Bogor, December 16, 2021- SEMEO BIOTROP held a Talk of Affiliate Scientist Series 6 with the theme "Biotechnology Innovation for Food Security and Environmental Sustainability in the Changing Times" on August 16, 2021 via zoom online. This webinar aims to provide information about the development of biotechnology in agriculture and why biotechnology products is needed in the changing time.

The resource person in this webinar was Dr. Rhodora Romero-Aldemita, Director of The International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-biotech Applications (ISAAA) South East Asian Center, and Director of the Global Knowledge Center on Plant Biotechnology. She delivered material on the development of biotechnology products and their benefits for agriculture from time to time in several countries.

As one of the regional centers in the field of tropical biology, SEAMEO BIOTROP has a role in the development of biotechnology. Biotechnology is an innovation in agriculture, especially increasing productivity and resistance to environmental criticism due to climate change. In his opening remarks for this webinar, Dr Zulhamsyah Imran stated that one of the current challenges in agriculture is the impact of climate change which can be detrimental. "The challenge for agriculture is climate change, and it can reduce production, pests and diseases," he said. "Biotechnology can be a solution to safeguard food security through technological innovations of products that are resistant to drought, resistant to pests and diseases, and have high productivity," he added.

Furthermore, Dr Zulhamsyah Imran also stated that biotechnology can also improve people's livelihoods by utilizing innovations from biotechnology products through more modern agriculture by utilizing narrow land, and superior varieties.

This event was attended by 46 participants come from academia, government, private sector and the general public spread from all over Indonesia. (day).