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2024
Seminar on Precision Agriculture and Gene Editing Technology for Sustainable Food Production – Science and Communication
2024-09-18 – 2024-09-19
Selangor, Malaysia, & Biopolis, Singapore
- ILSI Southeast Asia Region
Webinar – Desvendando o Consumo de Sal e Açúcar na Alimentação dos Brasileiros
2024-09-18
Online, Online
- ILSI Brasil
Webinar – Desigualdades no Consumo de Compostos Bioativos: Impactos na Saúde e Desafios para o Brasil
2024-09-17
Online, Brasil
- ILSI Brasil
Workshop – Advancing NAMs in the Food Sector
2024-09-09 – 2024-09-10
Copenhagen, Denmark
- ILSI Europe
Workshop by ILSI Europe’s Task Force on Alternatives to Animal Testing to establish a mission and roadmap for integrating NAMs in the food sector.
58th Congress of the European Societies of Toxicology
2024-09-08 – 2024-09-11
Copenhagen, Denmark
- ILSI Europe
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BACKGROUND
Technological change is occurring at an unprecedented rate in the global agri-food value chain. New biotechnologies are a major part of this transformational change, including precision agriculture technology and new plant breeding techniques such as gene editing for targeted modification of plant genomes. In combination with innovative practices for monitoring and managing food and agricultural systems, they are opening up new pathways to delivering sustainable food production systems of the future.
It is, thus, important that key stakeholders along the value chain and regulatory authorities share the latest scientific knowledge on the
safety assessment, updates on status and advancement as well as regulatory approach towards potential adoption of these technologies. There is also increasing recognition of needs to engage and educate the broader community and consumers through innovative communication tools to impart knowledge and mitigate any misperception of these technologies.
This seminar to be held back-to-back in Singapore and Malaysia aims to bring together key stakeholders to share scientific updates and facilitate stakeholders' engagement, addressing issues and perspectives on new biotechnologies, safety assessment, regulatory development and communication strategies.
PROGRAM
Malaysia, September 18, 2024
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Singapore, September 19, 2024
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Note: Topic and title of presentations are subject to change upon final confirmation with invited speakers.
Download Malaysia Program
Download Singapore Program
ABOUT THE SPEAKERS
Malaysia, September 18, 2024
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Dato' Dr Mohamad Zabawi bin Abdul Ghani, Director General, Malaysian Agricultural Research and Development Institute (MARDI), Malaysia
Dato' Dr. Mohamad Zabawi serves as the Director-General of MARDI and possesses expertise in soil science, particularly in soil conservation, agroecological zonation, climate change, green technology, and water stress physiology. He obtained his Ph.D. in Water Stress Physiology and an M.Sc. in Tropical Agriculture from The Reading University in 2006 and 1993, respectively. His B.Sc. in Agriculture Science, specializing in Soil Physics and Conservation, was earned from Universiti Putra Malaysia in 1988. Dato' Dr. Mohamad Zabawi is actively engaged in various climate change-related committees and has delivered technical papers on climate change, green technology, and biomass energy in local and international forums, while also contributing to environmental publications.
Mr Timothy Harrison, Regional Agricultural Counselor, USDA Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS)
TMr Timothy Harrison joined the U.S. Embassy in Kuala Lumpur in July 2021 as regional agricultural counselor for Malaysia, Singapore, and Brunei. In this role, he oversees the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) activities in the region, including crop reporting and forecasts, trade promotion, and bilateral cooperation on agriculture and food security. Previously, Mr Harrison was FAS's first head of post in Astana, Kazakhstan. He has also served as agricultural attaché in Mexico City and worked at USDA headquarters in Washington, D.C. Prior to joining USDA, Mr Harrison worked on agricultural trade policy issues and market development in the private sector. He holds a bachelor's degree in International Relations from the University of California, Davis, and a master's degree in International Trade and Investment Policy from George Washington University.
Mr Geoffry Smith, ILSI SEA Region
Mr. Geoffry Smith is President of ILSI Southeast Asia Region based in Singapore, and a Representative of the branch to the ILSI Global Assembly. He is also the Chairman of the Essential Micronutrients Foundation, a non-profit organization which addresses micronutrient deficiencies globally as a public health issue. In addition, he is Director of Nutrition Strategies International which deals with food and nutrition issues in developing countries. Mr. Smith serves as a member of the editorial board of the journal Food and Nutrition Bulletin. Prior to his current positions, Mr. Smith was the Global Director, Health Chelates for Akzo Nobel Functional Chemicals, and directed the global business for these compounds in food and nutrition as well as pharmaceutical applications. He was responsible for the global project within Akzo Nobel addressing iron deficiency anemia.
Prof Wayne Allen Parrott, Professor, University of Georgia, USA
Prof. Wayne Allen Parrott received a degree in agronomy from the University of Kentucky, and MS and PhD degrees in Plant Breeding and Plant Genetics from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He joined the faculty at the University of Georgia in 1988, where he is now a Distinguished Research Professor. Since arriving at Georgia, he has been conducting research on the development, use and safety of transgenic (i.e., GM) and edited crop plants, using grant monies from USDA-NIFA, NSF, DOE and the United Soybean Board. He has published a guide for environmental risk assessment of GMOs, along with ~ 120 journal articles in refereed publications and 15 book chapters. He has served terms on the editorial boards of Plant Cell Reports, Plant Cell Tissue and Organ Culture, and Crop Science. He has served as elected chair of the biotechnology section of the Crop Science Society of America and of the plant section of the Society for In Vitro Biology, and is a fellow of both societies, as well as of the AAAS. He served a term as a co-director for the NSF Plant Genome Research Program, and currently serves as the past-secretary and annual meeting program chair for the American Society of Plant Biologists. He is actively engaged in training graduate students and postdoctoral fellows, and teaches graduate-level courses in crop genetics. He formerly taught undergraduate courses in agroecology and sustainable agriculture. He has traveled extensively throughout Latin America and other countries, and advised legislators and regulators in the various countries on the requisites for a functional regulatory system that ensures the safety of GM products.
Mr Amin Asyraf Tamizi, Research Officer, Agri-Omics and Bioinformatics Programme, Biotechnology and Nanotechnology Research Centre, MARDI, Malaysia
Mr Amin Asyraf Tamizi is a Research Officer at the Biotechnology and Nanotechnology Research Centre, MARDI, where his current research focuses on CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing of local rice cultivars and the molecular systematics of Nepenthes carnivorous pitcher plants in Peninsular Malaysia.
Mr Amin graduated from Michigan State University, the United States, in 2013 with a Bachelor's degree in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology/Biotechnology. His core expertise lies in Genetic Engineering and Molecular Biology, and he has served MARDI for ten years (since 2014). During this time, he has been integral to the team that genetically engineered disease-resistant Arabidopsis, rice and papaya, and recently he developed a new CRISPR/Cas9 delivery system for local rice. Additionally, Mr Amin has applied his expertise in molecular systematics to identify and publish several new species of Nepenthes pitcher plants that he and his team discovered in remote mountains. His research findings have been published in nearly 20 journal papers covering the fields of genomics, genetic engineering, gene editing, and molecular taxonomy.
Dr Kumitaa Theva Das, Senior Lecturer, Institute for Research in Molecular Medicine, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Penang, Malaysia
Dr. Kumitaa Theva Das completed her BSc in the US and did her PhD in one of the pioneer labs of genome editing in the US. With more than fifteen years of experience in genome editing, she focuses on developing CRISPR as a therapeutic tool against infectious diseases.
Her national and international funded CRISPR projects have been published in high-impact journals including Nature Medicine and Nature's Scientific Reports, and garnered her numerous awards, including one which led to her attachment at the University of Oxford.
Dr. Kumitaa Theva Das is a co-chair for one of the sub-groups of Malaysia's Genetic Modification Advisory Committee and is part of the ad hoc technical expert group on genome editing under the United Nations Environment Program. She also works with international bodies to improve policies to make genome editing as a gene therapy accessible to low- and middle-income countries.
Dr. Kumitaa Theva Das frequently shares her expertise in genome editing through public speaking engagements, including TEDx talks and appearances in mass media.
Dr Tan Yong Quan, Covering Specialist Team Lead, Bioengineering, National Centre for Food Science, Singapore Food Agency, Singapore
Dr. Tan Yong Quan is the Covering Specialist Team Lead of the Bioengineering Team at the National Centre for Food Science under the Singapore Food Agency (SFA). He is leading risk assessment and regulatory work related to foods enabled by modern biotechnology at the SFA. He graduated with a Ph.D. in Biochemistry from the National University of Singapore.
Dr Gabriel Romero, Executive Director, Philippines Seed Industry Association (PSIA), Philippines
Dr. Gabriel Romero is the Executive Director of The Philippine Seed Industry Association (PSIA), and Country Head Philippines of North Hill Group. Prior to that, he was the Senior Regulatory & Scientific Affairs Lead of Monsanto Philippines for 10 years. He also served as Genebank Manager, Director of Crop Biotechnology Center and Acting Deputy Executive Director for Research at the Philippine Rice Research Institute. He holds a Ph.D. in Genetics from University of California, Davis, USA, and a Master of Philosophy in Plant Breeding from the University of Cambridge, UK, and a BS in Biology from the University of the Philippines at Los Baños. Among his awards are The Outstanding Young Men (TOYM), Outstanding Young Scientist from the National Academy of Science and Technology, and Faces of Biotechnology from the Department of Agriculture.
Dr Mahaletchumy Arujanan, Executive Director, Malaysian Biotechnology Information Center (MABIC), Malaysia
Dr Mahaletchumy Arujanan is the Global Coordinator of the BioTrust-ISAAA and the Executive Director of Malaysian Biotechnology Information Centre (MABIC). She has a PhD in science communication and Master of Biotechnology from University of Malaya, and a degree in Microbiology from Universiti Putra Malaysia. She is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of The Petri Dish - the first science newspaper in Malaysia and also co-founded Science Media Centre Malaysia. She started the Asian Short Course on Agribiotechnology, Biosafety Regulations and Communications (ASCA) and developed the 1st science communication training programme for scientists in Malaysia. Maha also initiated the Science Communication Advisory Board under COMSTECH (Pakistan) to promote science communication in OIC Member States. She is an Adjunct Lecturer at Monash University Malaysia and AIMST University; sits on Industry Advisory Panel for seven universities; and served as a Biosafety Outreach specialist for UN FAO, Sri Lanka. Maha is listed as the world's 100 most influential people in biotechnology by Scientific American Worldview 2015. She is also listed in the honorific list of Women in Biotechnology Law and Regulation, Biotechnology Law Report (USA) 2015. Maha won the 2010 Third World Academy of Science Regional Prize for Public Understanding of Science for East, Southeast Asia and Pacific Region. She is a board member of the Malaysia Board of Technologists (MBOT) and is also on the advisory board for Mustafa Science and Technology Foundation (Iran), Alliance for Science (USA); and Farming Future Bangladesh; and Genetic Literacy Project (USA). Maha is also on the editorial board of the European Federation of Bioeconomy Journal. She is also on the Selangor Bio Advisory Council to provide advice on bioeconomy development in the state. She has published chapters, papers and articles on science/biotech communication, bioeconomy and biotechnology development.
Prof Dr Rofina Yasmin Othman, Honorary Professor, Institute for Advanced Studies, Universiti Malaya, Malaysia
Dr. Yasmin, is an Honorary Professor at the Institute of Advanced Studies, Universiti Malaya having served the University as an academic, researcher and administrator for more than 30 years. Her research explored the application of molecular tools to facilitate solutions for agriculture particularly of tropical crops. Concurrently she has a keen interest in policies, ethics and socioeconomics of science and technology. She was a two-term member of the National Biosafety Council and is currently a member of the National Bioethics council. She is a fellow and council member of the Academy of Sciences Malaysia and is the chairman of MRANTI Corporation, a National Technology Commercialization Accelerator and Technology Park initiative reflecting her experience in this area. This included secondments as Undersecretary of the National Biotechnology Division at the Ministry of Science Technology and Innovation and appointments as Director of the University's tech transfer office (UMCIC). She is also currently chairman of Life Science Venture firm Xeraya Capital and founder of Leaf Edge Technologies, an innovation platform focusing on promoting uptake of advances in plant science R&D.
Ms Li Xin Kang, Genetic Modification Advisory Committee (GMAC) Secretariat, Singapore
Ms Kang Li Xin serves as the Secretariat for Genetic Modification Advisory Committee (GMAC) Singapore, which is a national advisory committee tasked with overseeing and offering scientifically rigorous advice on the research, development, production, release, use, and handling of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) within Singapore. Through supporting the Subcommittee of Public Awareness in GMAC, she organises outreach activities aimed to enhance the public's awareness and understanding of GM technology. Ms Li Xin is also part of the Research Office in Agency for Science, Technology and Research in Singapore (A*STAR) where she contributes to the governance of research in A*STAR, in compliant with the Human Biomedical Research Act (HBRA).
Singapore, September 19, 2024
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Mr Timothy Harrison, Regional Agricultural Counselor, USDA Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS)
Mr Timothy Harrison joined the U.S. Embassy in Kuala Lumpur in July 2021 as regional agricultural counselor for Malaysia, Singapore, and Brunei. In this role, he oversees the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) activities in the region, including crop reporting and forecasts, trade promotion, and bilateral cooperation on agriculture and food security. Previously, Mr Harrison was FAS's first head of post in Astana, Kazakhstan. He has also served as agricultural attaché in Mexico City and worked at USDA headquarters in Washington, D.C. Prior to joining USDA, Mr Harrison worked on agricultural trade policy issues and market development in the private sector. He holds a bachelor's degree in International Relations from the University of California, Davis, and a master's degree in International Trade and Investment Policy from George Washington University.
Mr Geoffry Smith, ILSI SEA Region
Mr. Geoffry Smith is President of ILSI Southeast Asia Region based in Singapore, and a Representative of the branch to the ILSI Global Assembly. He is also the Chairman of the Essential Micronutrients Foundation, a non-profit organization which addresses micronutrient deficiencies globally as a public health issue. In addition, he is Director of Nutrition Strategies International which deals with food and nutrition issues in developing countries. Mr. Smith serves as a member of the editorial board of the journal Food and Nutrition Bulletin. Prior to his current positions, Mr. Smith was the Global Director, Health Chelates for Akzo Nobel Functional Chemicals, and directed the global business for these compounds in food and nutrition as well as pharmaceutical applications. He was responsible for the global project within Akzo Nobel addressing iron deficiency anemia.
Prof Paul Teng, Dean and Managing Director, National Institute of Education International (NIEI), Nanyang Technology University, Singapore
Prof. Paul Teng is Dean and Managing Director of NIE International Pte. Ltd., a subsidiary of Nanyang Technological University (NTU). He is also an Adjunct Senior Fellow, Centre for Non-Traditional Security Studies, S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies, NTU Singapore; Senior Fellow, Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA), Philippines and Associate Senior Fellow, Institute of Southeast Asian Studies (ISEAS) Singapore. He is internationally recognized for his expertise in food security, commercialization and biosafety of crop biotechnology, agrotechnology innovations/ systems agriculture, bio-entrepreneurship, and sustainable development. He has over thirty years of experience in agri-food issues from positions in international organizations (the International Rice Research Institute, WorldFish Centre), U.S. universities (University of Minnesota, University of Hawaii) and the private sector. Prof. Teng currently is science adviser to two venture funds and several startups in the agtech and biotech space in the U.K. and Singapore.
Prof. Teng has won numerous awards for his work such as the Eriksson Prize in Plant Pathology (Royal Swedish Academy of Science), an Honorary Doctor of Science (from Murdoch University, Australia) and is a Fellow of the American Phytopathological Society, the International Society of Plant Pathology, and The World Academy of Sciences (TWAS). He is a Past-Chair, Genetic Modification Advisory Committee, Singapore and is also Immediate Past Chairman, International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-biotech Applications (ISAAA) Inc. He has edited/co-edited fifteen books, authored/co-authored four books and published over 250 technical papers. His latest edited book (2024) is "Food Security Issues in Asia".
Prof Wayne Allen Parrott, Professor, University of Georgia, USA
Prof. Wayne Allen Parrott received a degree in agronomy from the University of Kentucky, and MS and PhD degrees in Plant Breeding and Plant Genetics from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He joined the faculty at the University of Georgia in 1988, where he is now a Distinguished Research Professor. Since arriving at Georgia, he has been conducting research on the development, use and safety of transgenic (i.e., GM) and edited crop plants, using grant monies from USDA-NIFA, NSF, DOE and the United Soybean Board. He has published a guide for environmental risk assessment of GMOs, along with ~ 120 journal articles in refereed publications and 15 book chapters. He has served terms on the editorial boards of Plant Cell Reports, Plant Cell Tissue and Organ Culture, and Crop Science. He has served as elected chair of the biotechnology section of the Crop Science Society of America and of the plant section of the Society for In Vitro Biology, and is a fellow of both societies, as well as of the AAAS. He served a term as a co-director for the NSF Plant Genome Research Program, and currently serves as the past-secretary and annual meeting program chair for the American Society of Plant Biologists. He is actively engaged in training graduate students and postdoctoral fellows, and teaches graduate-level courses in crop genetics. He formerly taught undergraduate courses in agroecology and sustainable agriculture. He has traveled extensively throughout Latin America and other countries, and advised legislators and regulators in the various countries on the requisites for a functional regulatory system that ensures the safety of GM products.
Assoc Prof Tan Meng How, Associate Professor, Nanyang Technological University (NTU) & Genetic Modification Advisory Committee (GMAC), Singapore
Assoc Prof Meng How Tan is a tenured associate professor in the School of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology (CCEB) at Nanyang Technological University (NTU). He received his bachelor's degrees in mechanical engineering and economics from University of California Berkeley, his master's degrees in aeronautics and biomedical engineering from California Institute of Technology and NTU respectively, and his PhD in developmental biology from Stanford University. After postdoctoral training in Stanford, he returned to Singapore to set up his independent laboratory, focusing on the basic biology and translational applications of DNA and RNA editing. To date, he has published corresponding authored papers in top academic journals, including Nature, Nature Methods, Nature Chemical Biology, and Nature Communications. He received the Outstanding Young Principal Investigator Award from AIChE-SLS in 2019 and was named an EMBO Global Investigator in 2020.
Dr Tan Yong Quan, Covering Specialist Team Lead, Bioengineering, National Centre for Food Science, Singapore Food Agency, Singapore
Dr. Tan Yong Quan is the Covering Specialist Team Lead of the Bioengineering Team at the National Centre for Food Science under the Singapore Food Agency (SFA). He is leading risk assessment and regulatory work related to foods enabled by modern biotechnology at the SFA. He graduated with a Ph.D. in Biochemistry from the National University of Singapore.
Dr Gabriel Romero, Executive Director, Philippines Seed Industry Association (PSIA), Philippines
Dr. Gabriel Romero is the Executive Director of The Philippine Seed Industry Association (PSIA), and Country Head Philippines of North Hill Group. Prior to that, he was the Senior Regulatory & Scientific Affairs Lead of Monsanto Philippines for 10 years. He also served as Genebank Manager, Director of Crop Biotechnology Center and Acting Deputy Executive Director for Research at the Philippine Rice Research Institute. He holds a Ph.D. in Genetics from University of California, Davis, USA, and a Master of Philosophy in Plant Breeding from the University of Cambridge, UK, and a BS in Biology from the University of the Philippines at Los Baños. Among his awards are The Outstanding Young Men (TOYM), Outstanding Young Scientist from the National Academy of Science and Technology, and Faces of Biotechnology from the Department of Agriculture.
Dr Mahaletchumy Arujanan, Executive Director, Malaysian Biotechnology Information Center (MABIC), Malaysia
Dr Mahaletchumy Arujanan is the Global Coordinator of the BioTrust-ISAAA and the Executive Director of Malaysian Biotechnology Information Centre (MABIC). She has a PhD in science communication and Master of Biotechnology from University of Malaya, and a degree in Microbiology from Universiti Putra Malaysia. She is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of The Petri Dish - the first science newspaper in Malaysia and also co-founded Science Media Centre Malaysia. She started the Asian Short Course on Agribiotechnology, Biosafety Regulations and Communications (ASCA) and developed the 1st science communication training programme for scientists in Malaysia. Maha also initiated the Science Communication Advisory Board under COMSTECH (Pakistan) to promote science communication in OIC Member States. She is an Adjunct Lecturer at Monash University Malaysia and AIMST University; sits on Industry Advisory Panel for seven universities; and served as a Biosafety Outreach specialist for UN FAO, Sri Lanka. Maha is listed as the world's 100 most influential people in biotechnology by Scientific American Worldview 2015. She is also listed in the honorific list of Women in Biotechnology Law and Regulation, Biotechnology Law Report (USA) 2015. Maha won the 2010 Third World Academy of Science Regional Prize for Public Understanding of Science for East, Southeast Asia and Pacific Region. She is a board member of the Malaysia Board of Technologists (MBOT) and is also on the advisory board for Mustafa Science and Technology Foundation (Iran), Alliance for Science (USA); and Farming Future Bangladesh; and Genetic Literacy Project (USA). Maha is also on the editorial board of the European Federation of Bioeconomy Journal. She is also on the Selangor Bio Advisory Council to provide advice on bioeconomy development in the state. She has published chapters, papers and articles on science/biotech communication, bioeconomy and biotechnology development.
Dr Andrew D. Powell,CEO, Asia BioBusiness Pte. Ltd., Singapore
Dr Andrew Powell is the CEO of Asia BioBusiness Pte. Ltd. and also acts a Global Senior International Industry Advisor to Edinburgh Innovations, the commercialisation arm of Edinburgh University. He has worked as a consultant since 1995, primarily focusing on the agriculture and food sectors. Projects have included agri-food sector policy, food security, agtech and food tech, and management of open innovation systems. Clients come from both the private (MNCs and SMEs) and public sectors. Dr Powell is a highly effective resource mobiliser with a global network across all areas of life science but especially in food and agriculture. He has been active in Risk Communication for more than 20 years, conducting training and offering advice to both public and private sector clients.
Dr Powell is the driving force behind the Communications Leadership in Future Foods Program (CLIFF) that seeks to improve engagement with consumers by utilising risk communication strategies. He is also Chairman of the not-for-profit Agri-Biotech Knowledge Information Centre Ltd. in Singapore, and is a mentor for The Yield Lab Asia Pacific and Big Idea Ventures agri-foodtech accelerators in Singapore, as well as SVG Ventures | THRIVE in N. America.
Dr Powell graduated from the University of Edinburgh with honours in Biology and obtained his Ph.D. from the University of Calgary. He has held research and academic positions at the University of Guelph, the National Institute for Health Sciences in Tokyo, and Tsukuba, Japan and the National University of Singapore.
Prof Dr Rofina Yasmin Othman, Honorary Professor, Institute for Advanced Studies, Universiti Malaya, Malaysia
Dr. Yasmin, is an Honorary Professor at the Institute of Advanced Studies, Universiti Malaya having served the University as an academic, researcher and administrator for more than 30 years. Her research explored the application of molecular tools to facilitate solutions for agriculture particularly of tropical crops. Concurrently she has a keen interest in policies, ethics and socioeconomics of science and technology. She was a two-term member of the National Biosafety Council and is currently a member of the National Bioethics council. She is a fellow and council member of the Academy of Sciences Malaysia and is the chairman of MRANTI Corporation, a National Technology Commercialization Accelerator and Technology Park initiative reflecting her experience in this area. This included secondments as Undersecretary of the National Biotechnology Division at the Ministry of Science Technology and Innovation and appointments as Director of the University's tech transfer office (UMCIC). She is also currently chairman of Life Science Venture firm Xeraya Capital and founder of Leaf Edge Technologies, an innovation platform focusing on promoting uptake of advances in plant science R&D.
Ms Mazlina Banu Jaikubali, Genetic Modification Advisory Committee (GMAC) Secretariat, Singapore
Ms Mazlina Banu Jaikubali serves as a Secretariat for the Genetic Modification Advisory Committee (GMAC) in Singapore. In this role, she provides essential support to the national advisory committee tasked with overseeing and offering scientifically rigorous advice on the research, development, production, release, use, and handling of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) within Singapore. As part of GMAC's Subcommittee for Public Awareness, Ms Mazlina plays a key role in organizing outreach activities aimed at enhancing public awareness and understanding of GMOs. She is also part of the A*STAR Institutional Review Board (IRB) Secretariat, operating under the Research Office of A*STAR. This position involves contributing to the ethical review processes of research initiatives, ensuring they meet the standards and regulations set by A*STAR and authorities.
ORGANIZER
CO-ORGANIZERS
CONTACT
If you have any inquiries, please do not hesitate to contact the following:
For Malaysia:
Dr. Rogayah Sekeli and/or Dr. Zulkifli Ahmad Seman
Malaysian Agricultural Research and Development Institute (MARDI)
Email: lynn@mardi.gov.my ; szula@mardi.gov.my
For Singapore:
ILSI Southeast Asia Region
Singapore
Tel: 65 6352 5220
Email: event@ilsisea.org.sg
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Poster Presentation
On September 10th, an expert from the ILSI Europe Expert Group "Uncertainty in Hazard Assessment: a Comparison of TTC versus Chemical-Specific Approaches" will present a poster at EUROTOX2024. This work has been commissionned by the Threshold of Toxicological Concern Task Force.
About the event
The Danish Society of Toxicology and Pharmacology has the honor to organise EUROTOX 2024 in Copenhagen, the capital of Denmark. The congress will take place from 8 to 11 September 2024.
The congress theme "Toxicology - A Quest for safe Chemicals and Medicines" reflects the congress programme including a variety of topics dealing with safety of drugs and environmental chemicals, new and emerging technologies, personalised medicine, human health effects caused by exposure to chemicals as well as safety issues arising from climate changes.
The Local Organising Committee (LOC) and the Scientific Programme Committee (SPC) have made an inspiring programme, including the newest aspects of modern toxicology and methodologies. We emphasise the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration within toxicology and with the medical industries.
The Scientific Programme (SP) includes four "Short Oral Communications Sessions" (OS) giving the young researches the possibility to present their latest research results. We encourage everyone to submit their abstract to get the possibility to present at one of the numerous OS.
The venue is The Tivoli Congress Center, located in the city centre at the waterfront, 12 min by metro from Copenhagen Airport, walking distance to central city locations e.g. the Tivoli Park, the railway station and the Town Hall Square. The Congress Centre, designed by the architect Kim Utzon, has a capacity of up to 5500 meeting participants, includes congress hall, auditoriums and big meeting rooms all at the ground floor. The Tivoli Hotel has 679 rooms, swimming pool, playrooms, fitness & business centers, cloud bar and restaurants. Another 3000 hotel rooms are located within walking distance.
Visit EUROTOX website
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BACKGROUND
Technological change is occurring at an unprecedented rate in the global agri-food value chain. New biotechnologies are a major part of this transformational change, including precision agriculture technology and new plant breeding techniques such as gene editing for targeted modification of plant genomes. In combination with innovative practices for monitoring and managing food and agricultural systems, they are opening up new pathways to delivering sustainable food production systems of the future.
It is, thus, important that key stakeholders along the value chain and regulatory authorities share the latest scientific knowledge on the
safety assessment, updates on status and advancement as well as regulatory approach towards potential adoption of these technologies. There is also increasing recognition of needs to engage and educate the broader community and consumers through innovative communication tools to impart knowledge and mitigate any misperception of these technologies.
This seminar to be held back-to-back in Singapore and Malaysia aims to bring together key stakeholders to share scientific updates and facilitate stakeholders' engagement, addressing issues and perspectives on new biotechnologies, safety assessment, regulatory development and communication strategies.
PROGRAM
Malaysia, September 18, 2024
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Singapore, September 19, 2024
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Note: Topic and title of presentations are subject to change upon final confirmation with invited speakers.
Download Malaysia Program
Download Singapore Program
ABOUT THE SPEAKERS
Malaysia, September 18, 2024
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Dato' Dr Mohamad Zabawi bin Abdul Ghani, Director General, Malaysian Agricultural Research and Development Institute (MARDI), Malaysia
Dato' Dr. Mohamad Zabawi serves as the Director-General of MARDI and possesses expertise in soil science, particularly in soil conservation, agroecological zonation, climate change, green technology, and water stress physiology. He obtained his Ph.D. in Water Stress Physiology and an M.Sc. in Tropical Agriculture from The Reading University in 2006 and 1993, respectively. His B.Sc. in Agriculture Science, specializing in Soil Physics and Conservation, was earned from Universiti Putra Malaysia in 1988. Dato' Dr. Mohamad Zabawi is actively engaged in various climate change-related committees and has delivered technical papers on climate change, green technology, and biomass energy in local and international forums, while also contributing to environmental publications.
Mr Timothy Harrison, Regional Agricultural Counselor, USDA Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS)
TMr Timothy Harrison joined the U.S. Embassy in Kuala Lumpur in July 2021 as regional agricultural counselor for Malaysia, Singapore, and Brunei. In this role, he oversees the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) activities in the region, including crop reporting and forecasts, trade promotion, and bilateral cooperation on agriculture and food security. Previously, Mr Harrison was FAS's first head of post in Astana, Kazakhstan. He has also served as agricultural attaché in Mexico City and worked at USDA headquarters in Washington, D.C. Prior to joining USDA, Mr Harrison worked on agricultural trade policy issues and market development in the private sector. He holds a bachelor's degree in International Relations from the University of California, Davis, and a master's degree in International Trade and Investment Policy from George Washington University.
Mr Geoffry Smith, ILSI SEA Region
Mr. Geoffry Smith is President of ILSI Southeast Asia Region based in Singapore, and a Representative of the branch to the ILSI Global Assembly. He is also the Chairman of the Essential Micronutrients Foundation, a non-profit organization which addresses micronutrient deficiencies globally as a public health issue. In addition, he is Director of Nutrition Strategies International which deals with food and nutrition issues in developing countries. Mr. Smith serves as a member of the editorial board of the journal Food and Nutrition Bulletin. Prior to his current positions, Mr. Smith was the Global Director, Health Chelates for Akzo Nobel Functional Chemicals, and directed the global business for these compounds in food and nutrition as well as pharmaceutical applications. He was responsible for the global project within Akzo Nobel addressing iron deficiency anemia.
Prof Wayne Allen Parrott, Professor, University of Georgia, USA
Prof. Wayne Allen Parrott received a degree in agronomy from the University of Kentucky, and MS and PhD degrees in Plant Breeding and Plant Genetics from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He joined the faculty at the University of Georgia in 1988, where he is now a Distinguished Research Professor. Since arriving at Georgia, he has been conducting research on the development, use and safety of transgenic (i.e., GM) and edited crop plants, using grant monies from USDA-NIFA, NSF, DOE and the United Soybean Board. He has published a guide for environmental risk assessment of GMOs, along with ~ 120 journal articles in refereed publications and 15 book chapters. He has served terms on the editorial boards of Plant Cell Reports, Plant Cell Tissue and Organ Culture, and Crop Science. He has served as elected chair of the biotechnology section of the Crop Science Society of America and of the plant section of the Society for In Vitro Biology, and is a fellow of both societies, as well as of the AAAS. He served a term as a co-director for the NSF Plant Genome Research Program, and currently serves as the past-secretary and annual meeting program chair for the American Society of Plant Biologists. He is actively engaged in training graduate students and postdoctoral fellows, and teaches graduate-level courses in crop genetics. He formerly taught undergraduate courses in agroecology and sustainable agriculture. He has traveled extensively throughout Latin America and other countries, and advised legislators and regulators in the various countries on the requisites for a functional regulatory system that ensures the safety of GM products.
Mr Amin Asyraf Tamizi, Research Officer, Agri-Omics and Bioinformatics Programme, Biotechnology and Nanotechnology Research Centre, MARDI, Malaysia
Mr Amin Asyraf Tamizi is a Research Officer at the Biotechnology and Nanotechnology Research Centre, MARDI, where his current research focuses on CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing of local rice cultivars and the molecular systematics of Nepenthes carnivorous pitcher plants in Peninsular Malaysia.
Mr Amin graduated from Michigan State University, the United States, in 2013 with a Bachelor's degree in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology/Biotechnology. His core expertise lies in Genetic Engineering and Molecular Biology, and he has served MARDI for ten years (since 2014). During this time, he has been integral to the team that genetically engineered disease-resistant Arabidopsis, rice and papaya, and recently he developed a new CRISPR/Cas9 delivery system for local rice. Additionally, Mr Amin has applied his expertise in molecular systematics to identify and publish several new species of Nepenthes pitcher plants that he and his team discovered in remote mountains. His research findings have been published in nearly 20 journal papers covering the fields of genomics, genetic engineering, gene editing, and molecular taxonomy.
Dr Kumitaa Theva Das, Senior Lecturer, Institute for Research in Molecular Medicine, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Penang, Malaysia
Dr. Kumitaa Theva Das completed her BSc in the US and did her PhD in one of the pioneer labs of genome editing in the US. With more than fifteen years of experience in genome editing, she focuses on developing CRISPR as a therapeutic tool against infectious diseases.
Her national and international funded CRISPR projects have been published in high-impact journals including Nature Medicine and Nature's Scientific Reports, and garnered her numerous awards, including one which led to her attachment at the University of Oxford.
Dr. Kumitaa Theva Das is a co-chair for one of the sub-groups of Malaysia's Genetic Modification Advisory Committee and is part of the ad hoc technical expert group on genome editing under the United Nations Environment Program. She also works with international bodies to improve policies to make genome editing as a gene therapy accessible to low- and middle-income countries.
Dr. Kumitaa Theva Das frequently shares her expertise in genome editing through public speaking engagements, including TEDx talks and appearances in mass media.
Dr Tan Yong Quan, Covering Specialist Team Lead, Bioengineering, National Centre for Food Science, Singapore Food Agency, Singapore
Dr. Tan Yong Quan is the Covering Specialist Team Lead of the Bioengineering Team at the National Centre for Food Science under the Singapore Food Agency (SFA). He is leading risk assessment and regulatory work related to foods enabled by modern biotechnology at the SFA. He graduated with a Ph.D. in Biochemistry from the National University of Singapore.
Dr Gabriel Romero, Executive Director, Philippines Seed Industry Association (PSIA), Philippines
Dr. Gabriel Romero is the Executive Director of The Philippine Seed Industry Association (PSIA), and Country Head Philippines of North Hill Group. Prior to that, he was the Senior Regulatory & Scientific Affairs Lead of Monsanto Philippines for 10 years. He also served as Genebank Manager, Director of Crop Biotechnology Center and Acting Deputy Executive Director for Research at the Philippine Rice Research Institute. He holds a Ph.D. in Genetics from University of California, Davis, USA, and a Master of Philosophy in Plant Breeding from the University of Cambridge, UK, and a BS in Biology from the University of the Philippines at Los Baños. Among his awards are The Outstanding Young Men (TOYM), Outstanding Young Scientist from the National Academy of Science and Technology, and Faces of Biotechnology from the Department of Agriculture.
Dr Mahaletchumy Arujanan, Executive Director, Malaysian Biotechnology Information Center (MABIC), Malaysia
Dr Mahaletchumy Arujanan is the Global Coordinator of the BioTrust-ISAAA and the Executive Director of Malaysian Biotechnology Information Centre (MABIC). She has a PhD in science communication and Master of Biotechnology from University of Malaya, and a degree in Microbiology from Universiti Putra Malaysia. She is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of The Petri Dish - the first science newspaper in Malaysia and also co-founded Science Media Centre Malaysia. She started the Asian Short Course on Agribiotechnology, Biosafety Regulations and Communications (ASCA) and developed the 1st science communication training programme for scientists in Malaysia. Maha also initiated the Science Communication Advisory Board under COMSTECH (Pakistan) to promote science communication in OIC Member States. She is an Adjunct Lecturer at Monash University Malaysia and AIMST University; sits on Industry Advisory Panel for seven universities; and served as a Biosafety Outreach specialist for UN FAO, Sri Lanka. Maha is listed as the world's 100 most influential people in biotechnology by Scientific American Worldview 2015. She is also listed in the honorific list of Women in Biotechnology Law and Regulation, Biotechnology Law Report (USA) 2015. Maha won the 2010 Third World Academy of Science Regional Prize for Public Understanding of Science for East, Southeast Asia and Pacific Region. She is a board member of the Malaysia Board of Technologists (MBOT) and is also on the advisory board for Mustafa Science and Technology Foundation (Iran), Alliance for Science (USA); and Farming Future Bangladesh; and Genetic Literacy Project (USA). Maha is also on the editorial board of the European Federation of Bioeconomy Journal. She is also on the Selangor Bio Advisory Council to provide advice on bioeconomy development in the state. She has published chapters, papers and articles on science/biotech communication, bioeconomy and biotechnology development.
Prof Dr Rofina Yasmin Othman, Honorary Professor, Institute for Advanced Studies, Universiti Malaya, Malaysia
Dr. Yasmin, is an Honorary Professor at the Institute of Advanced Studies, Universiti Malaya having served the University as an academic, researcher and administrator for more than 30 years. Her research explored the application of molecular tools to facilitate solutions for agriculture particularly of tropical crops. Concurrently she has a keen interest in policies, ethics and socioeconomics of science and technology. She was a two-term member of the National Biosafety Council and is currently a member of the National Bioethics council. She is a fellow and council member of the Academy of Sciences Malaysia and is the chairman of MRANTI Corporation, a National Technology Commercialization Accelerator and Technology Park initiative reflecting her experience in this area. This included secondments as Undersecretary of the National Biotechnology Division at the Ministry of Science Technology and Innovation and appointments as Director of the University's tech transfer office (UMCIC). She is also currently chairman of Life Science Venture firm Xeraya Capital and founder of Leaf Edge Technologies, an innovation platform focusing on promoting uptake of advances in plant science R&D.
Ms Li Xin Kang, Genetic Modification Advisory Committee (GMAC) Secretariat, Singapore
Ms Kang Li Xin serves as the Secretariat for Genetic Modification Advisory Committee (GMAC) Singapore, which is a national advisory committee tasked with overseeing and offering scientifically rigorous advice on the research, development, production, release, use, and handling of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) within Singapore. Through supporting the Subcommittee of Public Awareness in GMAC, she organises outreach activities aimed to enhance the public's awareness and understanding of GM technology. Ms Li Xin is also part of the Research Office in Agency for Science, Technology and Research in Singapore (A*STAR) where she contributes to the governance of research in A*STAR, in compliant with the Human Biomedical Research Act (HBRA).
Singapore, September 19, 2024
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Mr Timothy Harrison, Regional Agricultural Counselor, USDA Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS)
Mr Timothy Harrison joined the U.S. Embassy in Kuala Lumpur in July 2021 as regional agricultural counselor for Malaysia, Singapore, and Brunei. In this role, he oversees the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) activities in the region, including crop reporting and forecasts, trade promotion, and bilateral cooperation on agriculture and food security. Previously, Mr Harrison was FAS's first head of post in Astana, Kazakhstan. He has also served as agricultural attaché in Mexico City and worked at USDA headquarters in Washington, D.C. Prior to joining USDA, Mr Harrison worked on agricultural trade policy issues and market development in the private sector. He holds a bachelor's degree in International Relations from the University of California, Davis, and a master's degree in International Trade and Investment Policy from George Washington University.
Mr Geoffry Smith, ILSI SEA Region
Mr. Geoffry Smith is President of ILSI Southeast Asia Region based in Singapore, and a Representative of the branch to the ILSI Global Assembly. He is also the Chairman of the Essential Micronutrients Foundation, a non-profit organization which addresses micronutrient deficiencies globally as a public health issue. In addition, he is Director of Nutrition Strategies International which deals with food and nutrition issues in developing countries. Mr. Smith serves as a member of the editorial board of the journal Food and Nutrition Bulletin. Prior to his current positions, Mr. Smith was the Global Director, Health Chelates for Akzo Nobel Functional Chemicals, and directed the global business for these compounds in food and nutrition as well as pharmaceutical applications. He was responsible for the global project within Akzo Nobel addressing iron deficiency anemia.
Prof Paul Teng, Dean and Managing Director, National Institute of Education International (NIEI), Nanyang Technology University, Singapore
Prof. Paul Teng is Dean and Managing Director of NIE International Pte. Ltd., a subsidiary of Nanyang Technological University (NTU). He is also an Adjunct Senior Fellow, Centre for Non-Traditional Security Studies, S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies, NTU Singapore; Senior Fellow, Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA), Philippines and Associate Senior Fellow, Institute of Southeast Asian Studies (ISEAS) Singapore. He is internationally recognized for his expertise in food security, commercialization and biosafety of crop biotechnology, agrotechnology innovations/ systems agriculture, bio-entrepreneurship, and sustainable development. He has over thirty years of experience in agri-food issues from positions in international organizations (the International Rice Research Institute, WorldFish Centre), U.S. universities (University of Minnesota, University of Hawaii) and the private sector. Prof. Teng currently is science adviser to two venture funds and several startups in the agtech and biotech space in the U.K. and Singapore.
Prof. Teng has won numerous awards for his work such as the Eriksson Prize in Plant Pathology (Royal Swedish Academy of Science), an Honorary Doctor of Science (from Murdoch University, Australia) and is a Fellow of the American Phytopathological Society, the International Society of Plant Pathology, and The World Academy of Sciences (TWAS). He is a Past-Chair, Genetic Modification Advisory Committee, Singapore and is also Immediate Past Chairman, International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-biotech Applications (ISAAA) Inc. He has edited/co-edited fifteen books, authored/co-authored four books and published over 250 technical papers. His latest edited book (2024) is "Food Security Issues in Asia".
Prof Wayne Allen Parrott, Professor, University of Georgia, USA
Prof. Wayne Allen Parrott received a degree in agronomy from the University of Kentucky, and MS and PhD degrees in Plant Breeding and Plant Genetics from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He joined the faculty at the University of Georgia in 1988, where he is now a Distinguished Research Professor. Since arriving at Georgia, he has been conducting research on the development, use and safety of transgenic (i.e., GM) and edited crop plants, using grant monies from USDA-NIFA, NSF, DOE and the United Soybean Board. He has published a guide for environmental risk assessment of GMOs, along with ~ 120 journal articles in refereed publications and 15 book chapters. He has served terms on the editorial boards of Plant Cell Reports, Plant Cell Tissue and Organ Culture, and Crop Science. He has served as elected chair of the biotechnology section of the Crop Science Society of America and of the plant section of the Society for In Vitro Biology, and is a fellow of both societies, as well as of the AAAS. He served a term as a co-director for the NSF Plant Genome Research Program, and currently serves as the past-secretary and annual meeting program chair for the American Society of Plant Biologists. He is actively engaged in training graduate students and postdoctoral fellows, and teaches graduate-level courses in crop genetics. He formerly taught undergraduate courses in agroecology and sustainable agriculture. He has traveled extensively throughout Latin America and other countries, and advised legislators and regulators in the various countries on the requisites for a functional regulatory system that ensures the safety of GM products.
Assoc Prof Tan Meng How, Associate Professor, Nanyang Technological University (NTU) & Genetic Modification Advisory Committee (GMAC), Singapore
Assoc Prof Meng How Tan is a tenured associate professor in the School of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology (CCEB) at Nanyang Technological University (NTU). He received his bachelor's degrees in mechanical engineering and economics from University of California Berkeley, his master's degrees in aeronautics and biomedical engineering from California Institute of Technology and NTU respectively, and his PhD in developmental biology from Stanford University. After postdoctoral training in Stanford, he returned to Singapore to set up his independent laboratory, focusing on the basic biology and translational applications of DNA and RNA editing. To date, he has published corresponding authored papers in top academic journals, including Nature, Nature Methods, Nature Chemical Biology, and Nature Communications. He received the Outstanding Young Principal Investigator Award from AIChE-SLS in 2019 and was named an EMBO Global Investigator in 2020.
Dr Tan Yong Quan, Covering Specialist Team Lead, Bioengineering, National Centre for Food Science, Singapore Food Agency, Singapore
Dr. Tan Yong Quan is the Covering Specialist Team Lead of the Bioengineering Team at the National Centre for Food Science under the Singapore Food Agency (SFA). He is leading risk assessment and regulatory work related to foods enabled by modern biotechnology at the SFA. He graduated with a Ph.D. in Biochemistry from the National University of Singapore.
Dr Gabriel Romero, Executive Director, Philippines Seed Industry Association (PSIA), Philippines
Dr. Gabriel Romero is the Executive Director of The Philippine Seed Industry Association (PSIA), and Country Head Philippines of North Hill Group. Prior to that, he was the Senior Regulatory & Scientific Affairs Lead of Monsanto Philippines for 10 years. He also served as Genebank Manager, Director of Crop Biotechnology Center and Acting Deputy Executive Director for Research at the Philippine Rice Research Institute. He holds a Ph.D. in Genetics from University of California, Davis, USA, and a Master of Philosophy in Plant Breeding from the University of Cambridge, UK, and a BS in Biology from the University of the Philippines at Los Baños. Among his awards are The Outstanding Young Men (TOYM), Outstanding Young Scientist from the National Academy of Science and Technology, and Faces of Biotechnology from the Department of Agriculture.
Dr Mahaletchumy Arujanan, Executive Director, Malaysian Biotechnology Information Center (MABIC), Malaysia
Dr Mahaletchumy Arujanan is the Global Coordinator of the BioTrust-ISAAA and the Executive Director of Malaysian Biotechnology Information Centre (MABIC). She has a PhD in science communication and Master of Biotechnology from University of Malaya, and a degree in Microbiology from Universiti Putra Malaysia. She is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of The Petri Dish - the first science newspaper in Malaysia and also co-founded Science Media Centre Malaysia. She started the Asian Short Course on Agribiotechnology, Biosafety Regulations and Communications (ASCA) and developed the 1st science communication training programme for scientists in Malaysia. Maha also initiated the Science Communication Advisory Board under COMSTECH (Pakistan) to promote science communication in OIC Member States. She is an Adjunct Lecturer at Monash University Malaysia and AIMST University; sits on Industry Advisory Panel for seven universities; and served as a Biosafety Outreach specialist for UN FAO, Sri Lanka. Maha is listed as the world's 100 most influential people in biotechnology by Scientific American Worldview 2015. She is also listed in the honorific list of Women in Biotechnology Law and Regulation, Biotechnology Law Report (USA) 2015. Maha won the 2010 Third World Academy of Science Regional Prize for Public Understanding of Science for East, Southeast Asia and Pacific Region. She is a board member of the Malaysia Board of Technologists (MBOT) and is also on the advisory board for Mustafa Science and Technology Foundation (Iran), Alliance for Science (USA); and Farming Future Bangladesh; and Genetic Literacy Project (USA). Maha is also on the editorial board of the European Federation of Bioeconomy Journal. She is also on the Selangor Bio Advisory Council to provide advice on bioeconomy development in the state. She has published chapters, papers and articles on science/biotech communication, bioeconomy and biotechnology development.
Dr Andrew D. Powell,CEO, Asia BioBusiness Pte. Ltd., Singapore
Dr Andrew Powell is the CEO of Asia BioBusiness Pte. Ltd. and also acts a Global Senior International Industry Advisor to Edinburgh Innovations, the commercialisation arm of Edinburgh University. He has worked as a consultant since 1995, primarily focusing on the agriculture and food sectors. Projects have included agri-food sector policy, food security, agtech and food tech, and management of open innovation systems. Clients come from both the private (MNCs and SMEs) and public sectors. Dr Powell is a highly effective resource mobiliser with a global network across all areas of life science but especially in food and agriculture. He has been active in Risk Communication for more than 20 years, conducting training and offering advice to both public and private sector clients.
Dr Powell is the driving force behind the Communications Leadership in Future Foods Program (CLIFF) that seeks to improve engagement with consumers by utilising risk communication strategies. He is also Chairman of the not-for-profit Agri-Biotech Knowledge Information Centre Ltd. in Singapore, and is a mentor for The Yield Lab Asia Pacific and Big Idea Ventures agri-foodtech accelerators in Singapore, as well as SVG Ventures | THRIVE in N. America.
Dr Powell graduated from the University of Edinburgh with honours in Biology and obtained his Ph.D. from the University of Calgary. He has held research and academic positions at the University of Guelph, the National Institute for Health Sciences in Tokyo, and Tsukuba, Japan and the National University of Singapore.
Prof Dr Rofina Yasmin Othman, Honorary Professor, Institute for Advanced Studies, Universiti Malaya, Malaysia
Dr. Yasmin, is an Honorary Professor at the Institute of Advanced Studies, Universiti Malaya having served the University as an academic, researcher and administrator for more than 30 years. Her research explored the application of molecular tools to facilitate solutions for agriculture particularly of tropical crops. Concurrently she has a keen interest in policies, ethics and socioeconomics of science and technology. She was a two-term member of the National Biosafety Council and is currently a member of the National Bioethics council. She is a fellow and council member of the Academy of Sciences Malaysia and is the chairman of MRANTI Corporation, a National Technology Commercialization Accelerator and Technology Park initiative reflecting her experience in this area. This included secondments as Undersecretary of the National Biotechnology Division at the Ministry of Science Technology and Innovation and appointments as Director of the University's tech transfer office (UMCIC). She is also currently chairman of Life Science Venture firm Xeraya Capital and founder of Leaf Edge Technologies, an innovation platform focusing on promoting uptake of advances in plant science R&D.
Ms Mazlina Banu Jaikubali, Genetic Modification Advisory Committee (GMAC) Secretariat, Singapore
Ms Mazlina Banu Jaikubali serves as a Secretariat for the Genetic Modification Advisory Committee (GMAC) in Singapore. In this role, she provides essential support to the national advisory committee tasked with overseeing and offering scientifically rigorous advice on the research, development, production, release, use, and handling of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) within Singapore. As part of GMAC's Subcommittee for Public Awareness, Ms Mazlina plays a key role in organizing outreach activities aimed at enhancing public awareness and understanding of GMOs. She is also part of the A*STAR Institutional Review Board (IRB) Secretariat, operating under the Research Office of A*STAR. This position involves contributing to the ethical review processes of research initiatives, ensuring they meet the standards and regulations set by A*STAR and authorities.
ORGANIZER
CO-ORGANIZERS
CONTACT
If you have any inquiries, please do not hesitate to contact the following:
For Malaysia:
Dr. Rogayah Sekeli and/or Dr. Zulkifli Ahmad Seman
Malaysian Agricultural Research and Development Institute (MARDI)
Email: lynn@mardi.gov.my ; szula@mardi.gov.my
For Singapore:
ILSI Southeast Asia Region
Singapore
Tel: 65 6352 5220
Email: event@ilsisea.org.sg
[post_title] => Seminar on Precision Agriculture and Gene Editing Technology for Sustainable Food Production – Science and Communication
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