International conference tackles the adoption of biotech crops in developing countries

An international conference presenting the key findings of a research project Adoption and Uptake Pathways ofGM/Biotech Crops by Small-scale, Resource-poor Asian Farmers in China, India,and the Philippines and their implications to biotech adoption particularly in developing countries was held at Hyatt Hotel in Manila, Philippines on April 2 and 3, 2013. The said conference was co-organized by John Templeton Foundation, International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-biotech Applications (ISAAA), the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA), the National Academy of Science and Technology (NAST Philippines) and the Agricultural Biotechnology Support Project II (ABSPII).

During the opening day, Dr. Randy Hautea, ISAAA Southeast Asia Director, presented the global status of farmer adoption of biotech crops. Dr. Frank Shotkoski, Director of ABSP II, discussed the overview of biotech product development in the public sector. Key researchers from each of the three countries namely: Dr. Xiaobing Wang and Dr. Cheng Xiang from China; Dr. Cleofe Torres from the Philippines; and Dr. Charudata Mayee and Dr. Ashok Dhawan from India, together with some selected biotech crop farmers discussed the highlights of the research results and shared experiences in growing biotech corn (in the Philippines) and Bt cotton (in China and India). In the three countries, seed company agents, fellow farmers, and government agricultural officers played significant roles in the the farmers' adoption of biotech crops. Progressive farmers from the three countries also shared their experiences in planting biotech crops.

The researchers discussed the dynamics of biotech crops adoption in China, India, and the Philippines by identifying the adoptors of the technology, the key factors that influence their adoption, and the significant changes brought by biotech crop cultivation in the farmers' lives.

After the presentation of the research highlights, Dr. Javier Verástegui, Board Member of PeruBiotech Association, and Dr. Margaret Karembu, Director of ISAAA AfriCenter in Kenya, served as discussants to validate the Asian experience and to provide insights from other developing regions' perspective. An open discussion had solicited policy recommendations to enhance biotech adoption in developing countries.

Conference participants included the stakeholders in the agriculture arena represented by policy makers, scientists and researchers, media practitioners, extension workers, and farmers from the developing countries.