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Safety Assessment of Foods and Feeds Derived from Genetically Engineered Plants: Online Discussion Session

    December 8, 2020
    8:30 am - 10:30 am
    Phase III Online Training for Indonesian Regulators (Virtual)
    Jakarta, Indonesia

Background

The Agriculture & Food Systems Institute (AFSI), in collaboration with the Indonesian National Agency of Drug and Food Control (BPOM) and the Indonesian Center for Agricultural Biotechnology and Genetic Resources Research and Development (ICABIOGRAD), supported by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Foreign Agricultural Service, has been providing interactive training on food and feed safety assessment for genetically engineered (GE) plants to Indonesian scientists, regulators, and risk assessors since 2017. This included a multi-phased training on Safety Assessment of Foods and Feeds Derived from GE Plants for technical teams from BPOM and ICABIOGRAD. In 2017, Phase I was held in Bogor, Indonesia and Phase II took place in Wilmington, USA. Phase III was conducted virtually in 2020 as an interactive online training course, with ten video-based modules followed by a combination of graded and self-assessments. The three phases combine to provide in-depth training on the concepts in GE food and feed safety assessment, including evaluation of stacked traits, in the form of lectures, case studies, exercises, laboratory demonstrations, and online training.

Overview

As the final activity for Phase III, AFSI organized an online discussion session on December 8, 2020 that provided students with an opportunity for a Q&A with technical experts and AFSI staff who were involved in designing the content for the training program. This event included a review of the online training course materials by AFSI staff, followed by a discussion with technical experts.

Faculty

Andrew Roberts, Ph.D.
Chief Executive Officer Agriculture & Food Systems Institute (AFSI)
Bhavneet Bajaj, Ph.D., PMP
Manager, Scientific Programs Agriculture & Food Systems Institute (AFSI)
Dr. Flerida Carino
Physical Scientist Member
Department of Science and Technology, Biosafety Committee, Philippines
Dr. Janet Gorst
Senior Scientist (Retired)
Food Standards Australia New Zealand
Dr. Donald MacKenzie
Executive Director
Institute for International Crop Improvement, Donald Danforth Plant Science Center

Agenda

8:30 am

Welcome & Opening Remarks

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

8:50 am

Introduction of Expert Faculty and Participants

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

9:10 am

Overview of the Online Training: GE Food and Feed Safety Assessment and Science-Based Regulation of Stacked Traits

Dr. Bhavneet Bajaj
Manager, Scientific Programs, Agriculture & Food Systems Institute

9:30 am

Discussion of Stacked Trait Regulation

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

Dr. Flerida Carino
Physical Scientist Member, Department of Science and Technology, Biosafety Committee, Philippines

Dr. Janet Gorst
Senior Scientist (Retired), Food Standards Australia New Zealand

Dr. Donald MacKenzie
Executive Director, Institute for International Crop Improvement, Donald Danforth Plant Science Center

10:25 am

Closing Remarks

Mr. Garrett McDonald
Agricultural Attaché, U.S. Embassy, Jakarta

10:30 am

Adjourn