Highlights of Asian Farmers Network (ASFARNET) Workshop on Technology Promotion and Exchange on Agricultural Biotechnology held at Salak Hotel, Bogor, Indonesia on 28 November - 01 December 2004 can now be downloaded at www.searca.org/~bic/special/workshophighlights.pdf

OVERVIEW

The increasing trend on global adoption of transgenic crops continues since its commercialization in 1996. With more than 67.7 million hectares planted to genetically modified crops, a wealth of experience by technology users has been generated that demonstrated the significant benefits derived.

The workshop on biotechnology is the result of cooperation between Asian Farmers Network (ASFARNET) particularly with its node in Indonesia-Indonesian Farmers Association and International Service for Acquisition of Agri-biotech Applications (ISAAA) and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).

The workshop on Agricultural Biotechnology Promotion and Exchange was held on November 28 – December 1, 2004 in Hotel Salak, Bogor, Indonesia.

Specifically, the workshop had the following objectives:

• Increase farmers’ awareness of the challenges facing agricultural biotechnology, as well as its benefits;

• Enhance farmers’ knowledge of policy issues, based on stakeholders’ experiences with agricultural biotechnology in Indonesia;

• Discuss farmer-level experiences with planting biotechnology crops;

• Strengthen linkages between farmers and research and development institutions;

• Foster alliance among farmers through sharing, exchange, transfer or adoption of relevant information, knowledge, skills and technologies;

• Consider the potential role of the farmers or farm-level groups in technology adoption;

• Explore effective techniques for farmers to communicate with specific audiences (other farmers, policy makers, regulators, media; etc.)

In this workshop, various discussions and material presentations were given by experts and practitioners in biotechnology in the areas of research, biosafety, networking, and science communication. Visits to Biotechnology Research Center in Cimanggu, Bogor and Network Culture Company in Cikupa, Banten were conducted.

Through the workshop, the participants were able to:

• discuss various views on agricultural biotechnology, particularly, genetic engineering;

• exchange experiences and lessons between farmers who have either tried, adopted, or marketed biotech crops and farmers who have not yet tried the technology;

• learn from biotech industry practitioners through direct field observations in biotechnology research centers and private companies;

• agree on the need for more farmer-education regarding agri-biotech particularly on product quality, production system efficiency and product sustainability; and

• discuss and firm up plans for ASFARNET expansion.

Workshop report in PDF format : www.searca.org/~bic/special/workshophighlights.pdf