Posted by admin on September 17, 2009
Crop Protection, Agrochemical and Agri Biotechnology Experts as well as Agriculture Policymakers will convene at the AgriBiotech & Crop Protection Markets summit in Kuala Lumpur on 16-17 November 2009. Discussion will center on the latest innovations in AgriBiotech and Crop protection for ramping up agri-food production worldwide.
The AgriBiotech & Crop Protection Markets conference on 16-17 November 2009 in Kuala Lumpur showcases crop protection & AgriBiotech as essential tools for maximizing the potential yield of every available acre of cultivable land, while utilizing crop protection agrochemicals more effectively.
Conference panelist Dr. T. M. Manjunath, a former director of Monsanto India’s R&D Center said the challenge is “to produce more from less land, water and other resources”. He added, “Recent technological advances offer exciting opportunities to address some of these challenges.”
While the future of the global agriculture industry depends on farmers gaining access to these agri biotech, crop protection and agrochemical innovations, Intellectual Property (IP) protection remains a key challenge for widespread adoption. Dr Randy Hautea, Global Director of the ISAAA and a key panelist at the conference called on governments and regulators to address this challenge.
He commented, “Putting in place a policy environment and legal instruments will help boost research investments and technology transfer activities not only in the private sector but also from key public sector organizations.”
These views echo the central themes of the AgriBiotech & Crop Protection Markets summit in Kuala Lumpur where Dr. Manjunath, Dr. Hautea and representatives from Monsanto, Syngenta, Nestlé Ltd, SGS, Excel Crop Care Ltd, CropLife Asia, Cropnosis Ltd plus many more leading Life science, Agrochemical, Agribiotech, Biochemical, Bioenergy, Agriculture companies and others will be attending to share their experiences.
Discussions will center on crop protection (pesticide, herbicide, fungicide, weedicide, fertilizers), Genetically Modified crops, Rice Biotechnology, patent reform and IPR issues, agrochemical control methods, and standards for pesticide residues and food safety.
Those seeking more information on participation, media partnership, sponsorship and/or exhibiting at the AgriBiotech & Crop Protection Markets can visit site or contact Ms. Grace at +65 6346 9147.
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Leading Crop Protection, Agriculture, and Agri Biotechnology experts and policymakers will spotlight the role of technology in meeting the challenge of increasing demand for food, feed, fuel and fiber at the AgriBiotech & Crop Protection Markets summit in Kuala Lumpur on 16-17 November 2009.
The world’s demand for food, feed, fuel and fiber continues to grow. Increasing populations, evolving diets, and most recently, soaring demand for biofuel production, have posed challenges to increase crop yields. The 2008 World Development Report cited a more “dynamic and inclusive agriculture industry” as one of the factors that could help in meeting the Millennium Development Goal on poverty and hunger.
The global agriculture industry today is indeed more “dynamic and inclusive”, turning to innovations in crop protection & agri-biotechnology to maximize the potential yield of every available acre. According to Dr. T. M. Manjunath, the former director of Monsanto’s R&D Center in India, “The challenge before the agricultural scientists today is to ‘produce more from less’ i.e., more nutritious food from less land, water and other resources, and more importantly, to protect what we produce.”He added, “These can be accomplished only through new technologies as the existing technologies do not seem to be adequate. Recent advances made in biotechnology offer exciting opportunities to address some of these challenges.”
Today, the crop-protection industry provides insecticides, herbicides, and fungicides to help growers attain maximum crop yield while minimizing the threat of insects, weeds, and diseases. These agro chemical products are used in integrated crop management programs, which specifically target the pest, weed and disease.
Conversely, the adoption of new technologies including biotech or Genetically Modified Crops (GM crops) are viable options to a farmer’s crop-management arsenal.
Plants enhanced through biotechnology deliver a range of benefits to farmers and society through increased yields, simplified crop management, higher farm incomes, and the adoption of farming practices that reduce agriculture’s impact on the environment. According to data published by the International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-biotech Applications (ISAAA), in 2008, 25 countries, including China, were planting biotech crops in over 800 millionth hectares of farmland worldwide.
Commenting on the rise of Biotechnology crops and its impact on the crop protection industry, Dr. Manjunath raised some very valid points on limitations of Biotech crops, by drawing a reference to the cotton crop. He said, “A crop like cotton is attacked by a variety of pests like bollworms and sucking pests as also diseases. Biotech-cotton, being lepidopteron specific, can control only the bollworms, but not sucking pests, other non-lepidopteron pests and diseases. Therefore, to get the full benefit of Biotech-technology, we should be watchful and adopt other suitable methods to tackle these problems.” Discussing the need to integrate Biotech Crops with Crop protection, he added, “The ideal approach would be ‘Integrated Pest Management’ (IPM) with Biotech-cotton as the major thrust. The same is true with other crops also.”
Dr. Manjunath rightfully observed that, “BT (biotech) technology should not be treated as a silver bullet – it is not possible to answer all the problems with any single technology. We should try to integrate and take full advantage of several technologies. Science should not discriminate between one technology and the other as long as it is safe and beneficial.”
In short, the future of the global agriculture industry lies in integrating innovations in the agri biotechnology and crop protection sectors. And this is the central theme of the inaugural AgriBiotech & Crop Protection Markets Summit in Kuala Lumpur on 16-17 November 2009. The conference will not only explore key growth drivers and challenges in the agri-biotechnology and crop-protection industries but also focuses on new regulatory framework to support biotech crop applications and sustainable agriculture.
Sessions on the agenda include a comprehensive overview of the seed market, insights on the evolving role and latest developments in crop biotech, GM crops, patent reform and IPR issues, consumer acceptance of GM products (food producer perspectives) and latest standards for pesticide residues and food safety.
Dr. Manjunath will address the conference on the Potential versus performance of Biopesticides, and outline strategies for future growth in the sector. He will be joined by a panel of experts from Monsanto, Syngenta, Nestlé Ltd, SGS, Excel Crop Care Ltd, CropLife Asia, Cropnosis Ltd, ISAAA, Center for Chinese Agricultural Policy and Society for Promotion & Innovation of Biopesticides plus many more…
Those seeking more information on participation, media partnership, sponsorship and/or exhibiting at the Agri Biotech & Crop Protection Markets can email Ms. Grace Oh at grace@cmtsp.com.sg or call +65 6346 9147
