USDA Conducts Workshop on Risk Assessment for Virus Resistant Crops

September 23, 2008

The Office of the Foreign Agriculture Service of the Department of Agriculture at the U.S. Embassy in Belgrade, in cooperation with the National Biosafety Committee of Serbia, will co-host a training workshop entitled, "Enhancing Risk Assessment Capacity for Virus Resistant Crops," to be held in Divcibare, September 24-26. Dr. Hector Quemada of Western Michigan University and Dr. Ralph Scorza of USDA's Agricultural Research Service will conduct the training.

The workshop will include presentations on the policy and regulatory frameworks governing the use agricultural biotechnology in Serbia. The objective of the activity is to establish an efficient biosafety risk assessment system that is consistent with science-based international standards and promotes well-managed biotechnology research. The program is part of an ongoing program to support the National Biosafety Committee

USDA and Western Michigan University have collaborated with Serbia since 2004 to develop its capacities to accept, manage and regulate agricultural biotechnology. Through seminars and field visits, participants have learned to critically examine technical and economic aspects of biotechnology policies and pursue strategies to optimize/streamline their implementation. Specifically, this program emphasizes cooperation with Serbia’s National Biosafety Committee to systematically assess risks associated with agricultural biotechnology.

The training will take place September 24-26, beginning at 9 a.m., at the Divcibare Hotel, Divcibare. It will be followed by one day of meetings with the National Biosafety Committee to discuss outcomes from the Biosafety Committee’s visit to the U.S. in February 2008 and to develop an action plan.

For more information contact Mr. Darko Lojen, Agricultural Assistant in the Agricultural Affairs Office at the American Embassy in Belgrade, at 011 306 4754.