Organizers:

The FAO international technical conference on Agricultural Biotechnologies in Developing Countries (ABDC-10) is hosted by the Government of Mexico and co-sponsored by the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD). The Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR), the Global Forum on Agricultural Research (GFAR), the International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB) and the World Bank 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.

- The Global Forum on Agricultural Research (GFAR) contributed USD 30 000 for the travel of approximately 10 participants from Civil Society Organizations to attend ABDC-10.

- The Government of Mexico contributed one million pesos to cover organizational expenses related to the conference.

- The Joint FAO/IAEA Programme, in Vienna, Austria, contributed USD 35 000 to the conference. 

- The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) contributed USD 7 000 to the conference for the travel of delegates from developing countries.

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.