Institute Symposia and Events

2013 Leroy and Barbara Everson Seed & Biosafety Symposium: Seeding the Future: Emerging Policy and Science

2013 Audio Presentations Now Available Online

135 individuals attended the Iowa State University Seed Science Center's new symposium series, the Leroy and Barbara Everson Seed & Biosafety Symposium. This year’s theme was “Seeding the Future: Emerging Policy and Science."

Activities started with a celebration of the new symposium series at the Seed Science Center April 23rd. The following day the symposium convened for two sessions held at the Gateway Conference Center in Ames. Speakers included:

• Marcel Bruins, Secretary General, International Seed Federation;
• Walter Simon deBoef, Senior Program Officer Seed Systems, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation;
• Margaret Karembu, Director, International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-biotech Applications (ISAAA);
• Adelaida Harries presenting for Diego Risso, Secretary General, Seed Association of the Americas;
• Moses Siambi, Senior Scientist and Malawi Representative, ICRISAT;
• Miller McDonald, Professor Emeritus, The Ohio State Univ.;
• Kenneth Ostlie, University of Minnesota;
• Iain Kelly, Bayer CropScience;
• Dave Stimpson, Dow AgroSciences;
• Michael Owen, Iowa State University; and
• Alan Taylor, Cornell University.
  

Audios Powerpoints of the 2012 Ninth Annual BIGMAP Symposium

Audio Powerpoints of the 2011 Eighth Annual BIGMAP Symposium

ISU/IFPRI Enhancing Biosafety Systems in Africa and Asia

The Biosafety Institute for Genetically Modified Agricultural Products (BIGMAP) at Iowa State University recently signed an agreement with the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) to enhance biosafety systems in Africa and Asia as part of the Program for Biosafety Systems (PBS).

The three-year project, funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), was designed to benefit partner countries in Africa (Kenya, Malawi, Nigeria, Tanzania, and Uganda) and Asia (Vietnam and Indonesia) that are interested in using biotechnology to promote agricultural innovation. The goal of the project is to empower the countries by fostering science-based decision making at each stage of product development and use, while strengthening capacity for the implementation of biosafety regulatory systems.

"The PBS project works with small farmers in countries where science-based, functional biosafety systems are badly needed," said BIGMAP Scientist Adelaida Harries. "It is an innovative partnership designed to facilitate trade across borders, to build consumer confidence, to promote ag research, and to offer choices to farmers who currently don't have access to biotech crops."

In the ISU/IFPRI partnership, BIGMAP scientists will support policy and regulations development by employing process management principles. They will also provide training and assistance in risk assessment for animal biotechnology and food safety. Independent technical expertise, practical product-oriented approach methods, capacity building, policy analysis and research, and information sharing are a few of the resources the team will employ to accomplish program objectives.

"For smallholders in developing countries performance of agricultural crops is paramount," said BIGMAP Director Manjit Misra. "Livelihoods are positively impacted by quality varieties, by biotechnology. It is rewarding to be a part of this program that is taking the lead in educating and training individuals to become innovators in ag technology." PDF