SEAMEO BIOTROP held its first Monday Mind Cloud Idea (MOMI CLOUDIA) Series for 2023 on April 10th. With the theme Genetic Sequencing and Tissue Culture, this event aimed to increase public awareness about the importance of genetic sequencing and tissue culture in achieving sustainable development in Indonesia, particularly in biodiversity conservation.

Dr. Suseno Amien from Pajajaran University was the resource person for the event. He highlighted that tissue culture could facilitate plant propagation with genetic constitutions and characteristics. Additionally, bioinformatics technology facilitates obtaining information, predicting the function, and status of DNA, RNA, protein, and metabolic pathways, as well as reducing errors in the research process in the laboratory.

In his opening remarks, Dr. Zulhamsyah Imran, SEAMEO BIOTROP Director, discussed biotechnology development is in line with SEAMEO BIOTROP’s program thrust of  Sustainable Management and Wise Utilization of Biodiversity, Bioenergy, Biotechnology, and Food Security. Furthermore, he added the importance of biotechnology due to the rapid expansion of the human population, and the limited land usage for farming.

“We welcome and look forwards to collaboration with various stakeholders to innovate biotechnology in Southeast Asia.” He added.

Dr. Rhomi Ardiansyah, SEAMEO BIOTROP Head of Environmental Finance and Risk Management Section, moderated the event and highlighted that tissue culture is essential in propagating plants and conserving and breeding superior plant variants.

Dr. Rhomi Ardiansyah also mentioned that only 25% of Indonesia's genetic resources had been identified and documented genetically, indicating a need for further conservation efforts. Overall, the MOMI CLOUDIA event educated attendees on genetic sequencing and tissue culture's potential applications for sustainable development in Indonesia.

More than 70 participants from government agencies, universities, and the general public attended the event, which received positive feedback based on the number of questions raised during the discussion session.(ra, hcn).