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Conference on Genome Editing for Agriculture in Bangladesh

    February 11, 2024
    9:00 am - 4:00 pm
    BARC Auditorium
    Dhaka, Bangladesh

Technological advancements and innovation to improve food and nutrition security through sustainable agricultural production is a priority for Bangladesh. New technologies for plant improvement, such as genome editing, are being used to address the challenges faced by agriculture around the world. Several universities and research institutions in Bangladesh have started projects aimed at harnessing the potential of genome editing to accelerate genetic improvement. Therefore, it is important for the Bangladeshi research community to come together to discuss both scientific and policy-related developments around this key technology.

The Agriculture & Food Systems Institute (AFSI), under the auspices of the South Asia Biosafety Program (SABP), in collaboration with the Bangladesh Agricultural Research Council (BARC), Ministry of Agriculture organized the Conference on Genome Editing for Agriculture in Bangladesh on February 11, 2024 in Dhaka. The event highlighted the potential of genome editing and the opportunities for Bangladesh to address challenges in agriculture through precise and efficient targeted modification in the genome of plants, accelerating the pace of plant breeding in different crops. The program consisted of a series of presentations on the science of genome editing, the products that have been developed, the regulations around these technologies, and considerations for intellectual property.

Agenda

9:00 am

Registration

Inaugural Session

9:30 am

Welcome Remarks

Dr. Md. Abdus Salam, Member Director – Crops, Bangladesh Agricultural Research Council (BARC)

9:40 am

Keynote Presentation: How Can Genome Editing Support Agriculture in Bangladesh?

Dr. Andrew F. Roberts, Chief Executive Officer, Agriculture & Food Systems Institute (AFSI)

10:00 am

Remarks by Special Guest

Dr. Zahurul Karim, Vice-President, Bangladesh Academy of Sciences (BAS)

10:10 am

Remarks by Chief Guest

Ms. Wahida Akter, Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture, Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh

10:25 am

Remarks by the Chair

Dr. Shaikh Mohammad Bokhtiar, Executive Chairman, Bangladesh Agricultural Research Council (BARC)

10:30 am

Vote of Thanks

Dr. Rakha Hari Sarker, Country Coordinator, South Asia Biosafety Program (SABP) and Professor, University of Dhaka

10:35 am

Tea Break

Technical Session I

11:00 am

Introduction to Genome Editing in the Context of Agriculture and Plant Breeding

Dr. Satendra Kumar Mangrauthia, Senior Scientist, ICAR-Indian Institute of Rice Research and Member-NASI, Associate-NAAS, Fellow-IUSSTF, and Borlaug Fellow

11:30 am

Research and Commercialization of Genome Edited Plants

Dr. Vibha Ahuja, Chief General Manager, Biotech Consortium India Limited (BCIL)

12:00 pm

Genome Editing Research Activities in Bangladesh

Four short presentations by researchers from Bangladesh who are working to develop genome edited plants

12:45 pm

Open Forum – Q&A

Dr. Rakha Hari Sarker (moderator)

Lunch

Technical Session II

2:15 pm

Understanding the Global Regulatory Landscape for Gene Edited Plants

Dr. Andrew F. Roberts

2:45 pm

Research and Development for Genome Edited Products: Considerations for Intellectual Property

Dr. Pankaj Bhowmik, Senior Research Officer and Scientific Support Lead, Sustainable Protein Production (SPP) Program, National Research Council of Canada (recorded presentation)

3:15 pm

Open Forum – Q&A

Dr. Aparna Islam, Professor, Brac University and AFSI Fellow (moderator)

3:45 pm

Close of Conference (tea served)

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