BIOTROP conducted a Regional Workshop for Media Practitioners on Biotechnology and Biosafety for Food Security and Sustainable Agriculture on 12-13 November 2013 at Novotel Hotel, Bogor, Indonesia. The workshop was a joint undertaking with SEAMEO Regional Center on Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA), International Service for the Acquisition of of Agri-biotech Applications (ISAAA), Agricultural Biotechnology Support Project II (ABSPII) and Indonesian Biotechnology Information Center (IndoBIC).

The workshop was aimed to enhance the awareness and understanding of media practitioners in Southeast Asia on agri-biotechnology and biosafety, and to build the capacities of the media in communicating biotechnology and biosafety issues, as well as in promoting science-based, responsible, and accurate reporting on biotechnology in the region. It brought together 33 media practitioners and representatives from private companies in the SEA region interested in agri-biotech communication to share their experiences and their current and potential contributions to food security and sustainable agriculture. 

Speakers and facilitators during the workshop were Dr. Randy Hautea and Dr. Mariechel Navarro of ISAAA; Dr. Frank Shotkoski of ABSP II; Dr. Tantono Subagyo of Croplife Asia; Dr. Antonius Suwanto of Bogor Agricultural University (IPB); Mr. Adiq Suwandi of PTPN XI; Ms. Rosalie Ellasus, a farmer of San Jacinto Municipality of Pangasinan Province in the Philippines; Ms. Agnes Chupungco of University of the Philippines Los Banos; and Mr. Paul Icamina of Malaya Business Insight, Philippines. (DS)