ISAAA Launches 3rd Asian Short Course on Agri-biotech, Biosafety Regulation, and Communication

LOS BAÑOS, Philippines - Nov. 5, 2020 - PRLog -- ISAAA launches the third run of the Asian Short Course on Agribiotechnology, Biosafety Regulation, and Communication (ASCA) which will be hosted by ISAAA SEAsiaCenter via Zoom on November 23-26, 2020 at 2:00-5:00PM (GMT+8).

ASCA2020 is designed to enable participants to develop a better understanding of the entire value chain of living modified organisms (LMOs), as well as national and international legal instruments regarding LMOs. It also aims to discuss effective communication of agribiotechnology and biosafety regulation and to effectively communicate agribiotechnology in social media.

The scope of the training includes:

• Conceptual first-hand information from scientists, the development of biotech (genetic modification and genome editing) of crops and animals (from the lab to the market).
• Lecture, discussion, and exercises on environmental and food/feed safety assessment of biotech products.
• Role of modern biotechnology in agriculture, its benefits impact on trade and economy.
• Strategic communication methods (in quad media) including risk communication.
• Science communication through social media.

The second run of ASCA was held on December 2-6, 2019 in Los Baños, Laguna, Philippines gathered 25 participants from the public and private sectors of eight countries, China, Indonesia, Malaysia, Pakistan, the Philippines, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam. The first ASCA was conducted in Malaysia in 2018 with 26participants from Malaysia, Singapore, Philippines, Turkey, and Pakistan.

For ASCA2020, ISAAA collaborates with the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA), Malaysian Biotechnology Information Centre, US Soybean Export Council, and the US Grains Council.

The participant's fee of US$150.00 (plus transfer fee) includes exclusive access to kits (bios, abstracts, PPT presentations, related references, video recording of proceedings, and copies of videos used the workshop. To register, go to bit.ly/registerASCA2020.