Institute Symposia and Events

Audios and powerpoints of the 2012 BIGMAP Symposium "Agricultural Biotechnology Regulation, Trade & Co-existence" held Wednesday, April 18, 2012, at the Gateway Hotel and Conference Center in Ames, Iowa are now available at:

http://www.extension.iastate.edu/broadcasts/bigmap/2012

Over 110 ag industry leaders, scientists, and experts from around the world attended the Ninth BIGMAP Symposium April 18, 2012, at the Gateway Hotel in Ames, Iowa.The 1 day event, titled "Agricultural Biotechnology Regulation, Trade, and Co-existence" focused on current research and perspectives on the role of regulation in biotechnology and genetically modified agricultural production.

Featured speakers at this year's event included:

—Mukta D. Tomar, Consul General of India;
—Catherine Woteki; Undersecretary for Research Education & Economics, USDA;
—Greg Jaffe, Center for Science in the Public Interest;
—Alison Van Eenennaam, University of California-Davis;
—Thomas P. Redick, Global Environmental Ethics Counsel;
—Jack Bobo, Department of State;
—Sano Shimoda, BioScience Securities, Inc.
—Nicholas Kalaitzandonakes, U of Missouri-Columbia;
—Adrianne Massey, BIO; and
—Wallace Huffman, Iowa State University.

Audio Powerpoints of the 2011 Eighth Annual BIGMAP Symposium

Over 110 ag industry leaders, scientists, and experts from around the world attended the Eighth BIGMAP Symposium April 19 & 20 at the Gateway Hotel in Ames, Iowa.The 1 1/2 day event, titled "Co-existence, Choice, and Sustainability for Crop Production" examined differing ag technologies and the importance for assuring choice in the types of crops and cropping systems that will support the expanding worlwide needs for food, feed, fiber, and fuel production.

Speakers included: Peter Jahr, Member of the European Parliament; Getachew Belay, Senior Biotechnology Policy Advisor, Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA); Maria Alejandra Sarquis, IICA Agricultural Representative for Chile and Executive Secretariat of CAS; Lois Wright Morton, Professor of Sociology, ISU; Chet Boruff, CEO, AOSCA; jim Bair, VIce President, North American Millers' Association; Lowell Rheinheimer, Farm Resources Manager,Organic Valley/CROPP Cooperative; Lynn Clarkson, President, Clarkson Grain Company; Rikin Gandhi, Executive Officer, Digital Green, India; Dennis Garrity, Director General, World Agroforestry Center (ICRAF); Rick Hellmich, Research Entomologist, USDA/ARS; Marty Matlock, Professor of Biological and Agricultural Engineering, U. of Arkansas, Dick Thompson, Boone County, Iowa, Producer; Kathleen Delate, Professor of Agronomy & Horticulture, ISU; and others.

Events—

ISU/IFPRI Enhancing Biosafety Systems in Africa and Asia

The Biosafety Institute for Genetically Modified Agricultural Products (BIGMAP) at Iowa State University recently signed an agreement with the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) to enhance biosafety systems in Africa and Asia as part of the Program for Biosafety Systems (PBS).
The three-year project, funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), was designed to benefit partner countries in Africa (Kenya, Malawi, Nigeria, Tanzania, and Uganda) and Asia (Vietnam and Indonesia) that are interested in using biotechnology to promote agricultural innovation. The goal of the project is to empower the countries by fostering science-based decision making at each stage of product development and use, while strengthening capacity for the implementation of biosafety regulatory systems.
"The PBS project works with small farmers in countries where science-based, functional biosafety systems are badly needed," said BIGMAP Scientist Adelaida Harries. "It is an innovative partnership designed to facilitate trade across borders, to build consumer confidence, to promote ag research, and to offer choices to farmers who currently don't have access to biotech crops."
In the ISU/IFPRI partnership, BIGMAP scientists will support policy and regulations development by employing process management principles. They will also provide training and assistance in risk assessment for animal biotechnology and food safety. Independent technical expertise, practical product-oriented approach methods, capacity building, policy analysis and research, and information sharing are a few of the resources the team will employ to accomplish program objectives. Read More.

Video Highlights Research in Plant Pathogens

A new video highlights Seed Science Endowed Chair Gary Munkvold's research on diseases that affect the production and utilization of seeds and the management of mycotoxigenic fungi in corn. View video. or View/download.

"And so like George Washington Carver, I had also ended up at Iowa State with an interest in plants. As an agronomy and seed science major, I felt I had found my niche here."

—Lisa Shepherd, acting director of the National Seed Health System