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Biotech
Colloquium brings together diverse stakeholders
The International Biotechnology Colloquium—Bridging
the Technology Divide: Agri-science alliances and the
new architecture of innovation —held 17–20 March
at ICRISAT’s Patancheru headquarters created a unique
platform that brought together biotech stakeholders from
all over the world.
Joining ICRISAT in organizing the seminal meeting were
CIAT, ILRI and ISNAR, as well as the CGIAR Central Advisory
Service for Intellectual Property.
The Governor of Andhra Pradesh state, His Excellency Surjit
Singh Barnala, inaugurated the Colloquium on 18 March.
Mr. Barnala stressed the need for public policy interventions
to ensure that poor communities in the developing countries
benefit from biotechnology. Though India has skilled human
resources and research infrastructure greater connectivity
is needed between those with scientific knowledge and
those who will productively use it.
As ICRISAT’s Director General William Dar noted in
his inaugural address, “It is very rare that international
and national research institutions, advanced laboratories,
the private sector, civil society and farmer’s organizations
come together to discuss ways to use cutting-edge technology
for removing poverty.”
CGIAR centers use biotechnological tools to improve agricultural
productivity and reduce poverty. To improve their effectiveness
they are building partnerships with the private sector,
civil society and farmers. The Colloquium analyzed multisector
partnership projects in the Americas, Europe, Africa and
Asia, and discussed critical challenges and opportunities
for building future partnerships.
ICRISAT’s partnerships with the private sector have
resulted in the setting up of the Technology Innovation
Center. Two components of this initiative are the Agri-business
Incubator and the Agri-biotech Park—both of which
will be part of the State Government’s Genome Valley
project.
The colloquium was a step forward in the CGIAR’s
consultative process involving dialogue with multiple
stakeholders on biotechnology. The outcomes of the dialogue
initiated at Patancheru will guide the process of building
a new architecture of innovation for impact on poverty
alleviation.
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