Organizers:

This international technical conference on Agricultural Biotechnologies in Developing Countries (ABDC-10) is co-organized by FAO and the Government of Mexico, which has also kindly offered to host the conference in Guadalajara, and co-sponsored by the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD). The Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR), the World Bank and the International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB) are major partners in this initiative.

Funding:

So far, funds for the conference have been provided by a number of different sources, namely:

- The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) contributed US dollars (USD) 200 000 to sponsor five sector-specific roundtables at the conference on the presentation and subsequent discussion of case studies of successful applications of non-GMO biotechnologies in developing countries, as well as to formulate a technical document on biotechnology policy options.

- FAO contributed USD 220 000 from its regular programme, primarily towards the conference secretariat, preparation of the sector-specific documents, management of the pre-conference electronic Forum and partial funding of the first meeting of the Steering Committee held in July 2008.

- USD 300 000 came from extra-budgetary funding of FAO member nations towards covering aspects to enable informed decision-making for strengthening capacities in the use of biotechnologies for conservation and sustainable use of plant genetic resources for food and agriculture in developing countries, in the context of the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture.

- The US mission to the UN Agencies in Rome contributed USD 80 000 for partial funding of the first meeting of the Steering Committee in July 2008 plus an additional USD 40 000 to support the conference.

- The FAO Multidonor Partnership Programme (FMPP) contributed USD 50 000 towards aspects of the conference dealing with biosecurity and food safety in relation to biotechnology.

- The Iowa State University Biosafety Institute (BIGMAP) contributed USD 10 000 to the conference

These funds are still insufficient to cover the costs associated with the organization of ABDC-10. The Secretariat is therefore in contact with some other stakeholders to secure additional funding. At its first meeting, the conference Steering Committee agreed that acquiring financial support from several different sources was essential, as it would ensure that the conference was organized in an independent and transparent manner and that its outputs were credible, balanced and based on a wide consensus. Given the importance of the diversity of funding sources, all ranges of financial contributions are welcome. All the funding received will be described in this site as soon as it is officially communicated to FAO.