FAO Global Agrifood Biotechnologies Conference
Biotechnologies for a Sustainable Future: Driving Agrifood Systems Transformation
Programme
16 - 18 june 2025, FAO, Rome
Innovation Pathways for development and localization of biotechnologies
The session will explore possible innovation pathways for development and localization of biotechnologies. The session will highlight some practical examples of from the United States and China on product development, localization and commercialization, and safe and appropriate use of technologies to help meet agricultural challenges and consumer needs. Some insights on opportunities and challenges of delivering biotechnological solutions to smallholder farmers will be discussed. Role of agricultural education, extension and effectiveness of behavioural insights on product development and localization will be discussed from farmers’ perspectives. Examples will be drawn from crops and fisheries and aquaculture. The session will highlight the opportunities for interdisciplinary research and transferring the biotech products from research to application by farmers and other small-scale producers.
- Safe and appropriate use of biotechnologies to help meet agricultural challenges and consumer needs: USDA’s pathways to promote shared responsibility
Mr Spiro Stefanou, Acting Deputy Under Secretary, USDA Research, Education and Economics, Office of the Chief Scientist (OCS), United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Washington, D.C, USA. - Biotechnology product development, localization and commercialization: CAAS’s pathways towards agricultural biotechnology development in China
Mr Chuanxiao Xie, Professor and Principal Investigator, Institute of Crop Sciences (ICS), Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS), Beijing, China - Role of Agricultural education and extension to promote development and localization of biotechnologies: Pathways for promoting biotechnologies in South Africa
Ms Lerato Bame Tsalaemang Matsaunyane, Research Team Manager: Farmer Support, Commercialisation and Enterprise Development, Agricultural Research Council – Vegetable, Industrial and Medicinal Plants (VIMP), Pretoria, South Africa (On-line) - Insights on biotechnological innovation pathways for development and localization: Farmers’ perspectives
Mr Adriel Dave Alvarez, Farmer, Member of Global Farmer Network, Philippines - Genetics and Biodiversity: Sustainable aquaculture and aquatic resource management, policy development and inter-governmental cooperation in Asia-Pacific region
Mr Eduardo Leaño, Director General, Network of Aquaculture Centres in Asia-Pacific (NACA), Bangkok, Thailand - Delivering biotechnological solutions to smallholder farmers: Opportunities and Challenges
Mr Al Gallegos, Chief Operating Officer, Gates Agricultural Innovations (Gates Ag One), St. Louis, MO, USA - Accelerating genetic progress for reduced methane emission in ruminants
Ms Birgit Gredler-Grandl Senior Researcher Wageningen University & Research, Netherlands - Gender analysis and empowerment in development and localization of biotehnologies
Ms Alessandra Galiè, Team leader: Gender, and Principal Scientist, People, Policies and Institutions Program, International Livestock Research Institute, Nairobi, Kenya.