With an aim to raise awareness of agri-biotechnology among the nutrition and medical communities, Farming Future Bangladesh (FFB) organized a training on the applications of agri-biotechnology in ensuring nutrition and food security on Sept 22, 2019.
The training, “Knowledge Sharing and Capacity Building on Applications of Agri-biotechnology for Nutrition and Food Security”, was hosted in collaboration with the Bangladesh Institute of Research and Training on Applied Nutrition (BIRTAN) at the head office of BIRTAN in the capital. Attendees included, among others, nutrition experts of BIRTAN, representatives of the medical community, and prominent scientists and officials working in the agriculture sector.
Over the past few decades, agricultural biotechnology has helped improve food quality, quantity and production costs. Biotechnology contributes to both environmental and economic sustainability. Social acceptance is a crucial factor when it comes to successfully implement the applications of agri-biotechnology, and the nutrition and medical community can make big contributions to achieving that acceptance.
Emphasizing the importance of genetically modified (GM) crops in boosting the nutritional content of the staple foods, Zharna Begum, Additional Secretary & Executive Director, BIRTAN said, “We need more efforts like this to make people aware of the scopes and benefits of agricultural biotechnology. GM crops can make a significant impact on meeting nutritional needs of the mass people.”
“We should invest more resources in knowledge sharing and capacity building programmes engaging the key stakeholders to improve our agriculture sector,” Said Dr. Md. Abdur Rouf, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture .
“We are committed to sharing evidence-based information about the social, economic and environmental benefits of using agricultural biotechnology by engaging the key influencer groups such as nutrition and medical communities. We hope to raise awareness among people about the benefits of breeding improved crops, especially those that can boost the nutritional content of staple foods such as rice enriched with vitamins and minerals,” said Md. Arif Hossain, CEO and Executive Director of Farming Future Bangladesh.
Future Bangladesh (FFB) is a comprehensive communications initiative funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to help improve awareness about modern agricultural innovations, including crop biotechnology, in Bangladesh. Based in Dhaka, the initiative operates under the auspices of Cornell University’s Alliance for Science, USA.