworks that govern products of biotechnology, and specifically, genetically engineered and genome-edited crops, microbial products used in food and agriculture, and animal products.

Seminar 1: Plant Biotechnology

August 3, 2026 | 8:00-9:40 pm (EDT/UTC-4) 

• Share a case study on a recently authorized plant biotechnology product—high-zinc and high-iron rice in the Philippines—to illustrate practical applications and regulatory pathways.
• Explore how artificial intelligence (AI) tools are advancing genome-editing research and what this means for future regulatory considerations.
• Identify challenges economies face in bringing plant biotechnology products to market and discuss how APEC can support greater regulatory cohesion.

Seminar 2: Microbial Biotechnology

August 4, 2026 | 8:00-10:00 pm (EDT/UTC-4) 

• Frame the key scientific and regulatory considerations specific to engineered microbes, distinguishing them from plant and animal biotechnology products.
• Offer insights into recent innovations in microbial biotechnology, including the use of engineered microbes to produce sustainable fertilizer.
• Discuss regulatory solutions favorable to the development, use, and trade of microbial biotechnology products, and identify opportunities for APEC-wide support.

Seminar 3: Plant Biotechnology

August 11, 2026 | 8:00-9:40 am (EDT/UTC-4) 

• Share economy updates on recent regulatory developments, including Thailand’s 2024 genome-editing certification policy and the United States’ regulatory approach to animal biotechnology.
• Highlight a recent regulatory milestone—the approval of gene-edited pigs—as a case study in bringing animal biotechnology products to market.
• Discuss challenges economies face in regulating animal biotechnology and identify opportunities for greater consistency and cohesion across the APEC region.

Agenda

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