Role of APCoAB in Promoting Applications of Biotechnology and Capacity Development in Asia-Pacific

Rishi TyagiCoordinator

Asia-Pacific Consortium on Agricultural Biotechnology and Bioresources (APCoAB)Asia-Pacific Association of Agricultural Research Institutions (APAARI)

FAO Annex Building, Bangkok 10100, Thailand

Email: rishi.tyagi@apaari.orgSkype: rishi.tyagi4

Web: www.apcoab.org; www.apaari.org

Twitter: @rishityag

Established in 1990

Initiative of Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations, and most of the National Agricultural Research Institutions/Organizations (NARS) of the Asia-Pacific Region (APR)

APAARI, with its headquarters in Bangkok, is a unique voluntary, membership-based, inter-governmental, development mandated, apolitical and multi-stakeholder Asia-Pacific regional organization

APAARI

Priority Themes of APAARI

1. Mobilization, management and use of natural resources for sustainability of agri-food system (AFS)

2. Management of risks and uncertainties in the AFS

3. Inclusive development and integration of value chains targeted at benefiting smallholders

4. Analysis, strengthening and formulation of public policies and overarching regulatory frameworks to support the transformation and development of AFS

Programs and Strategies of APAARI (2017-2022)

1. Knowledge management

2. Partnership and networking

3. Capacity development

4. Policy advocacy

Membership category

Number Members

Regular (NARS) 21 National Agricultural Research System (NARS)

Associate 31International Agricultural Research Centers (IARC) and Agricultural Universities

Affiliate 15Agricultural Universities and Research Institutes beside NARS

Reciprocal 16 Other Regional and Global Fora

Total Members : 83 ; Countries: 33

APAARI Membership

• Thematic areas

• Natural resource management

• Risk mitigation

• Inclusive development

• Policy and advocacy

Members are

• Country Members (NARS)

• International Research Organizations

• Higher Education Sector

• Sub Regional Bodies

• Associations, Foundations, Trusts

APAARIStrengthening Agri-food research and innovations

for sustainable agricultural development in Asia and the Pacific

Australia

Iran

USA

Mexico India

Bangl.

Philippines

Chinese Taipei

Sri Lanka

Nepal Bhutan

Thailand

Fiji

PNG

Japan

Vietnam

Malaysia

Indonesia

Rep. of Korea

Syria

Italy

Dubai

Kenya

P eru

Jordan

Ghana

New Caledonia

Samoa

83 members from 33 countries

United Kingdom

Laos

Established in 1990FAO initiative

Legal Status being Revisited

Projects sponsors

FAO (Rome), FAO (RAP (Bangkok), WTO, ACIAR/IFPRI, USDA, COA

Regular Core Members

7ACIAR MoA, Fiji

DOA

AREEO

BARCJIRCASRDANARC

ICAR

MARDI IAC

PARC

PCAARRDBAR

NARI

MAF

CARP

MARD

COA

DoA

LAOS

APAARI Members - NARS

Associate Members (CG/AIRCA/HE)

BI

JAU, CAU, IAUA, KU, ICRISAT, SHIAT, AAU, UUHF, TNAU, PJTSAU, DBSKKV

CFF, WorldFish

ICARDA ICBA ICIMOD

ILRI, ICRAF

IFPRI

CIMMYT

CIP

IRRI

IWMIPNG

UniTech

SAC

AVRDC

CABI

CIFOR

Status of Projects

Status/Project

Title & Donor Beneficiary Thematic Area*

Ongoing

Revised COA – APAARI Collaborative Project for APCoAB activities

All membersNRM (Biotechnology and bioresources) and related KM and PA

Project on Agriculture Science Technology Indicator (IFPRI-ACIAR)

South East Asia and Pacific

PA and KM

Sectoral Review of Agriculture and Rural Statistics in Asia and the Pacific (FAO-RAP)

Asia Pacific PA and KM

Testing of guidelines for assessing agricultural innovation system in Thailand (FAO-Rome)

Thailand KM across thematic areas

Recently completed

Capacity Development for Agricultural Innovation Systems (TAP, FAO-Rome)

All members KM across thematic areas

Asia Pesticide risk mitigation for promotion of biopesticides for facilitation of trade – project preparation grant (STDF/WTO)- Rutgers University, USA and USDA as collaborative partners

South and South East Asia

RM and related KM and PA

Status of Projects

Status/Project

Title & Donor Beneficiary Thematic

Area*

Concept note

approved

Agroecology and Safe food System Transitions (ASSET) in Southeast Asia (CIRAD-EU-AFD)APAARI component is on innovation capacity building

South East Asia KM, RM

APAARI as a partner in a new FAO project (post-CDAIS) funded by the EU

All members KM across themes

Submitted

Strengthening Knowledge and Capacity for Agricultural Innovation Systems in the Asia-Pacific to the International Cooperation and Development Fund (ICDF).

All members across Asia Pacific

NRM, RM, ID, PA, KM

Mapping and Assessing ASEAN Higher Agriculture Education, Research and Extension (HAERE) To Achieve SDGs in Southeast Asia (ASEAN/UNESCO)

South East Asia KM

Agriculture Science Technology Indicator (IFPRI-ACIAR)South East Asia and Pacific

PA and KM

Transformation of Agricultural Education (with GCHERA)South East Asia KM

Asia Pesticide risk mitigation for promotion of biopesticides for facilitation of trade – project preparation grant (STDF/WTO) – Full project proposal.

South and South East Asia

RM and related KM and PA

Making Education Work for Agriculture Graduates (NUFFIC, Netherlands) – ICRA, Netherlands as partner

Bangladesh and Nepal

KM

Status of Projects

Status/Project

Title & Donor Beneficiary Thematic Area*

Secured (not started)

Knowledge Consortia partner in Mega Seed Park of Andhra Pradesh, India (Iowa State University, USA/AP Government))

India, Private sector KM across ID

IR4-ASEAN pesticide residue detection under Support for activities for Minor Use Foundation (USDA)

Malaysia, Vietnam, Indonesia and Thailand

RM

Secured and Started

Testing of the guidelines for assessing agricultural innovation system in Thailand (FAO-Rome)

Thailand KM

Center of Excellence in Value Chain (NCHU, APAARI)

All members, Private sector

ID, KM

Smart Food Initiative (ICRISAT) Asia Pacific KM

Staff Status

Staff Designation

Dr Ravi Khetarpal Executive Secretary

Dr Rishi Tyagi APCoAB Coordinator

Dr Norah Omot ASTI Coordinator

Martina Spisiakova KM Coordinator

Celilu Bitong KM Officer

Vishwanath K Sah Senior Admin Associate

Thansita Tanaphatrujira Accounts and Operations Associate

Manish Rai Finance Coordinator

Nguyen Thi Pham Research Assistant

Tarathip Sanbroonkong Project/Admin Assistant

Chieh-Cheng, Lin Technical Associate

Clara Strach APAARI Intern

Asia-Pacific Consortium on Agricultural Biotechnology and Bioresources (APCoAB)

Capacity Building

- Conduct training programs/

awareness campaign on biosafety, bioethics & related issues access and related to IPRs, patenting and benefit sharing, bioresources

-public awareness

Knowledge Resources and Dissemination

- At all levels based on scientificassessment and validation

- Providing basic information and

links with other websites

Policy

- Advocacy relating to testing release and biosafety issues of GMOs & other biotech products

-Exchange of material and technology

-Conservation and sustainable use of

bioresources

Research &Development

- Service oriented facilitation role

- Research prioritization involving all stakeholders

- Promotion of Ag-biotechnologies, sustainable use of bioresources

Why We Need New Technology?

Global Population - 20 top populated countries

Source : http://www.worldometers.info/world-population/#top20

1 billion in 1804

7.6 billion in 2018

9.8 billion in 2050

9 out of the top 20 countries are from Asia!4 out of the top 20 countries are from ASEAN region!

Population and GDP of SAARC countries

Source : World Population Review

Rank Country PopulationGDP

(Millions USD)

GDP

Per capita (USD)

SAARC 1,803,133,714 3,467,225 1923

1 Afghanistan 38,041,754 19,630 528

2 Bangladesh 163,046,161 288,424 1788

3 Bhutan 763,092 2582 3423

4 India 1,366,417,754 2,718,732 2010

5 Maldives 530,953 5328 10,332

6 Nepal 28,608,710 29,040 1034

7 Pakistan 216,565,318 314,5588 1565

8 Sri Lanka 21,323,733 88,901 4102

Population and GDP of ASEAN countries

Source : IMF (2018)

Rank Country PopulationGDP

(Millions USD)

GDP

Per capita (USD)

ASEAN 649,633,510 2,891,020 4444

1 Indonesia 264,162,000 1,005,268 3788

2 Thailand 67,793,0002 490,120 7084

3 Malaysia 32,385,000 347,290 10703

4 Singapore 5,639,0001 346,621 61230

5 Philippines 106,651,922 331,678 3099

6 Vietnam 95,540,3955 241,434 2552

7 Myanmar 53,708,395 71,543 1354

8 Cambodia 16,249,798 24,141 1485

9 Laos 7,062,000 18,230 2690

10 Brunei 442,000 14,695 33,824

Challenges in Agriculture

• Climate change challenges

• Water shortage and salinity

• Restricted arable land

• Grow more food with less resources, including energy

• New biotic stresses

Biotechnology and its Application to Overcome

Above Bottlenecks

Biotechnological Applications

Genomics

Genetic engineering

Increasing complexity

Traditional biotechnology

Contemporary biotechnology

Ris

ing c

ost

New food and industrial items

Bioinformatics

R-DNA technology

Cell culture

Monoclonal/polyclonal antibodies

Embryo transfer

Plant tissue culture

Microbial fermentation

Gene editing or NPBT

Detection and diagnostic kits

New plant varieties

Range of Agricultural Biotechnologies

GM crops, microbes and

animals

Potential Applications of AB in the Asia-Pacific Region

Source: RIS study

Low Tech – biofertilizers and biopesticides in crops, artificial insemination in livestock, polyploidy in farmed fish, probiotics in livestock or fish feed.

Medium Tech - PCR-based disease diagnostic tools, DNA marker-assisted selection, embryo transfer in livestock, plant tissue culture.

High Tech – GM crops, Gene editing techniques, genome sequencing, genetic engineering, cloning of livestock.

Country GDP Value (billion USD)

Total Investment in Agricultural

Research (million USD)

Total Investment in Agricultural Biotechnology Research (million USD)

% of agricultural research Investment towards biotechnology

China 530.532 141.57 24.57 17.36

India 2,260 1000 150.00 15.00

Vietnam 220 62 6.00 9.68

Malaysia 77.07 38.5 0.84 2.18

Thailand 445.4 56.34 0.91 1.61

Philippines 303.97 332.84 4.77 1.43

Papua New Guinea 19.2 12.2 0.06 0.49

Investment in Agricultural Biotechnology in Some AP Countries

Socio-economic Benefits of Biotech Crops

Country (years)

Benefit up to 2016 (USD, billion)

Benefit (USD b) in 2016 (area, mha)

No. of farm families benefitted

USA (21) 80.3 7.3 (72.9) 420,000

Canada (21) 8.04 3.8 (11.1) -

India (13) 21.1 1.5 (10.8) 7,500,000

China (19) 19.64 0.99 (2.8) 7,000,000

Mexico (20) 0.553 0.062 (0.1) 8,000

Australia (21) 1.16 0.073 (0.9) -

Philippines (14) 0.724 0.082 (0.8) 406,000

Vietnam (2) 0.0545 0.05 (>0.1) 37,500

Source: Brookes and Barfoot, 2018

Biotech Crops vis-a-vis SDGs

Alleviating Poverty and Hunger SDG # 1, 2, 5

Environment Protection SDG # 3,6,11

Conservation of Biodiversity SDG# 2,14,15

Food, Feed and FibreSecurity

SDG # 1,2,3,12

Mitigate Climate Change SDG # 6, 13

Capacity in Agricultural Biotechnology

Application of Agri-biotechnology in Some Asia-Pacific Countries

Based on study presented by Amgalan, FAO (2017)

Category Crop Livestock Forestry Fisheries/Aquaculture

Low to medium use

Brunei Darussalam Papua New Guinea,

Philippines,

Indonesia, Singapore

Brunei Darussalam,

Papua New Guinea,

Philippines, Singapore,

Viet Nam

Brunei Darussalam,

Papua New Guinea,

Indonesia,

Philippines,

Singapore, Thailand

High use Indonesia, Malaysia,

Philippines, Thailand,

Viet Nam

Malaysia, New

Zealand, Thailand,

Viet Nam

Australia, India,

Indonesia, Republic of

Korea, Malaysia, New

Zealand, Thailand

Malaysia, New

Zealand, Viet Nam

Very high use

Australia, Canada,

China, Chinese Taipei,

India, Japan, Republic

of Korea, Mexico,

New Zealand,

Singapore, USA

Australia, Canada,

China, Chinese Taipei

India, Japan, Republic

of Korea, Mexico,

New Zealand, USA

China, Japan, USA Australia, China,

India, Japan, Republic

of Korea

Main Gaps for Application of Agri-biotechnologies

• Uneven adoption of technologies across countries and across sectors

• Partial adoption of the potential low to medium tech biotechnologies

• Lack of adoption medium- and high-level technologies due to lack of extension

• Lack of collaborations/partnerships and issues in technology absorption

Capacity Status in Agri-biotechnology in Some Asia-Pacific Countries

Category Crop Livestock Forestry Fisheries/Aquaculture

Low to medium use

Brunei Darussalam,

Indonesia

Brunei Darussalam,

Philippines,

Indonesia, Singapore,

Thailand

Brunei Darussalam,

Papua New Guinea

Philippines,

Singapore, Viet

Nam

Brunei Darussalam,

Papua New Guinea

Indonesia,

Philippines, Thailand

High use Indonesia,

Malaysia,

Philippines,

Thailand, Viet Nam

Malaysia, New

Zealand, Viet Nam

Indonesia, Republic

of Korea, Malaysia,

New Zealand,

Thailand

Malaysia, New

Zealand, Viet Nam

Very high use Australia, Canada,

China, India, Japan,

Republic of Korea,

New Zealand,

Singapore

Australia, Canada,

China, India, Japan,

Republic of Korea,

New Zealand

Australia, Canada,

China, Chinese

Taipei, India, Japan,

New Zealand

Australia, Canada,

China, Chinese Taipei,

India, Japan, New

Zealand

Based on study presented by Amgalan, FAO (2017)

Major Gaps in State of Capacities for Development and Application of Agri-biotechnologies

• Lack of institutional capacity and human resources, both in the public sector and the private sector

• Inadequate/limited international collaborative programmes

• Lack of investment in public sector to develop the capacity

• Policy intervention to develop capacity in private sector

Level of Enabling Environment for Development and Application of Agricultural Biotechnologies in Some Asia-Pacific Countries

Category Crop Livestock Forestry Fisheries/Aquculture

Low to medium use

Brunei Darussalam,

Indonesia

Brunei Darussalam,

Papua New Guinea,

Indonesia,

Philippines,

Singapore, Thailand

Brunei Darussalam,

Papua New Guinea,

Philippines,

Singapore, Viet Nam

Brunei Darussalam,

Papua New Guinea,

Indonesia, Malaysia,

Philippines,

Singapore, Thailand

High use Indonesia,

Malaysia,

Philippines,

Thailand, Viet Nam

Malaysia, New

Zealand, Viet Nam

China, Chinese

Taipei, India,

Indonesia, Republic

of Korea, Malaysia,

New Zealand,

Thailand

New Zealand, Viet

Nam

Very high use Australia, Canada,

China, India, Japan,

Republic of Korea,

New Zealand,

Singapore

Australia, Canada,

China, India, Japan,

Republic of Korea

Australia, Canada,

Japan

Australia, Canada,

China, Chinese Taipei,

India, Japan, Republic

of Korea

Based on study presented by Amgalan, FAO (2017)

Major Gaps in Enabling Environment for Development and Application of Agri-biotechnologies

• Lack of policy measures to promote biotechnology in different sectors

• Lack of sector-specific strategies

• Inadequate human resources and other core capacities

• Reliance on collaborations to compensate for lack of internal capacities

Challenges for Enabling Environment for Biotech Crops

• Regulation and Commercialization• Scientifically-informed regulation• Coordinated field testing• Delivery• Availability

• Communication• Raise awareness about food security• Marketing

• Capacity building• Training scientists/regulators• Incentives to relocate trained scientists• Establishing facilities

Why Harmonization of Regulatory Process?

Albert Einstein is widely credited with saying, “The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and

over again, but expecting different results.”

Regulatory Harmonization – A Win-Win Situation

• Governments and Regulators• Unnecessary burden of resources• Risk data generation• Rationalization of resource allocation• Faster adoption of technology• Trust building

• Developers• Reduction in product cost• Timeline of product availability• Collaboration/partnership• Resource saving

• Public and Consumers• Faster access to technology• Low production cost, high yield, higher returns• Low technology cost, low and stable food price• Environment protection• Fast response to production threats Adopted from Rautaki Solutions

Role of APCoAB in Promoting Agricultural Biotechnology in APR

Stakeholders for Capacity Development

• Senior government officials• Regulators• Enforcement officials • Scientists/technical personnel (public and private sector)• Legal experts and Economists• Information managers• Graduate and undergraduate students• Consumer groups, farmer associations, professional

associations, NGOs• Mass media and outreach/extension workers• General public (youth and women) and political

leadership

2008-10 2011-13 2014-16 2017-19 Total

Expert Consultation/ High Level Policy Dialogues

3 6 3 4 16

Workshop 1 - 2 4 7

Symposium - 3 1 4 8

Training 7 2 4 2 15

Publications 6 9 3 13 31

Total 17 20 13 27 77

No. of Activities organized by APCoAB

Date: November 13-15, 2017

Location: Bangkok, Thailand

Organizers: APAARI/APCoAB, COA, WorldVeg, CFF, ICRISAT, ICARDA, Bioveristy International, DOA Thailand

Attendance: 54 participants, 18 countries

Purpose: - To create awareness on the role and value of underutilized crops - To share experiences to accelerate the use of underutilized plants as crops for future- To assess R&D status on priority crops and policies needed to promote the use of

these potential crops in Asia - Pacific.

Regional Expert Consultation on Underutilized Crops for Food and Nutrition Security in Asia and the Pacific

Regional Expert Consultation on

Agricultural Biotechnology

Scoping Partnership to Improve Livelihoods of Farmers in Asia-Pacific

May 29-31, 201864 participants, 21 countries

Organization of Third International Symposium on Plant cryopreservation (CryoSymp 2018)

Date: March 26-28, 2018

Location: Bangkok, Thailand

Organizers: APAARI/APCoAB, Mahidol University, ISHS, TISTR, DOA Thailand

Attendance: 110 participants, from 25 countries

International Seminar on Conservation and Prospecting of Bioresources in the Asia-Pacific Region

Date: December 18-21, 2018

Location: Taipei, Taiwan

Organizers: COA, Academia Sinica, APAARI, APCoAB, NTU

Attendance: 134 participants, 11 countries Women participants: 38%

Purpose: To facilitate closer communication between academic and industrial researchers for promoting research and development of policy, regulation, prospecting, application and conservation of bioresources in Asia-Pacific Region

13th International Conference on Development of Drylands Satellite Symposium on Dryland Agrobiodiversity for Adaptation to Climate Change

Date: February 11-14, 2019

Location: Jodhpur, India

Organizers: ISPGR, UNEP, APAARI/APCoAB, BI

Attendance: 379 participants, 37 countries132 participants in satellite symposium

Purpose: To deliberate about the role of agrobiodiversity in dryland development and adaptation to climate change.

Proceedings are under preparation.

Regional Workshop on Underutilized Animal Genetic Resources and their Amelioration

Date: March 4-6, 2019

Location: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Organizers: APAARI/APCoAB, COA,MARDI, DVS, Wild Life Attendance: 63 participants, 14 countries; Women Participants: 23%

Purpose: - to assess the current status of underutilized AnGR at sub-regional level - to identify the knowledge gaps and way forward in defining regional priorities - to create awareness on the role and value- to formulate strategies to strengthen the institutional, legal and policy framework for

sustainable utilization

Regional Workshop on Underutilized Fish and Marine Genetic Resources and their Amelioration

Date: July 10-12, 2019

Location: Colombo, Sri Lanka

Organizers: APAARI/APCoAB, COA, SLCARP, NARA

Attendance: 94 participants, 12 countries

Women participants: 30%

Purpose: To (i) assess the current status of underutilized FMGR at regional level and to assess R&D status of priority species, (ii) discuss the knowledge gaps and way forward in defining regional priorities, (iii) formulate strategies for strengthening the institutional framework for FMGR management, and legal and policy framework

Regional Expert Consultation on Gene editing and its Regulation

Date: October 10-11, 2019

Location: ICRISAT, India

Organizers: APAARI/APCoAB, ICRISAT, GLDC, FSII, COA

Attendance: 125 participants9 countriesWomen participants: 26%

Purpose: To (1) Review the status of regulatory policies around gene editing across the globe particularly in countries of Asia-Pacific region; (2) Provide a platform to promote adoption of science-based predictable policies for regulating gene edited crops and breeds; (3) Provide a platform to discuss the impact of regulatory hurdles, delays and associated high cost on technology adoption; and (4) Discuss on communication strategies, enabling policies for plant and animal breeding innovations.

International Hands-on Training on Genome Editing Technologies

Date: October 14-29, 2019

Location: ICRISAT, India

Organizers: APAARI/APCoAB, ICRISAT, BioNCube, GLDC

Attendance: 22 participants, 11 countries

Women participants: 36%

Purpose: To develop the capacity in gene editing technologies thru’ a comprehensive 2-week schedule of training comprising theory and practical sessions. Five theory lectures were given by the experts on various aspects of gene editing. The trainees were exposed to laboratory practical on various aspects of gene editing.

Promoting Agricultural Biotechnology (Knowledge Management, Communication, Policy Advocacy, General Awareness)

Key Messages• Agricultural biotechnology offers opportunities for

transformational change

• Need to create capacities for using the application of biotechnologies

• Enhanced investment in agri-biotechnology

• Enabling environment for biotech crops (e.g. NPBTs)

• Partnerships between research institutions, private sector, government policy makers and communities

• Knowledge platform for sharing information

• Agri-biotech is not panacea but research needs to link into partnerships that makes the socio-economic impacts on livelihoods of smallholder farmers

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Thank you for your kind attention!