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 The
project was formulated to assist countries in the region in safe
harnessing of the benefits of biotechnology in accordance with relevant
global agreements on the subject. Furthermore, it is envisaged to
establish and strengthen technical cooperation among and capacity
building of Asian countries to ensure safety in the introduction
and use of GM crops, based on transparent and science–based
approaches. This includes: development and harmonization of an appropriate
regulatory framework to deal with biosafety concerns relating to
GM crops; and the collection, analysis, dissemination and exchange
of information on biotechnology and GM-related biosafety standards
through inventories, databases and decision-support systems.
Objective
To enhance food and livelihood security in Asia through sustainable
and environment-friendly increases in the yield and quality of agricultural
produce, including, where appropriate, the safe and judicious harnessing
of modern biotechnology.
Expected Output
- Development of human resources, research, and technology, infrastructure,
regulations and policies on Biosafety.
- Trained human resources for researching, analyzing and managing
biosafety risks associated with GM crops. This will facilitate
transparent, science-based and objective regulatory and policy
decisions and harmonized biosafety regulations regarding the development,
trade and commercialization of Gm crops.
- A benchmark reference document that will list the relative strengths,
weaknesses and gaps in participating countries and the region
as a whole for meeting the above objective.
- Establishment of the Asian BioNet to provide a forum for sustained
regulatory collaboration among Asian countries for the safe and
judicious use of modern biotechnology.
- National on biosafety aspects of Gm crops in the context of
agriculture and trade policies, and consistent with agreed international
standards.
- Support for research and technology development for the assessment
and management of biosafety risks related to GM crops
Activities
- Regional Consultations to: i) identify strengths and weaknesses
of national capacities; ii) identify strengths and weaknesses
of national capacities; iii) promote harmonization of biosafety
methodologies, standards and regulations.
- Setting up of Internet-based national and regional centers for
Gm crops database management and information exchange mechanisms
in line with FAO’s World Agricultural Information Centre
(WAICENT).
- National stakeholder workshops to streamline national capacities
for linking policy, technology and biosafety issues, and strengthen
research and technology development capacity on risk assessment
and management.
- Initiation of specific research and technology development to
develop methods to support scientific risk assessment of GM crops.
- Preparation of training manuals.
- National and regional training and workshops on procedures and
methodologies for biosafety risk assessment and updating of developments
on Gm crop risk and management options.
- Special group meeting to evaluate the extent of adoption of
harmonized biosafety measures, methodologies and regulations.
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