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BIOTEC stages a grand “ABIC 2009″, the first in Thailand, built on the theme of agricultural biotechnology for the environment and quality of life. Plenty of plant seed research will be on show, highlighting blast-resistant rice seed, flood-tolerant rice and plenty of agricultural innovations, with a special talk by an adviser to the Australian Prime Minister as a highlight of the conference.
The National Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (BIOTEC), National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA), held a press conference on hosting the international agricultural biotechnology conference ABIC 2009, under the theme Agricultural Biotechnology for a Clean Environment and a Better Life, chaired by Dr. Suchinda Chotipanich, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Science and Technology, on 17 September 2009 at the Ministry of Science and Technology.
Prof. Dr. Morakot Tanticharoen, Deputy Executive Director of NSTDA, said that Thailand was chosen by the ABIC Foundation of Canada to host ABIC 2009, held for the first time in Thailand, on 23–25 September 2009 at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Center, in cooperation with the Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB).
“ABIC 2009 will include an academic conference, research poster displays, and exhibitions on progress in agricultural biotechnology by Thai and international researchers, in both plants and animals. Of interest are breeding of rice, sweet corn, chili, pumpkin, cucumber, energy cane and animal-feed cane. In animals, the focus is on aquatic animal technology such as shrimp and fish, because today they can no longer be caught from nature in sufficient amounts,” Prof. Dr. Morakot told reporters and the science news team of ASTV Manager Online. As for BIOTEC's outstanding research works to be exhibited at this event, they include plant seed improvement, such as blast-resistant rice seed, whose technology has been transferred to some farmers to grow in Chaiyaphum, Nan and Sakon Nakhon, and flood-tolerant rice varietiesalready grown in Phichit, Phitsanulok and Uttaradit.
“The target audience is academics, farmers, students and the general public,and we hope that farmers from every region will take an interest in joining in large numbers, because they can learn about agriculture directly from academics, and quality seed suited to each growing area will also be sold and distributed for farmers to try planting. Farmers who attend can register their interest at the event, and the seed will be sent to them later,” said Prof. Dr. Morakot. More than 500 academics from 32 countries around the world have already registered, including the US, Canada, the UK, Israel, Japan, Taiwan, China, India, Vietnam, Malaysia and Indonesia, as well as Thailand, in the hope of exchanging knowledge and building collaboration between researchers and Thai and foreign private companies.
Academics, farmers and interested people can attend ABIC 2009 on 23–25 September 2009 at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Center. The exhibition is free to visit, but registration fees apply to the academic conference.
Source: ASTV Manager Online
