Bolstering ASEAN Food Security through Partnership and Cooperation on Agricultural Biotechnology
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March 4, 2024-March 6, 2024
ASEAN Secretariat
Jakarta and Bandung, Indonesia
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Hosted by the ASEAN Secretariat, with support from the United States Department of Agriculture and Department of State, and organized by the Agriculture & Food Systems Institute, this workshop brought together delegates from 11 ASEAN member and observer states, as well as stakeholders from international organizations and the private and public research sector, to discuss regulatory practices for products derived from modern biotechnologies and opportunities for regulatory cooperation among the ASEAN countries. To this end, expert speakers from Canada, Australia, the African Union, and the United States joined the workshop to provide insights into the global status of biotechnology and biotechnology products in international trade, as well as examples of efforts for bilateral and multilateral cooperation and harmonization. The program also included presentations from each ASEAN member state on the status of their countries’ biotechnology and biosafety policies, and additional presentations from the Philippines and Singapore on the status of their policies for new breeding techniques.
One day was devoted to a field trip to Bandung, where participants visited a farm producing seed of the genetically engineered late blight resistant potato that has been approved in Indonesia, followed by the University of Padjadjaran, where there is ongoing research on genetically engineered catfish. The workshop closed with facilitated discussions between delegates and participants to consider opportunities for future collaboration and harmonization in line with ASEAN’s mission.
Objectives
- Increase awareness of the potential benefits of agricultural biotechnology for food security and climate resiliency.
- Share updates on the biotechnology and biosafety policy status among member states.
- Explore the potential for increased regulatory harmonization, streamlined approval processes, and adoption of effective and efficient regulatory approaches.
Agenda
Day 1
Monday | March 4, 2024 | 08:30 – 17:30
ASEAN Secretariat, Multi-Purpose Room, 9th Floor
| Time | Presentation/Activity | Presenter/Lead | |
| 08:30 | Shuttle: Gran Mahakam Hotel to ASEAN Secretariat | ||
| Session I: Modern Biotechnology and Global Food Security | |||
| 09:00 | Welcome and Introductions | Dr. Karen Hokanson Senior Manager, Scientific Programs, Agriculture & Food Systems Institute (AFSI) |
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| 09:20 | Introductory Remarks | Dr. Zurina Moktar Assistant Director/Head of Division, Science and Technology Division, ASEAN Secretariat |
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| 09:30 | Introductory Remarks | Dr. Jennifer Rowland Biotechnology Coordinator, United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) |
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| 09:40 | Keynote: Global Status of Biotechnology | Dr. Stuart Smyth Associate Professor, University of Saskatchewan |
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| 10:00 | Keynote: Biotechnology and Climate Change | Dr. Eric Hallerman (virtual) Professor, Virginia Tech University |
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| 10:20 | Photo Session: Lobby of New ASEAN Building | ||
| 10:30 | Tea Break: 2nd Floor | ||
| Session II: ASEAN Member States – Biotechnology Status Updates | |||
| Cultivating Countries | |||
| 10:45 | Indonesia | Dr. Bahagiawati Research Scientist, National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) |
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| 11:00 | Philippines | Mr. Reimond S. Corona Project Senior Technical Specialist, National Committee on Biosafety of the Philippines |
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| 11:15 | Vietnam | Dr. Phat Tien Do Head, Plant Cell Biotechnology Laboratory, Institute of Biotechnology, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology |
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| Importing Countries | |||
| 11:30 | Malaysia | Ms. Siti Zuhaini Principal Assistant Secretary, Ministry of Science, Technology, and Innovation (MOSTI) |
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| Dr. Adrain Ling Senior Researcher, Agriculture Research and Development Institute (MARDI) |
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| 11:45 | Singapore | Dr. Yan Hong Deputy Chair, Singapore Genetic Modification Advisory Committee |
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| Dr. Yong Quan Tan Scientist, Risk Assessment and Communication, Singapore Food Agency |
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| 12:00 | Thailand | Dr. Piyanuch Sornchai Agricultural Research Officer, Biotechnology Research and Development Office Department of Agriculture |
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| Dr. Weerasak Pitaksaringkarn Agricultural Research Scientist, Department of Agriculture |
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| 12:15 | Lunch: 2nd Floor | ||
| Frameworks Under Development | |||
| 13:00 | Myanmar | Dr. Nwe Nwe Htwe Assistant Director, Plant Biotechnology Center |
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| 13:10 | Cambodia | Mr. Yourk Sothearith Deputy Director, Department of Biodiversity, Ministry of Environment |
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| 13:20 | Lao PDR | Dr. Kosonh Xayphakatsa Deputy Director, Biotechnology and Ecology Institute, Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry |
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| 13:30 | Brunei | Ms. Adi Lisea Binti Mohd Addy Plant Pathologist, Department of Agriculture and Agrifood, Brunei Agriculture Research Centre (BARC) |
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| 13:50 | Timor-Leste | Mr. Fernando Egidio Amaral Director of Agribusiness, Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries |
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| Session III: Regulatory Cooperation on Biotechnology for Food Security | |||
| 14:00 | Regulatory Cooperation – What does it mean? Overview of the recently published OECD consensus document on regulatory cooperation |
Dr. Karen Hokanson Senior Manager, Scientific Programs, Agriculture & Food Systems Institute (AFSI) |
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| 14:20 | Regulatory Cooperation Case Study 1: FSANZ/Health Canada | Dr. Lisa Kelly (virtual) GM Team Leader, Science and Risk Assessment, Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) |
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| 14:40 | Regulatory Cooperation Case Study 2: West Africa Regulatory Cooperation | Mrs. Modupe Adeyemo (virtual) Programme Officer – Food Safety, African Union Development Agency New Partnership for Africa’s Development (AUDA NEPAD) |
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| 15:00 | Tea Break | ||
| Session IV: Exploring Opportunities for Regulatory Cooperation within ASEAN | |||
| 15:20 | Facilitated Discussion Part I Poll questions on the biosafety process and challenges in the ASEAN members to identify barriers to regulatory cooperation |
AFSI | |
| 16:00 | Facilitated Discussion Part II Breakout group discussions on poll results |
All | |
| 17:00 | Facilitated Discussion Part III Plenary recap and consolidation of the breakout discussions |
AFSI | |
| 17:30 | Shuttle: ASEAN Secretariat to Gran Mahakam Hotel | ||
Day 2
Tuesday | March 5, 2024 | 06:30 – 20:45
Hikmah Farm and the University of Padjadjaran
| Time | Presentation/Activity | Presenter/Lead | |
| 06:30 | Shuttle: Gran Mahakam Hotel to Halim Train Station, Jakarta (Arrive 07:00) | ||
| 07:30 | Train: Halim Station to Padalarang Station, Bandung (Arrive 08:00) | ||
| 08:10 | Buses: Padalarang Station to Hikmah Farm, Pangalengan (Arrive 10:00) | ||
| 10:00 | Tea Break: Conference Room, 2nd Floor | ||
| GE Potatoes and GE Catfish in Action | |||
| 10:15 | Welcome Remarks | Mr. Bunyan Ismail Director, Hikmah Farm |
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| 10:25 | Presentation on Genetically Engineered (GE) Potato |
Mr. Kusmana Research Scientist, National Research & Innovation Agency (BRIN), Indonesia |
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| 10:45 | Q&A Session | All | |
| 11:00 | Field Visit to GE Potato Field (5-minute walk) | ||
| 12:00 | Lunch: Hikmah Farm, Conference Room | ||
| 13:00 | Buses: Hikmah Farm to University of Padjadjara, Jatinangor (Arrive 15:00) | ||
| 15:05 | Tea Break: Rectorate Building, University of Padjadjaran | ||
| 15:20 | Audience Seated in the Auditorium | ||
| 15:25 | Indonesia National Anthem | ||
| 15:30 | Welcome Remarks | Prof. Dr. Rina Indiastuti, S.E., M.SIE. Rector, University of Padjadjaran |
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| 15:40 | Introductory Remarks | Ms. Kate Rebholz Deputy Chief of Mission, U.S. Mission to ASEAN |
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| 15:45 | Presentation on GE Catfish Research | Prof. Dr. Ibnu Dwi Buwono Professor, Faculty of Fisheries and Marine Science, University of Padjadjaran |
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| Dr. Roffi Grandiosa Assistant Professor, Faculty of Fisheries and Marine Science, University of Padjadjaran |
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| 16:00 | Q&A Session | ||
| 16:15 | Photo Session: Rectorate Building | ||
| 16:30 | Buses: Rectorate Building to Hatchery Building | ||
| 16:40 | Tour GE Catfish Research Ponds | ||
| 17:30 | Buses: University to Tegalluar Station, Bandung Province (Arrive 18:30) – snack boxes provided | ||
| 19:15 | Train: Tegalluar Station to Halim Station, Jakarta (Arrive 20:00) | ||
| 20:15 | Shuttle: Halim Station to Gran Mahakam Hotel (Arrive 20:45) | ||
Day 3
Wednesday | June 28, 2023 | 08:00 – 17:00
ASEAN Secretariat, Multi-Purpose Room, 9th Floor
| Time | Presentation/Activity | Presenter/Lead | |
| 08:30 | Shuttle: Gran Mahakam Hotel to ASEAN Secretariat | ||
| Session V: Regional Good Regulatory Practices | |||
| 09:00 | Philippines – Proportionality: Genome Editing Regulation | Mr. Darwin Landicho Senior Agriculturist, Bureau of Plant Industry |
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| 09:20 | Singapore – Implementation of a Regulatory Framework for Genome Edited Crops for Use in Food/Feed |
Dr. Yong Quan Tan Scientist, Risk Assessment and Communication, Singapore Food Agency |
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| 09:40 | Q&A Session | ||
| Session VI: Exploring Regulatory Cooperation within ASEAN | |||
| 10:00 | Recap of the Discussions on Day 1 | AFSI | |
| 10:30 | Tea Break: 2nd Floor | ||
| 11:00 | Facilitated Discussion Development of consensus points/recommendations for future work |
AFSI | |
| 12:30 | Closing Remarks | Mr. Rey Santella Agricultural Counselor, USDA Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS), Jakarta |
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| 12:45 | Lunch | ||
| 14:00 | Shuttle: ASEAN Secretariat to Gran Mahakam Hotel | ||