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2024
Seminar on Precision Agriculture and Gene Editing Technology for Sustainable Food Production – Science and Communication
18/09/2024 – 19/09/2024
Selangor, Malaysia, & Biopolis, Singapore
Science Symposium: ReThink Carbohydrates – Science, Health and Regulatory Development
24/04/2024
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
This 1-day IN-PERSON symposium will provide an opportunity to re-visit the role of carbohydrates in human nutrition and health, with the latest scientific and regulatory updates from experts, researchers and regional regulatory personnel. It will offer a multi-stakeholder platform to evaluate and discuss the scientific basis and approaches, to identify research gaps, recommend dietary guidance and in development of food regulations in health promotion and disease prevention efforts for the target SEA population.
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BACKGROUND
Technological change is occurring at an unprecedented rate in the global agri-food value chain. New biotechnologies are a major part of this transformational change, including precision agriculture technology and new plant breeding techniques such as gene editing for targeted modification of plant genomes. In combination with innovative practices for monitoring and managing food and agricultural systems, they are opening up new pathways to delivering sustainable food production systems of the future.
It is, thus, important that key stakeholders along the value chain and regulatory authorities share the latest scientific knowledge on the
safety assessment, updates on status and advancement as well as regulatory approach towards potential adoption of these technologies. There is also increasing recognition of needs to engage and educate the broader community and consumers through innovative communication tools to impart knowledge and mitigate any misperception of these technologies.
This seminar to be held back-to-back in Singapore and Malaysia aims to bring together key stakeholders to share scientific updates and facilitate stakeholders' engagement, addressing issues and perspectives on new biotechnologies, safety assessment, regulatory development and communication strategies.
PROGRAM
Malaysia, September 18, 2024
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Singapore, September 19, 2024
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Note: Topic and title of presentations are subject to change upon final confirmation with invited speakers.
Download Malaysia Program
Download Singapore Program
ABOUT THE SPEAKERS
Malaysia, September 18, 2024
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Dato' Dr Mohamad Zabawi bin Abdul Ghani, Director General, Malaysian Agricultural Research and Development Institute (MARDI), Malaysia
Dato' Dr. Mohamad Zabawi serves as the Director-General of MARDI and possesses expertise in soil science, particularly in soil conservation, agroecological zonation, climate change, green technology, and water stress physiology. He obtained his Ph.D. in Water Stress Physiology and an M.Sc. in Tropical Agriculture from The Reading University in 2006 and 1993, respectively. His B.Sc. in Agriculture Science, specializing in Soil Physics and Conservation, was earned from Universiti Putra Malaysia in 1988. Dato' Dr. Mohamad Zabawi is actively engaged in various climate change-related committees and has delivered technical papers on climate change, green technology, and biomass energy in local and international forums, while also contributing to environmental publications.
Mr Timothy Harrison, Regional Agricultural Counselor, USDA Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS)
TMr Timothy Harrison joined the U.S. Embassy in Kuala Lumpur in July 2021 as regional agricultural counselor for Malaysia, Singapore, and Brunei. In this role, he oversees the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) activities in the region, including crop reporting and forecasts, trade promotion, and bilateral cooperation on agriculture and food security. Previously, Mr Harrison was FAS's first head of post in Astana, Kazakhstan. He has also served as agricultural attaché in Mexico City and worked at USDA headquarters in Washington, D.C. Prior to joining USDA, Mr Harrison worked on agricultural trade policy issues and market development in the private sector. He holds a bachelor's degree in International Relations from the University of California, Davis, and a master's degree in International Trade and Investment Policy from George Washington University.
Mr Geoffry Smith, ILSI SEA Region
Mr. Geoffry Smith is President of ILSI Southeast Asia Region based in Singapore, and a Representative of the branch to the ILSI Global Assembly. He is also the Chairman of the Essential Micronutrients Foundation, a non-profit organization which addresses micronutrient deficiencies globally as a public health issue. In addition, he is Director of Nutrition Strategies International which deals with food and nutrition issues in developing countries. Mr. Smith serves as a member of the editorial board of the journal Food and Nutrition Bulletin. Prior to his current positions, Mr. Smith was the Global Director, Health Chelates for Akzo Nobel Functional Chemicals, and directed the global business for these compounds in food and nutrition as well as pharmaceutical applications. He was responsible for the global project within Akzo Nobel addressing iron deficiency anemia.
Prof Wayne Allen Parrott, Professor, University of Georgia, USA
Prof. Wayne Allen Parrott received a degree in agronomy from the University of Kentucky, and MS and PhD degrees in Plant Breeding and Plant Genetics from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He joined the faculty at the University of Georgia in 1988, where he is now a Distinguished Research Professor. Since arriving at Georgia, he has been conducting research on the development, use and safety of transgenic (i.e., GM) and edited crop plants, using grant monies from USDA-NIFA, NSF, DOE and the United Soybean Board. He has published a guide for environmental risk assessment of GMOs, along with ~ 120 journal articles in refereed publications and 15 book chapters. He has served terms on the editorial boards of Plant Cell Reports, Plant Cell Tissue and Organ Culture, and Crop Science. He has served as elected chair of the biotechnology section of the Crop Science Society of America and of the plant section of the Society for In Vitro Biology, and is a fellow of both societies, as well as of the AAAS. He served a term as a co-director for the NSF Plant Genome Research Program, and currently serves as the past-secretary and annual meeting program chair for the American Society of Plant Biologists. He is actively engaged in training graduate students and postdoctoral fellows, and teaches graduate-level courses in crop genetics. He formerly taught undergraduate courses in agroecology and sustainable agriculture. He has traveled extensively throughout Latin America and other countries, and advised legislators and regulators in the various countries on the requisites for a functional regulatory system that ensures the safety of GM products.
Mr Amin Asyraf Tamizi, Research Officer, Agri-Omics and Bioinformatics Programme, Biotechnology and Nanotechnology Research Centre, MARDI, Malaysia
Mr Amin Asyraf Tamizi is a Research Officer at the Biotechnology and Nanotechnology Research Centre, MARDI, where his current research focuses on CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing of local rice cultivars and the molecular systematics of Nepenthes carnivorous pitcher plants in Peninsular Malaysia.
Mr Amin graduated from Michigan State University, the United States, in 2013 with a Bachelor's degree in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology/Biotechnology. His core expertise lies in Genetic Engineering and Molecular Biology, and he has served MARDI for ten years (since 2014). During this time, he has been integral to the team that genetically engineered disease-resistant Arabidopsis, rice and papaya, and recently he developed a new CRISPR/Cas9 delivery system for local rice. Additionally, Mr Amin has applied his expertise in molecular systematics to identify and publish several new species of Nepenthes pitcher plants that he and his team discovered in remote mountains. His research findings have been published in nearly 20 journal papers covering the fields of genomics, genetic engineering, gene editing, and molecular taxonomy.
Dr Kumitaa Theva Das, Senior Lecturer, Institute for Research in Molecular Medicine, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Penang, Malaysia
Dr. Kumitaa Theva Das completed her BSc in the US and did her PhD in one of the pioneer labs of genome editing in the US. With more than fifteen years of experience in genome editing, she focuses on developing CRISPR as a therapeutic tool against infectious diseases.
Her national and international funded CRISPR projects have been published in high-impact journals including Nature Medicine and Nature's Scientific Reports, and garnered her numerous awards, including one which led to her attachment at the University of Oxford.
Dr. Kumitaa Theva Das is a co-chair for one of the sub-groups of Malaysia's Genetic Modification Advisory Committee and is part of the ad hoc technical expert group on genome editing under the United Nations Environment Program. She also works with international bodies to improve policies to make genome editing as a gene therapy accessible to low- and middle-income countries.
Dr. Kumitaa Theva Das frequently shares her expertise in genome editing through public speaking engagements, including TEDx talks and appearances in mass media.
Dr Tan Yong Quan, Covering Specialist Team Lead, Bioengineering, National Centre for Food Science, Singapore Food Agency, Singapore
Dr. Tan Yong Quan is the Covering Specialist Team Lead of the Bioengineering Team at the National Centre for Food Science under the Singapore Food Agency (SFA). He is leading risk assessment and regulatory work related to foods enabled by modern biotechnology at the SFA. He graduated with a Ph.D. in Biochemistry from the National University of Singapore.
Dr Gabriel Romero, Executive Director, Philippines Seed Industry Association (PSIA), Philippines
Dr. Gabriel Romero is the Executive Director of The Philippine Seed Industry Association (PSIA), and Country Head Philippines of North Hill Group. Prior to that, he was the Senior Regulatory & Scientific Affairs Lead of Monsanto Philippines for 10 years. He also served as Genebank Manager, Director of Crop Biotechnology Center and Acting Deputy Executive Director for Research at the Philippine Rice Research Institute. He holds a Ph.D. in Genetics from University of California, Davis, USA, and a Master of Philosophy in Plant Breeding from the University of Cambridge, UK, and a BS in Biology from the University of the Philippines at Los Baños. Among his awards are The Outstanding Young Men (TOYM), Outstanding Young Scientist from the National Academy of Science and Technology, and Faces of Biotechnology from the Department of Agriculture.
Dr Mahaletchumy Arujanan, Executive Director, Malaysian Biotechnology Information Center (MABIC), Malaysia
Dr Mahaletchumy Arujanan is the Global Coordinator of the BioTrust-ISAAA and the Executive Director of Malaysian Biotechnology Information Centre (MABIC). She has a PhD in science communication and Master of Biotechnology from University of Malaya, and a degree in Microbiology from Universiti Putra Malaysia. She is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of The Petri Dish - the first science newspaper in Malaysia and also co-founded Science Media Centre Malaysia. She started the Asian Short Course on Agribiotechnology, Biosafety Regulations and Communications (ASCA) and developed the 1st science communication training programme for scientists in Malaysia. Maha also initiated the Science Communication Advisory Board under COMSTECH (Pakistan) to promote science communication in OIC Member States. She is an Adjunct Lecturer at Monash University Malaysia and AIMST University; sits on Industry Advisory Panel for seven universities; and served as a Biosafety Outreach specialist for UN FAO, Sri Lanka. Maha is listed as the world's 100 most influential people in biotechnology by Scientific American Worldview 2015. She is also listed in the honorific list of Women in Biotechnology Law and Regulation, Biotechnology Law Report (USA) 2015. Maha won the 2010 Third World Academy of Science Regional Prize for Public Understanding of Science for East, Southeast Asia and Pacific Region. She is a board member of the Malaysia Board of Technologists (MBOT) and is also on the advisory board for Mustafa Science and Technology Foundation (Iran), Alliance for Science (USA); and Farming Future Bangladesh; and Genetic Literacy Project (USA). Maha is also on the editorial board of the European Federation of Bioeconomy Journal. She is also on the Selangor Bio Advisory Council to provide advice on bioeconomy development in the state. She has published chapters, papers and articles on science/biotech communication, bioeconomy and biotechnology development.
Prof Dr Rofina Yasmin Othman, Honorary Professor, Institute for Advanced Studies, Universiti Malaya, Malaysia
Dr. Yasmin, is an Honorary Professor at the Institute of Advanced Studies, Universiti Malaya having served the University as an academic, researcher and administrator for more than 30 years. Her research explored the application of molecular tools to facilitate solutions for agriculture particularly of tropical crops. Concurrently she has a keen interest in policies, ethics and socioeconomics of science and technology. She was a two-term member of the National Biosafety Council and is currently a member of the National Bioethics council. She is a fellow and council member of the Academy of Sciences Malaysia and is the chairman of MRANTI Corporation, a National Technology Commercialization Accelerator and Technology Park initiative reflecting her experience in this area. This included secondments as Undersecretary of the National Biotechnology Division at the Ministry of Science Technology and Innovation and appointments as Director of the University's tech transfer office (UMCIC). She is also currently chairman of Life Science Venture firm Xeraya Capital and founder of Leaf Edge Technologies, an innovation platform focusing on promoting uptake of advances in plant science R&D.
Ms Li Xin Kang, Genetic Modification Advisory Committee (GMAC) Secretariat, Singapore
Ms Kang Li Xin serves as the Secretariat for Genetic Modification Advisory Committee (GMAC) Singapore, which is a national advisory committee tasked with overseeing and offering scientifically rigorous advice on the research, development, production, release, use, and handling of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) within Singapore. Through supporting the Subcommittee of Public Awareness in GMAC, she organises outreach activities aimed to enhance the public's awareness and understanding of GM technology. Ms Li Xin is also part of the Research Office in Agency for Science, Technology and Research in Singapore (A*STAR) where she contributes to the governance of research in A*STAR, in compliant with the Human Biomedical Research Act (HBRA).
Singapore, September 19, 2024
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Mr Timothy Harrison, Regional Agricultural Counselor, USDA Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS)
Mr Timothy Harrison joined the U.S. Embassy in Kuala Lumpur in July 2021 as regional agricultural counselor for Malaysia, Singapore, and Brunei. In this role, he oversees the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) activities in the region, including crop reporting and forecasts, trade promotion, and bilateral cooperation on agriculture and food security. Previously, Mr Harrison was FAS's first head of post in Astana, Kazakhstan. He has also served as agricultural attaché in Mexico City and worked at USDA headquarters in Washington, D.C. Prior to joining USDA, Mr Harrison worked on agricultural trade policy issues and market development in the private sector. He holds a bachelor's degree in International Relations from the University of California, Davis, and a master's degree in International Trade and Investment Policy from George Washington University.
Mr Geoffry Smith, ILSI SEA Region
Mr. Geoffry Smith is President of ILSI Southeast Asia Region based in Singapore, and a Representative of the branch to the ILSI Global Assembly. He is also the Chairman of the Essential Micronutrients Foundation, a non-profit organization which addresses micronutrient deficiencies globally as a public health issue. In addition, he is Director of Nutrition Strategies International which deals with food and nutrition issues in developing countries. Mr. Smith serves as a member of the editorial board of the journal Food and Nutrition Bulletin. Prior to his current positions, Mr. Smith was the Global Director, Health Chelates for Akzo Nobel Functional Chemicals, and directed the global business for these compounds in food and nutrition as well as pharmaceutical applications. He was responsible for the global project within Akzo Nobel addressing iron deficiency anemia.
Prof Paul Teng, Dean and Managing Director, National Institute of Education International (NIEI), Nanyang Technology University, Singapore
Prof. Paul Teng is Dean and Managing Director of NIE International Pte. Ltd., a subsidiary of Nanyang Technological University (NTU). He is also an Adjunct Senior Fellow, Centre for Non-Traditional Security Studies, S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies, NTU Singapore; Senior Fellow, Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA), Philippines and Associate Senior Fellow, Institute of Southeast Asian Studies (ISEAS) Singapore. He is internationally recognized for his expertise in food security, commercialization and biosafety of crop biotechnology, agrotechnology innovations/ systems agriculture, bio-entrepreneurship, and sustainable development. He has over thirty years of experience in agri-food issues from positions in international organizations (the International Rice Research Institute, WorldFish Centre), U.S. universities (University of Minnesota, University of Hawaii) and the private sector. Prof. Teng currently is science adviser to two venture funds and several startups in the agtech and biotech space in the U.K. and Singapore.
Prof. Teng has won numerous awards for his work such as the Eriksson Prize in Plant Pathology (Royal Swedish Academy of Science), an Honorary Doctor of Science (from Murdoch University, Australia) and is a Fellow of the American Phytopathological Society, the International Society of Plant Pathology, and The World Academy of Sciences (TWAS). He is a Past-Chair, Genetic Modification Advisory Committee, Singapore and is also Immediate Past Chairman, International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-biotech Applications (ISAAA) Inc. He has edited/co-edited fifteen books, authored/co-authored four books and published over 250 technical papers. His latest edited book (2024) is "Food Security Issues in Asia".
Prof Wayne Allen Parrott, Professor, University of Georgia, USA
Prof. Wayne Allen Parrott received a degree in agronomy from the University of Kentucky, and MS and PhD degrees in Plant Breeding and Plant Genetics from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He joined the faculty at the University of Georgia in 1988, where he is now a Distinguished Research Professor. Since arriving at Georgia, he has been conducting research on the development, use and safety of transgenic (i.e., GM) and edited crop plants, using grant monies from USDA-NIFA, NSF, DOE and the United Soybean Board. He has published a guide for environmental risk assessment of GMOs, along with ~ 120 journal articles in refereed publications and 15 book chapters. He has served terms on the editorial boards of Plant Cell Reports, Plant Cell Tissue and Organ Culture, and Crop Science. He has served as elected chair of the biotechnology section of the Crop Science Society of America and of the plant section of the Society for In Vitro Biology, and is a fellow of both societies, as well as of the AAAS. He served a term as a co-director for the NSF Plant Genome Research Program, and currently serves as the past-secretary and annual meeting program chair for the American Society of Plant Biologists. He is actively engaged in training graduate students and postdoctoral fellows, and teaches graduate-level courses in crop genetics. He formerly taught undergraduate courses in agroecology and sustainable agriculture. He has traveled extensively throughout Latin America and other countries, and advised legislators and regulators in the various countries on the requisites for a functional regulatory system that ensures the safety of GM products.
Assoc Prof Tan Meng How, Associate Professor, Nanyang Technological University (NTU) & Genetic Modification Advisory Committee (GMAC), Singapore
Assoc Prof Meng How Tan is a tenured associate professor in the School of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology (CCEB) at Nanyang Technological University (NTU). He received his bachelor's degrees in mechanical engineering and economics from University of California Berkeley, his master's degrees in aeronautics and biomedical engineering from California Institute of Technology and NTU respectively, and his PhD in developmental biology from Stanford University. After postdoctoral training in Stanford, he returned to Singapore to set up his independent laboratory, focusing on the basic biology and translational applications of DNA and RNA editing. To date, he has published corresponding authored papers in top academic journals, including Nature, Nature Methods, Nature Chemical Biology, and Nature Communications. He received the Outstanding Young Principal Investigator Award from AIChE-SLS in 2019 and was named an EMBO Global Investigator in 2020.
Dr Tan Yong Quan, Covering Specialist Team Lead, Bioengineering, National Centre for Food Science, Singapore Food Agency, Singapore
Dr. Tan Yong Quan is the Covering Specialist Team Lead of the Bioengineering Team at the National Centre for Food Science under the Singapore Food Agency (SFA). He is leading risk assessment and regulatory work related to foods enabled by modern biotechnology at the SFA. He graduated with a Ph.D. in Biochemistry from the National University of Singapore.
Dr Gabriel Romero, Executive Director, Philippines Seed Industry Association (PSIA), Philippines
Dr. Gabriel Romero is the Executive Director of The Philippine Seed Industry Association (PSIA), and Country Head Philippines of North Hill Group. Prior to that, he was the Senior Regulatory & Scientific Affairs Lead of Monsanto Philippines for 10 years. He also served as Genebank Manager, Director of Crop Biotechnology Center and Acting Deputy Executive Director for Research at the Philippine Rice Research Institute. He holds a Ph.D. in Genetics from University of California, Davis, USA, and a Master of Philosophy in Plant Breeding from the University of Cambridge, UK, and a BS in Biology from the University of the Philippines at Los Baños. Among his awards are The Outstanding Young Men (TOYM), Outstanding Young Scientist from the National Academy of Science and Technology, and Faces of Biotechnology from the Department of Agriculture.
Dr Mahaletchumy Arujanan, Executive Director, Malaysian Biotechnology Information Center (MABIC), Malaysia
Dr Mahaletchumy Arujanan is the Global Coordinator of the BioTrust-ISAAA and the Executive Director of Malaysian Biotechnology Information Centre (MABIC). She has a PhD in science communication and Master of Biotechnology from University of Malaya, and a degree in Microbiology from Universiti Putra Malaysia. She is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of The Petri Dish - the first science newspaper in Malaysia and also co-founded Science Media Centre Malaysia. She started the Asian Short Course on Agribiotechnology, Biosafety Regulations and Communications (ASCA) and developed the 1st science communication training programme for scientists in Malaysia. Maha also initiated the Science Communication Advisory Board under COMSTECH (Pakistan) to promote science communication in OIC Member States. She is an Adjunct Lecturer at Monash University Malaysia and AIMST University; sits on Industry Advisory Panel for seven universities; and served as a Biosafety Outreach specialist for UN FAO, Sri Lanka. Maha is listed as the world's 100 most influential people in biotechnology by Scientific American Worldview 2015. She is also listed in the honorific list of Women in Biotechnology Law and Regulation, Biotechnology Law Report (USA) 2015. Maha won the 2010 Third World Academy of Science Regional Prize for Public Understanding of Science for East, Southeast Asia and Pacific Region. She is a board member of the Malaysia Board of Technologists (MBOT) and is also on the advisory board for Mustafa Science and Technology Foundation (Iran), Alliance for Science (USA); and Farming Future Bangladesh; and Genetic Literacy Project (USA). Maha is also on the editorial board of the European Federation of Bioeconomy Journal. She is also on the Selangor Bio Advisory Council to provide advice on bioeconomy development in the state. She has published chapters, papers and articles on science/biotech communication, bioeconomy and biotechnology development.
Dr Andrew D. Powell,CEO, Asia BioBusiness Pte. Ltd., Singapore
Dr Andrew Powell is the CEO of Asia BioBusiness Pte. Ltd. and also acts a Global Senior International Industry Advisor to Edinburgh Innovations, the commercialisation arm of Edinburgh University. He has worked as a consultant since 1995, primarily focusing on the agriculture and food sectors. Projects have included agri-food sector policy, food security, agtech and food tech, and management of open innovation systems. Clients come from both the private (MNCs and SMEs) and public sectors. Dr Powell is a highly effective resource mobiliser with a global network across all areas of life science but especially in food and agriculture. He has been active in Risk Communication for more than 20 years, conducting training and offering advice to both public and private sector clients.
Dr Powell is the driving force behind the Communications Leadership in Future Foods Program (CLIFF) that seeks to improve engagement with consumers by utilising risk communication strategies. He is also Chairman of the not-for-profit Agri-Biotech Knowledge Information Centre Ltd. in Singapore, and is a mentor for The Yield Lab Asia Pacific and Big Idea Ventures agri-foodtech accelerators in Singapore, as well as SVG Ventures | THRIVE in N. America.
Dr Powell graduated from the University of Edinburgh with honours in Biology and obtained his Ph.D. from the University of Calgary. He has held research and academic positions at the University of Guelph, the National Institute for Health Sciences in Tokyo, and Tsukuba, Japan and the National University of Singapore.
Prof Dr Rofina Yasmin Othman, Honorary Professor, Institute for Advanced Studies, Universiti Malaya, Malaysia
Dr. Yasmin, is an Honorary Professor at the Institute of Advanced Studies, Universiti Malaya having served the University as an academic, researcher and administrator for more than 30 years. Her research explored the application of molecular tools to facilitate solutions for agriculture particularly of tropical crops. Concurrently she has a keen interest in policies, ethics and socioeconomics of science and technology. She was a two-term member of the National Biosafety Council and is currently a member of the National Bioethics council. She is a fellow and council member of the Academy of Sciences Malaysia and is the chairman of MRANTI Corporation, a National Technology Commercialization Accelerator and Technology Park initiative reflecting her experience in this area. This included secondments as Undersecretary of the National Biotechnology Division at the Ministry of Science Technology and Innovation and appointments as Director of the University's tech transfer office (UMCIC). She is also currently chairman of Life Science Venture firm Xeraya Capital and founder of Leaf Edge Technologies, an innovation platform focusing on promoting uptake of advances in plant science R&D.
Ms Mazlina Banu Jaikubali, Genetic Modification Advisory Committee (GMAC) Secretariat, Singapore
Ms Mazlina Banu Jaikubali serves as a Secretariat for the Genetic Modification Advisory Committee (GMAC) in Singapore. In this role, she provides essential support to the national advisory committee tasked with overseeing and offering scientifically rigorous advice on the research, development, production, release, use, and handling of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) within Singapore. As part of GMAC's Subcommittee for Public Awareness, Ms Mazlina plays a key role in organizing outreach activities aimed at enhancing public awareness and understanding of GMOs. She is also part of the A*STAR Institutional Review Board (IRB) Secretariat, operating under the Research Office of A*STAR. This position involves contributing to the ethical review processes of research initiatives, ensuring they meet the standards and regulations set by A*STAR and authorities.
ORGANIZER
CO-ORGANIZERS
CONTACT
If you have any inquiries, please do not hesitate to contact the following:
For Malaysia:
Dr. Rogayah Sekeli and/or Dr. Zulkifli Ahmad Seman
Malaysian Agricultural Research and Development Institute (MARDI)
Email: lynn@mardi.gov.my ; szula@mardi.gov.my
For Singapore:
ILSI Southeast Asia Region
Singapore
Tel: 65 6352 5220
Email: event@ilsisea.org.sg
[post_title] => Seminar on Precision Agriculture and Gene Editing Technology for Sustainable Food Production – Science and Communication
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Over the past two decades, advances in scientific research have led to increasing evidence of the beneficial role of complex carbohydrates, in providing important micronutrients, dietary fiber and phytochemical, as well as some with specific components that serve certain functional benefits. In line with these increasing scientific evidence of regulatory development having taken place, especially pertaining to health claims. There is on the other hand on-going scientific debates, popular trends and social media coverage that have centered on the types and amount of carbohydrates intake in relation to health conditions such as overweight, diabetes and hyperlipidemia, with resulting confusion for consumers and misperception of dietary carbohydrates.
The 1-day IN-PERSON symposium will revisit the role of carbohydrates in human nutrition, providing scientific and regulatory updates from experts, researchers, and regional regulatory personnel. It will discuss scientific approaches, identify research gaps, and recommend dietary guidance and food regulations for health promotion and disease prevention in the SEA population.
Click below to download the Summary Report:
Download Summary Report
PROGRAM AND SPEAKERS
Opening and Welcome Remarks
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Mrs. Boon Yee Yeong is the Executive Director of ILSI SEA Region, based in Singapore. ILSI SEA Region was established as a regional branch of the world-wide scientific-foundation ILSI in 1993, covering ASEAN and Australasia. Mrs. Yeong oversees the Branch's operation, scientific programs and partnership activities, working closely with stakeholders from private sectors, leading academic institutions, international organizations and key government and health agencies throughout the vast geographical region. ILSI SEA Region facilitates programs that address pertinent nutrition, food safety and sustainability topics as well as issues for the improvement scientific decision for public health benefits.
Mrs. Yeong obtained her BSc and Masters in Nutrition and Dietetics from Kings College (previously Queen Elizabeth College) University of London, and has over the past decades actively served to build scientific capacity and nutrition improvement for the target population in the region.
Dr. Mahenderan Appukutty is an Associate Professor of Sports Nutrition and Coordinator of the Sports and Wellness Clinic at the Faculty of Sports Science & Recreation, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Shah Alam, Malaysia. He has served as the Vice President (2020-2024) and Assistant Hon Secretary (2006-2020) of the Nutrition Society of Malaysia (NSM) before taking office as President in 2024. Dr. Appukutty also serves as Vice President of the Malaysian Association of Sports Medicine (MASM) and Council Member of the Malaysian Society of Body Composition (MSBC). He was elected to the Federation of Asian Nutrition Societies (FANS) as an Executive Council Member (2019-2023). In 2021, he was appointed Scientific Advisor of the ILSI SEA Region. He also serves on the Clinical Care Committee for the World Obesity Federation since 2013. Dr. Appukutty's research interests and focus are on functional food and exercise science. He was awarded as a Fellow of the Nutrition Society of Malaysia (FNSM) in 2016 and a Fellow of the Malaysian Association for the Study of Obesity (FMASO) in 2022. He chairs the Malaysian Vegetarian Dietary Guidelines (MoH) and contributed as a key writer for the Malaysian Dietary Guidelines. He has worked closely in the capacity building of nutritionists in the region (Southeast Asia Nutrition Leadership Program, SEAMEO-RECFON, Indonesia) and also served as Chairperson of the Malaysian Nutrition Leadership Programme (MyNLP) and South East Asia Public Health Nutrition Leadership Programme (SEAPHN LP).
Dr Appukutty holds a PhD in Nutritional Sciences focusing on nutrition, immunity, and exercise performance from Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, an MSc in Sports Science from Universiti Sains Malaysia, and a BSc (Hons) in Nutrition and Community Health from Universiti Putra Malaysia.
Ms. Ts. Zailina Abdul Majid, a Food Technologist since 2000 in Ministry of Health, by qualification, holds a Bachelor Degree in Industrial Technology (Food Technology), University of Science Malaysia (1995) and a Master of Science (Food Science), National University of Malaysia (2013).
At present, she is the Director for the Policy, Strategic Planning and Codex Standard Division, Food Safety and Quality Programme under the Ministry of Health Malaysia. Her main responsibilities are on formulating of national policies on food safety, promulgation of national legislation, overseeing the management of food analysis, risk assessment, and communication and consumerism activities. She is also responsible in managing international issues of Codex, WTO, SPS and TBT, regional issues pertaining to ASEAN, APEC, etc, including bilateral, multilateral agreements as well as FTAs. She also attends Codex, ASEAN and other international meetings to ensure Malaysia's positions are upheld.
She is also the Secretary for the Malaysian Food Analyst Council, Assistant to the Chair for Codex Committee of Fats and Oils and at the ASEAN level, and Vice Chair for the Task Force for ASEAN Food Safety Regulatory Framework Agreement (TF AFSRF).
Session 1: Carbohydrates and Its Role in Human Nutrition and Public Health Guidance
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Mr. Geoffry Smith is President of ILSI Southeast Asia Region based in Singapore, and a Representative of the branch to the ILSI Global Assembly. He is also the Chairman of the Essential Micronutrients Foundation, a non-profit organization which addresses micronutrient deficiencies globally as a public health issue. In addition, he is Director of Nutrition Strategies International which deals with food and nutrition issues in developing countries. Mr. Smith serves as a member of the editorial board of the journal Food and Nutrition Bulletin. Prior to his current positions, Mr. Smith was the Global Director, Health Chelates for Akzo Nobel Functional Chemicals, and directed the global business for these compounds in food and nutrition as well as pharmaceutical applications. He was responsible for the global project within Akzo Nobel addressing iron deficiency anemia.
Prof. Christiani Jeyakumar Henry is currently Senior Advisor, BMRC, A*STAR, Singapore. Until recently, he was Deputy Executive Director of the Singapore Institute of Food and Biotechnology Innovation (SIFBI) and the Director of the Clinical Nutrition Research Centre, A*STAR. He trained initially as a food scientist. He obtained his MSc and PhD in Nutrition from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. He was a Board member of UK Food Standards Agency. Prof. Henry is on the Board of Directors of International Life Sciences Institute South East Asia Region (ILSI SEA Region), and Advisory board of Monell Chemical Senses Centre, USA. In 2010, he was awarded the British Nutrition Foundation prize for his outstanding contribution to nutrition. He was made a Fellow of the International Academy of Food Scientists and Technologists (2012). Prof. Henry was recipient of the NutraIngredients-Asia NutraChampion Awards 2019, Institute of Food Technologists (IFT) - W.K. Kellogg International Food Security Award & Lectureship 2019, 100 Most Influential Asian Scientist - 2019 Edition, Asian Scientist Magazine, and the prestigious Niigata International Food Award 2018 known as "Asian World Food Prize". He was the scientific commentator on the highly successful TV program "Food Detective. He continues to be actively engaged in improving the food and nutritional status of people in the ASEAN region and beyond.
Prof. Joanne Slavin is a professor in the Department of Food Science and Nutrition at the University of Minnesota - Twin Cities, College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences, teaching Advanced Human Nutrition. She holds BS, MS, and PhD degrees from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and a Registered Dietitian (RDN). Notably, Prof. Slavin was a member of the 2010 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee (DGAC), contributing significantly to the national nutrition guidelines.
Prof. Slavin's extensive research contributions include over 350 scientific articles covering diverse topics such as dietary fiber, carbohydrates, whole grains, protein, snacking, gut health, brain health, and sustainable agriculture. In addition, she had delivered over 400 scientific presentations globally. Prof. Slavin also actively engages in science communication initiatives as a Science Communicator for the Institute of Food Technologists (IFT), while also holding membership in esteemed scientific societies such as the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (AND) and the American Society for Nutrition (ASN).
Dr. E Siong Tee is Nutrition Consultant for TES NutriHealth Strategic Consultanc, Malaysia. He is also Adjunct Professor for International Medical University and a Member of the Board of Directors of ILSI SEA Region and Scientific Coordinator of ILSI Malaysia Country Committee. Dr. Tee was Head of the Cardiovascular, Diabetes and Nutrition Research Centre of the Institute for Medical Research (IMR) in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, until his retirement in February 2002, after serving for 30 years. He is a member of several Technical Working Groups of the Ministry of Health Malaysia, including the committees related to Malaysian Food Regulations and Codex Alimentarius. He initiated the formation of the Southeast Asia Public Health Nutrition (SEA-PHN) Network in 2014 and is the current Chairman of the Network.
Session 2: Science of Carbohydrate Quality and Its Impact on Health
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Prof. Christiani Jeyakumar Henry is currently Senior Advisor, BMRC, A*STAR, Singapore. Until recently, he was Deputy Executive Director of the Singapore Institute of Food and Biotechnology Innovation (SIFBI) and the Director of the Clinical Nutrition Research Centre, A*STAR. He trained initially as a food scientist. He obtained his MSc and PhD in Nutrition from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. He was a Board member of UK Food Standards Agency. Prof. Henry is on the Board of Directors of International Life Sciences Institute South East Asia Region (ILSI SEA Region), and Advisory board of Monell Chemical Senses Centre, USA. In 2010, he was awarded the British Nutrition Foundation prize for his outstanding contribution to nutrition. He was made a Fellow of the International Academy of Food Scientists and Technologists (2012). Prof. Henry was recipient of the NutraIngredients-Asia NutraChampion Awards 2019, Institute of Food Technologists (IFT) - W.K. Kellogg International Food Security Award & Lectureship 2019, 100 Most Influential Asian Scientist - 2019 Edition, Asian Scientist Magazine, and the prestigious Niigata International Food Award 2018 known as "Asian World Food Prize". He was the scientific commentator on the highly successful TV program "Food Detective. He continues to be actively engaged in improving the food and nutritional status of people in the ASEAN region and beyond.
Dr. Amy Lin is a Senior Principal Scientist leading the Food Carbohydrate Platform at the Singapore Institute of Food and Biotechnology Innovation at A*STAR, a Singapore government research entity. Her general research area is carbohydrates and health and structure-function relationships of carbohydrates. Amy's particular interest is slowing the starch degradation process into glucose and controlling carbohydrate utilisation between digestion and colonic fermentation. She is an expert in starch degradation enzymes and starch molecular & granular structure, and she is experienced in potato and wheat quality. Dr. Lin is a former faculty member at Purdue University (USA), the University of Idaho (USA), and Washington State University (USA) and a visiting associate professor at the National Taiwan University (Taiwan). She formerly served as the Chair of the Carbohydrate Division at IFT and AACCI (renamed "Cereals & Grains Association); a Scientific Committee member for the past conferences of Food Hydrocolloids and IUFoST. Dr. Lin is also an Associate Editor of Cereal Chemistry and Bioactive Carbohydrates and Dietary Fibre and has a leading role in Starch Digestion Consortium Inc. (non-profit).
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Andrew Holmes has general interests in microbial diversity, its evolutionary origins and ecological applications. He did his PhD studies at the University of Queensland before postdoctoral stints at the University of Warwick, UK and Macquarie University. In 2002 he joined the University of Sydney where he is now Associate Professor in the School of Molecular Bioscience and Microbiome Project node leader in the Charles Perkins Centre. He has particular interests in the relationship between food and health. His research focusses on how diet manipulation via food components influences the host-microbiome interaction and potential for informing public health guidelines or diet interventions in chronic disease. He is currently a Fellow of Food Standards Australia New Zealand.
Dr. Koo Hui Chin is an associate professor at Tunku Abdul Rahman University of Management and Technology. She received her Ph.D. (Nutrition) from the Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia in 2017. She started her first career as a clinical dietician in the Ministry of Health from 2007 until 2013, prior to pursuing her PhD. She is one of the writers for the revision of "Strategy for the Prevention of Obesity-Malaysia", (SPOM), a national level guideline. Several awards have been received by her, such as the Outstanding Researcher Award from Tunku Abdul Rahman University of Management and Technology and the Publication Prize Award from the Nutrition Society of Malaysia. She has authored and co-authored a number of research papers related to whole grain, diabetes, childhood obesity and chrono-nutrition. Several research grants have been awarded by the Ministry of Higher Education and other institutions to conduct studies, particularly in whole grain, diabetes and chrono-nutrition. Dr. Koo was featured in leading local newspapers, sharing her knowledge of nutritional health too. She is quite skilled at altering healthy dishes and has a passion for nutrition.
Session 3: Science and Innovation Updates in Carbohydrates
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Asst. Prof. Anadi Nitithamyong spent her academic career at the Institute of Nutrition, Mahidol University (INMU), Thailand where she served as the Deputy Director for Education and Special Affairs from 2008 to 2011 and Deputy Director for Policy and Planning from 2015 to 2016. Her research interest and experience involve food processing and product development for nutritional and functional purposes, particularly in dietary fibre related areas. Currently, she is the Immediate Past President of the Food Science and Technology Association of Thailand (FoSTAT), and a member of the Nutrition Association of Thailand (NAT). She is also a member of the Panel of Science Advisors of ILSI SEA Region and is the Coordinator of its Thailand Country Committee. Dr. Nitithamyong received her PhD in Food Science from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, USA.
Dr. Sophie Vinoy obtained her PhD from the French Paris University of life science in human physiology. She is the nutrition senior group leader in global research department of Mondelēz International. She is strongly involved in the European International Life Science Institute at the cross section of academic and industrial scientific partnership. Her primary interest is the impact of food on postprandial metabolism linked to metabolic disease prevention involving food behaviour, low grade inflammation and microbiota modulation. Her main publications are on carbohydrate metabolism and investigated specifically health interest of starch digestibility, as well as satiety. She is co-author of several patents related to foods and health interest.
Dr. Santad Wichienchot is an Associate Professor, Director of Center of Excellence in Functional Foods and Gastronomy, and Vice Dean for Research Innovation and International Affairs, Faculty of Agro-Industry, Prince of Songkla University (PSU), Thailand. His research focuses on functional carbohydrates, prebiotics, functional food/ingredient for gut-brain health. He is research program administrator, principal investigator and co-investigator of 38 completed research projects in last 16 years. He holds 12 patents and research collaboration with 12 companies. He has published 48 articles in the last 5 years in peer-reviewed and internationally referred Food Science & Technology and Life Science Journals. He had been published 5 book chapters, 1) "Prebiotic oligosaccharides: origins and production, health benefits and commercial applications" in 2011; 2) "Prebiotics and dietary fibers from food processing by-products"; 3) "Sustainability of nutraceuticals and functional foods" had been published in John Wiley & Sons, Inc. in 2017.; 4) "Polyphenols from food processing by-products and their microbiota-gut-brain axis based health benefits", had been published in 2021 by Elsevier. 5) "Dietary fibers: Structural aspects and nutritional implications. In Food Hydrocolloids Functionalities and Applications" had been published in 2021, Springer Nature Inc. He is invited speaker and participate in international conferences. He is currently serving as reviewer in several International Journals in Food and Health Sciences. Dr.Santad Wichienchot received his PhD in Biotechnology with Food Science and Technology background. He had experience in research work on prebiotics and gut microbiota at University of Reading, UK during he was studying in PhD. and during postdoctoral study. He got a Best PSU Advisor in Science and Technology Award in 2020 and a Best PSU Researcher in Science and Technology and Health Science Award in 2022.
Dr. Sangeetha Shyam is currently a Maria Zambrano Fellow at the Rovira i Virgili University, IISPV & CIBEROBN, Spain. She is a Working Group Member of the Federation of European Nutrition Societies, that develops guidelines to improve reporting standards in nutrition trials internationally. Dr. Shyam is an esteemed alumna of the Interstellar Initiative by the New York Academy of Sciences and the Japanese Agency for Medical Research & Development, which recognizes promising early-career researchers. Prior to her fellowship, she served as a Senior Lecturer at the International Medical University, Malaysia, from 2013 until 2022. Her scholarly achievements include 40 peer-reviewed publications, 3 invited editorials, 4 book chapters, and 1 international technical report.
Some of Dr. Shyam's research work includes a year-long dietary trial targeting metabolic risks in Malaysian women with prior Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM), which includes programming a Malaysian Diet Database Calculator and a project exploring the association between nutrition transitions and obesity using nationwide datasets. Her international postdoctoral research work in the UK, Spain and Singapore focused on obesity, dietary patterns, pancreatic cancer and glycemic index values of non-Western foods.
Dr. Shyam actively participates in research dissemination and capacity building. She is an Associate Editor for the Malaysian Journal of Nutrition and has organized conferences, chaired sessions, presented internationally, and delivered public talks for the Ministry of Health, Malaysia & Nutrition Society of Malaysia. She was recently elected as a Fellow of the Nutrition Society of Malaysia for recognition of her contributions towards nutrition in the country.
Dr. Stephan Theis is Head of Nutrition Science and Communication at BENEO-Institute. His responsibilities include the scientific research activities on the nutritional and health benefits of Beneo's functional carbohydrate ingredients worldwide. Stephan joined the Suedzucker/Beneo Group in 2001. He graduated with a diploma in Nutrition Science from the University of Giessen, Germany and obtained a PhD (Dr. rer. nat) from the Technical University of Munich. He is actively involved in international scientific committees and collaborative research projects including several Committees of the International Life Science Institute (ILSI).
Session 4: Regulatory Updates of Carbohydrates and Promotion Programme in Southeast Asia
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Dr. E Siong Tee is Nutrition Consultant for TES NutriHealth Strategic Consultanc, Malaysia. He is also Adjunct Professor for International Medical University and a Member of the Board of Directors of ILSI SEA Region and Scientific Coordinator of ILSI Malaysia Country Committee. Dr. Tee was Head of the Cardiovascular, Diabetes and Nutrition Research Centre of the Institute for Medical Research (IMR) in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, until his retirement in February 2002, after serving for 30 years. He is a member of several Technical Working Groups of the Ministry of Health Malaysia, including the committees related to Malaysian Food Regulations and Codex Alimentarius. He initiated the formation of the Southeast Asia Public Health Nutrition (SEA-PHN) Network in 2014 and is the current Chairman of the Network.
Ms. Ts. Zailina Abdul Majid, a Food Technologist since 2000 in Ministry of Health, by qualification, holds a Bachelor Degree in Industrial Technology (Food Technology), University of Science Malaysia (1995) and a Master of Science (Food Science), National University of Malaysia (2013).
At present, she is the Director for the Policy, Strategic Planning and Codex Standard Division, Food Safety and Quality Programme under the Ministry of Health Malaysia. Her main responsibilities are on formulating of national policies on food safety, promulgation of national legislation, overseeing the management of food analysis, risk assessment, and communication and consumerism activities. She is also responsible in managing international issues of Codex, WTO, SPS and TBT, regional issues pertaining to ASEAN, APEC, etc, including bilateral, multilateral agreements as well as FTAs. She also attends Codex, ASEAN and other international meetings to ensure Malaysia's positions are upheld.
She is also the Secretary for the Malaysian Food Analyst Council, Assistant to the Chair for Codex Committee of Fats and Oils and at the ASEAN level, and Vice Chair for the Task Force for ASEAN Food Safety Regulatory Framework Agreement (TF AFSRF).
Ms. Priscilla Li works within the Policy and Strategy Development team in HPB. She leads pieces relating to Nutri-Grade and sugar reduction, maternal and child health, as well as food labelling and claims.
She is an accredited practicing dietitian and a certified nutrition support specialist. She received the Ministry of Health - Healthcare Manpower Development Award and obtained fellowship at Cambridge University Hospital and St Georges' Hospital in the UK.
Dr. Roseline Yap started her career as an academic and scientist in the field of nutrition. Currently, she is the Managing Editor for Malaysian Journal of Nutrition. Roseline has been a Council Member of the Nutrition Society of Malaysia (NSM) since 2012 and currently is the Honorary Treasurer. Her passion is in the field of community nutrition therefore she is in the expert committee for several programmes such as Nutrition Month Malaysia, Positive Parenting including leading the nutrition promotion programme, NSM Roadshows 2.0.
Ms. Megawati Suzar, Fonterra Brands (M) Sdn. Bhd., Malaysia
Note: Topic and Title of presentations are subject to change upon final confirmation with invited speakers.
Download Program
VIRTUAL POSTERS
Virtual posters were submitted by academicians and researchers, students, healthcare professionals, government, policy and regulatory authority, and industry innovators, in line with the symposium's session themes.
Browse through and download their abstracts and e-posters below!
View Posters and Abstracts
ORGANIZER
CO-ORGANIZERS
CONTACT
If you have any inquiries, please do not hesitate to contact the following:
For Local Participants:
Dr. Tee E Siong
Malaysia
Email: estee@nutrihealth.com.my
For Overseas Participants:
ILSI Southeast Asia Region
Singapore
Tel: 65 6352 5220
Email: event@ilsisea.org.sg
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BACKGROUND
Technological change is occurring at an unprecedented rate in the global agri-food value chain. New biotechnologies are a major part of this transformational change, including precision agriculture technology and new plant breeding techniques such as gene editing for targeted modification of plant genomes. In combination with innovative practices for monitoring and managing food and agricultural systems, they are opening up new pathways to delivering sustainable food production systems of the future.
It is, thus, important that key stakeholders along the value chain and regulatory authorities share the latest scientific knowledge on the
safety assessment, updates on status and advancement as well as regulatory approach towards potential adoption of these technologies. There is also increasing recognition of needs to engage and educate the broader community and consumers through innovative communication tools to impart knowledge and mitigate any misperception of these technologies.
This seminar to be held back-to-back in Singapore and Malaysia aims to bring together key stakeholders to share scientific updates and facilitate stakeholders' engagement, addressing issues and perspectives on new biotechnologies, safety assessment, regulatory development and communication strategies.
PROGRAM
Malaysia, September 18, 2024
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Singapore, September 19, 2024
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Note: Topic and title of presentations are subject to change upon final confirmation with invited speakers.
Download Malaysia Program
Download Singapore Program
ABOUT THE SPEAKERS
Malaysia, September 18, 2024
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Dato' Dr Mohamad Zabawi bin Abdul Ghani, Director General, Malaysian Agricultural Research and Development Institute (MARDI), Malaysia
Dato' Dr. Mohamad Zabawi serves as the Director-General of MARDI and possesses expertise in soil science, particularly in soil conservation, agroecological zonation, climate change, green technology, and water stress physiology. He obtained his Ph.D. in Water Stress Physiology and an M.Sc. in Tropical Agriculture from The Reading University in 2006 and 1993, respectively. His B.Sc. in Agriculture Science, specializing in Soil Physics and Conservation, was earned from Universiti Putra Malaysia in 1988. Dato' Dr. Mohamad Zabawi is actively engaged in various climate change-related committees and has delivered technical papers on climate change, green technology, and biomass energy in local and international forums, while also contributing to environmental publications.
Mr Timothy Harrison, Regional Agricultural Counselor, USDA Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS)
TMr Timothy Harrison joined the U.S. Embassy in Kuala Lumpur in July 2021 as regional agricultural counselor for Malaysia, Singapore, and Brunei. In this role, he oversees the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) activities in the region, including crop reporting and forecasts, trade promotion, and bilateral cooperation on agriculture and food security. Previously, Mr Harrison was FAS's first head of post in Astana, Kazakhstan. He has also served as agricultural attaché in Mexico City and worked at USDA headquarters in Washington, D.C. Prior to joining USDA, Mr Harrison worked on agricultural trade policy issues and market development in the private sector. He holds a bachelor's degree in International Relations from the University of California, Davis, and a master's degree in International Trade and Investment Policy from George Washington University.
Mr Geoffry Smith, ILSI SEA Region
Mr. Geoffry Smith is President of ILSI Southeast Asia Region based in Singapore, and a Representative of the branch to the ILSI Global Assembly. He is also the Chairman of the Essential Micronutrients Foundation, a non-profit organization which addresses micronutrient deficiencies globally as a public health issue. In addition, he is Director of Nutrition Strategies International which deals with food and nutrition issues in developing countries. Mr. Smith serves as a member of the editorial board of the journal Food and Nutrition Bulletin. Prior to his current positions, Mr. Smith was the Global Director, Health Chelates for Akzo Nobel Functional Chemicals, and directed the global business for these compounds in food and nutrition as well as pharmaceutical applications. He was responsible for the global project within Akzo Nobel addressing iron deficiency anemia.
Prof Wayne Allen Parrott, Professor, University of Georgia, USA
Prof. Wayne Allen Parrott received a degree in agronomy from the University of Kentucky, and MS and PhD degrees in Plant Breeding and Plant Genetics from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He joined the faculty at the University of Georgia in 1988, where he is now a Distinguished Research Professor. Since arriving at Georgia, he has been conducting research on the development, use and safety of transgenic (i.e., GM) and edited crop plants, using grant monies from USDA-NIFA, NSF, DOE and the United Soybean Board. He has published a guide for environmental risk assessment of GMOs, along with ~ 120 journal articles in refereed publications and 15 book chapters. He has served terms on the editorial boards of Plant Cell Reports, Plant Cell Tissue and Organ Culture, and Crop Science. He has served as elected chair of the biotechnology section of the Crop Science Society of America and of the plant section of the Society for In Vitro Biology, and is a fellow of both societies, as well as of the AAAS. He served a term as a co-director for the NSF Plant Genome Research Program, and currently serves as the past-secretary and annual meeting program chair for the American Society of Plant Biologists. He is actively engaged in training graduate students and postdoctoral fellows, and teaches graduate-level courses in crop genetics. He formerly taught undergraduate courses in agroecology and sustainable agriculture. He has traveled extensively throughout Latin America and other countries, and advised legislators and regulators in the various countries on the requisites for a functional regulatory system that ensures the safety of GM products.
Mr Amin Asyraf Tamizi, Research Officer, Agri-Omics and Bioinformatics Programme, Biotechnology and Nanotechnology Research Centre, MARDI, Malaysia
Mr Amin Asyraf Tamizi is a Research Officer at the Biotechnology and Nanotechnology Research Centre, MARDI, where his current research focuses on CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing of local rice cultivars and the molecular systematics of Nepenthes carnivorous pitcher plants in Peninsular Malaysia.
Mr Amin graduated from Michigan State University, the United States, in 2013 with a Bachelor's degree in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology/Biotechnology. His core expertise lies in Genetic Engineering and Molecular Biology, and he has served MARDI for ten years (since 2014). During this time, he has been integral to the team that genetically engineered disease-resistant Arabidopsis, rice and papaya, and recently he developed a new CRISPR/Cas9 delivery system for local rice. Additionally, Mr Amin has applied his expertise in molecular systematics to identify and publish several new species of Nepenthes pitcher plants that he and his team discovered in remote mountains. His research findings have been published in nearly 20 journal papers covering the fields of genomics, genetic engineering, gene editing, and molecular taxonomy.
Dr Kumitaa Theva Das, Senior Lecturer, Institute for Research in Molecular Medicine, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Penang, Malaysia
Dr. Kumitaa Theva Das completed her BSc in the US and did her PhD in one of the pioneer labs of genome editing in the US. With more than fifteen years of experience in genome editing, she focuses on developing CRISPR as a therapeutic tool against infectious diseases.
Her national and international funded CRISPR projects have been published in high-impact journals including Nature Medicine and Nature's Scientific Reports, and garnered her numerous awards, including one which led to her attachment at the University of Oxford.
Dr. Kumitaa Theva Das is a co-chair for one of the sub-groups of Malaysia's Genetic Modification Advisory Committee and is part of the ad hoc technical expert group on genome editing under the United Nations Environment Program. She also works with international bodies to improve policies to make genome editing as a gene therapy accessible to low- and middle-income countries.
Dr. Kumitaa Theva Das frequently shares her expertise in genome editing through public speaking engagements, including TEDx talks and appearances in mass media.
Dr Tan Yong Quan, Covering Specialist Team Lead, Bioengineering, National Centre for Food Science, Singapore Food Agency, Singapore
Dr. Tan Yong Quan is the Covering Specialist Team Lead of the Bioengineering Team at the National Centre for Food Science under the Singapore Food Agency (SFA). He is leading risk assessment and regulatory work related to foods enabled by modern biotechnology at the SFA. He graduated with a Ph.D. in Biochemistry from the National University of Singapore.
Dr Gabriel Romero, Executive Director, Philippines Seed Industry Association (PSIA), Philippines
Dr. Gabriel Romero is the Executive Director of The Philippine Seed Industry Association (PSIA), and Country Head Philippines of North Hill Group. Prior to that, he was the Senior Regulatory & Scientific Affairs Lead of Monsanto Philippines for 10 years. He also served as Genebank Manager, Director of Crop Biotechnology Center and Acting Deputy Executive Director for Research at the Philippine Rice Research Institute. He holds a Ph.D. in Genetics from University of California, Davis, USA, and a Master of Philosophy in Plant Breeding from the University of Cambridge, UK, and a BS in Biology from the University of the Philippines at Los Baños. Among his awards are The Outstanding Young Men (TOYM), Outstanding Young Scientist from the National Academy of Science and Technology, and Faces of Biotechnology from the Department of Agriculture.
Dr Mahaletchumy Arujanan, Executive Director, Malaysian Biotechnology Information Center (MABIC), Malaysia
Dr Mahaletchumy Arujanan is the Global Coordinator of the BioTrust-ISAAA and the Executive Director of Malaysian Biotechnology Information Centre (MABIC). She has a PhD in science communication and Master of Biotechnology from University of Malaya, and a degree in Microbiology from Universiti Putra Malaysia. She is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of The Petri Dish - the first science newspaper in Malaysia and also co-founded Science Media Centre Malaysia. She started the Asian Short Course on Agribiotechnology, Biosafety Regulations and Communications (ASCA) and developed the 1st science communication training programme for scientists in Malaysia. Maha also initiated the Science Communication Advisory Board under COMSTECH (Pakistan) to promote science communication in OIC Member States. She is an Adjunct Lecturer at Monash University Malaysia and AIMST University; sits on Industry Advisory Panel for seven universities; and served as a Biosafety Outreach specialist for UN FAO, Sri Lanka. Maha is listed as the world's 100 most influential people in biotechnology by Scientific American Worldview 2015. She is also listed in the honorific list of Women in Biotechnology Law and Regulation, Biotechnology Law Report (USA) 2015. Maha won the 2010 Third World Academy of Science Regional Prize for Public Understanding of Science for East, Southeast Asia and Pacific Region. She is a board member of the Malaysia Board of Technologists (MBOT) and is also on the advisory board for Mustafa Science and Technology Foundation (Iran), Alliance for Science (USA); and Farming Future Bangladesh; and Genetic Literacy Project (USA). Maha is also on the editorial board of the European Federation of Bioeconomy Journal. She is also on the Selangor Bio Advisory Council to provide advice on bioeconomy development in the state. She has published chapters, papers and articles on science/biotech communication, bioeconomy and biotechnology development.
Prof Dr Rofina Yasmin Othman, Honorary Professor, Institute for Advanced Studies, Universiti Malaya, Malaysia
Dr. Yasmin, is an Honorary Professor at the Institute of Advanced Studies, Universiti Malaya having served the University as an academic, researcher and administrator for more than 30 years. Her research explored the application of molecular tools to facilitate solutions for agriculture particularly of tropical crops. Concurrently she has a keen interest in policies, ethics and socioeconomics of science and technology. She was a two-term member of the National Biosafety Council and is currently a member of the National Bioethics council. She is a fellow and council member of the Academy of Sciences Malaysia and is the chairman of MRANTI Corporation, a National Technology Commercialization Accelerator and Technology Park initiative reflecting her experience in this area. This included secondments as Undersecretary of the National Biotechnology Division at the Ministry of Science Technology and Innovation and appointments as Director of the University's tech transfer office (UMCIC). She is also currently chairman of Life Science Venture firm Xeraya Capital and founder of Leaf Edge Technologies, an innovation platform focusing on promoting uptake of advances in plant science R&D.
Ms Li Xin Kang, Genetic Modification Advisory Committee (GMAC) Secretariat, Singapore
Ms Kang Li Xin serves as the Secretariat for Genetic Modification Advisory Committee (GMAC) Singapore, which is a national advisory committee tasked with overseeing and offering scientifically rigorous advice on the research, development, production, release, use, and handling of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) within Singapore. Through supporting the Subcommittee of Public Awareness in GMAC, she organises outreach activities aimed to enhance the public's awareness and understanding of GM technology. Ms Li Xin is also part of the Research Office in Agency for Science, Technology and Research in Singapore (A*STAR) where she contributes to the governance of research in A*STAR, in compliant with the Human Biomedical Research Act (HBRA).
Singapore, September 19, 2024
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Mr Timothy Harrison, Regional Agricultural Counselor, USDA Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS)
Mr Timothy Harrison joined the U.S. Embassy in Kuala Lumpur in July 2021 as regional agricultural counselor for Malaysia, Singapore, and Brunei. In this role, he oversees the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) activities in the region, including crop reporting and forecasts, trade promotion, and bilateral cooperation on agriculture and food security. Previously, Mr Harrison was FAS's first head of post in Astana, Kazakhstan. He has also served as agricultural attaché in Mexico City and worked at USDA headquarters in Washington, D.C. Prior to joining USDA, Mr Harrison worked on agricultural trade policy issues and market development in the private sector. He holds a bachelor's degree in International Relations from the University of California, Davis, and a master's degree in International Trade and Investment Policy from George Washington University.
Mr Geoffry Smith, ILSI SEA Region
Mr. Geoffry Smith is President of ILSI Southeast Asia Region based in Singapore, and a Representative of the branch to the ILSI Global Assembly. He is also the Chairman of the Essential Micronutrients Foundation, a non-profit organization which addresses micronutrient deficiencies globally as a public health issue. In addition, he is Director of Nutrition Strategies International which deals with food and nutrition issues in developing countries. Mr. Smith serves as a member of the editorial board of the journal Food and Nutrition Bulletin. Prior to his current positions, Mr. Smith was the Global Director, Health Chelates for Akzo Nobel Functional Chemicals, and directed the global business for these compounds in food and nutrition as well as pharmaceutical applications. He was responsible for the global project within Akzo Nobel addressing iron deficiency anemia.
Prof Paul Teng, Dean and Managing Director, National Institute of Education International (NIEI), Nanyang Technology University, Singapore
Prof. Paul Teng is Dean and Managing Director of NIE International Pte. Ltd., a subsidiary of Nanyang Technological University (NTU). He is also an Adjunct Senior Fellow, Centre for Non-Traditional Security Studies, S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies, NTU Singapore; Senior Fellow, Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA), Philippines and Associate Senior Fellow, Institute of Southeast Asian Studies (ISEAS) Singapore. He is internationally recognized for his expertise in food security, commercialization and biosafety of crop biotechnology, agrotechnology innovations/ systems agriculture, bio-entrepreneurship, and sustainable development. He has over thirty years of experience in agri-food issues from positions in international organizations (the International Rice Research Institute, WorldFish Centre), U.S. universities (University of Minnesota, University of Hawaii) and the private sector. Prof. Teng currently is science adviser to two venture funds and several startups in the agtech and biotech space in the U.K. and Singapore.
Prof. Teng has won numerous awards for his work such as the Eriksson Prize in Plant Pathology (Royal Swedish Academy of Science), an Honorary Doctor of Science (from Murdoch University, Australia) and is a Fellow of the American Phytopathological Society, the International Society of Plant Pathology, and The World Academy of Sciences (TWAS). He is a Past-Chair, Genetic Modification Advisory Committee, Singapore and is also Immediate Past Chairman, International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-biotech Applications (ISAAA) Inc. He has edited/co-edited fifteen books, authored/co-authored four books and published over 250 technical papers. His latest edited book (2024) is "Food Security Issues in Asia".
Prof Wayne Allen Parrott, Professor, University of Georgia, USA
Prof. Wayne Allen Parrott received a degree in agronomy from the University of Kentucky, and MS and PhD degrees in Plant Breeding and Plant Genetics from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He joined the faculty at the University of Georgia in 1988, where he is now a Distinguished Research Professor. Since arriving at Georgia, he has been conducting research on the development, use and safety of transgenic (i.e., GM) and edited crop plants, using grant monies from USDA-NIFA, NSF, DOE and the United Soybean Board. He has published a guide for environmental risk assessment of GMOs, along with ~ 120 journal articles in refereed publications and 15 book chapters. He has served terms on the editorial boards of Plant Cell Reports, Plant Cell Tissue and Organ Culture, and Crop Science. He has served as elected chair of the biotechnology section of the Crop Science Society of America and of the plant section of the Society for In Vitro Biology, and is a fellow of both societies, as well as of the AAAS. He served a term as a co-director for the NSF Plant Genome Research Program, and currently serves as the past-secretary and annual meeting program chair for the American Society of Plant Biologists. He is actively engaged in training graduate students and postdoctoral fellows, and teaches graduate-level courses in crop genetics. He formerly taught undergraduate courses in agroecology and sustainable agriculture. He has traveled extensively throughout Latin America and other countries, and advised legislators and regulators in the various countries on the requisites for a functional regulatory system that ensures the safety of GM products.
Assoc Prof Tan Meng How, Associate Professor, Nanyang Technological University (NTU) & Genetic Modification Advisory Committee (GMAC), Singapore
Assoc Prof Meng How Tan is a tenured associate professor in the School of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology (CCEB) at Nanyang Technological University (NTU). He received his bachelor's degrees in mechanical engineering and economics from University of California Berkeley, his master's degrees in aeronautics and biomedical engineering from California Institute of Technology and NTU respectively, and his PhD in developmental biology from Stanford University. After postdoctoral training in Stanford, he returned to Singapore to set up his independent laboratory, focusing on the basic biology and translational applications of DNA and RNA editing. To date, he has published corresponding authored papers in top academic journals, including Nature, Nature Methods, Nature Chemical Biology, and Nature Communications. He received the Outstanding Young Principal Investigator Award from AIChE-SLS in 2019 and was named an EMBO Global Investigator in 2020.
Dr Tan Yong Quan, Covering Specialist Team Lead, Bioengineering, National Centre for Food Science, Singapore Food Agency, Singapore
Dr. Tan Yong Quan is the Covering Specialist Team Lead of the Bioengineering Team at the National Centre for Food Science under the Singapore Food Agency (SFA). He is leading risk assessment and regulatory work related to foods enabled by modern biotechnology at the SFA. He graduated with a Ph.D. in Biochemistry from the National University of Singapore.
Dr Gabriel Romero, Executive Director, Philippines Seed Industry Association (PSIA), Philippines
Dr. Gabriel Romero is the Executive Director of The Philippine Seed Industry Association (PSIA), and Country Head Philippines of North Hill Group. Prior to that, he was the Senior Regulatory & Scientific Affairs Lead of Monsanto Philippines for 10 years. He also served as Genebank Manager, Director of Crop Biotechnology Center and Acting Deputy Executive Director for Research at the Philippine Rice Research Institute. He holds a Ph.D. in Genetics from University of California, Davis, USA, and a Master of Philosophy in Plant Breeding from the University of Cambridge, UK, and a BS in Biology from the University of the Philippines at Los Baños. Among his awards are The Outstanding Young Men (TOYM), Outstanding Young Scientist from the National Academy of Science and Technology, and Faces of Biotechnology from the Department of Agriculture.
Dr Mahaletchumy Arujanan, Executive Director, Malaysian Biotechnology Information Center (MABIC), Malaysia
Dr Mahaletchumy Arujanan is the Global Coordinator of the BioTrust-ISAAA and the Executive Director of Malaysian Biotechnology Information Centre (MABIC). She has a PhD in science communication and Master of Biotechnology from University of Malaya, and a degree in Microbiology from Universiti Putra Malaysia. She is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of The Petri Dish - the first science newspaper in Malaysia and also co-founded Science Media Centre Malaysia. She started the Asian Short Course on Agribiotechnology, Biosafety Regulations and Communications (ASCA) and developed the 1st science communication training programme for scientists in Malaysia. Maha also initiated the Science Communication Advisory Board under COMSTECH (Pakistan) to promote science communication in OIC Member States. She is an Adjunct Lecturer at Monash University Malaysia and AIMST University; sits on Industry Advisory Panel for seven universities; and served as a Biosafety Outreach specialist for UN FAO, Sri Lanka. Maha is listed as the world's 100 most influential people in biotechnology by Scientific American Worldview 2015. She is also listed in the honorific list of Women in Biotechnology Law and Regulation, Biotechnology Law Report (USA) 2015. Maha won the 2010 Third World Academy of Science Regional Prize for Public Understanding of Science for East, Southeast Asia and Pacific Region. She is a board member of the Malaysia Board of Technologists (MBOT) and is also on the advisory board for Mustafa Science and Technology Foundation (Iran), Alliance for Science (USA); and Farming Future Bangladesh; and Genetic Literacy Project (USA). Maha is also on the editorial board of the European Federation of Bioeconomy Journal. She is also on the Selangor Bio Advisory Council to provide advice on bioeconomy development in the state. She has published chapters, papers and articles on science/biotech communication, bioeconomy and biotechnology development.
Dr Andrew D. Powell,CEO, Asia BioBusiness Pte. Ltd., Singapore
Dr Andrew Powell is the CEO of Asia BioBusiness Pte. Ltd. and also acts a Global Senior International Industry Advisor to Edinburgh Innovations, the commercialisation arm of Edinburgh University. He has worked as a consultant since 1995, primarily focusing on the agriculture and food sectors. Projects have included agri-food sector policy, food security, agtech and food tech, and management of open innovation systems. Clients come from both the private (MNCs and SMEs) and public sectors. Dr Powell is a highly effective resource mobiliser with a global network across all areas of life science but especially in food and agriculture. He has been active in Risk Communication for more than 20 years, conducting training and offering advice to both public and private sector clients.
Dr Powell is the driving force behind the Communications Leadership in Future Foods Program (CLIFF) that seeks to improve engagement with consumers by utilising risk communication strategies. He is also Chairman of the not-for-profit Agri-Biotech Knowledge Information Centre Ltd. in Singapore, and is a mentor for The Yield Lab Asia Pacific and Big Idea Ventures agri-foodtech accelerators in Singapore, as well as SVG Ventures | THRIVE in N. America.
Dr Powell graduated from the University of Edinburgh with honours in Biology and obtained his Ph.D. from the University of Calgary. He has held research and academic positions at the University of Guelph, the National Institute for Health Sciences in Tokyo, and Tsukuba, Japan and the National University of Singapore.
Prof Dr Rofina Yasmin Othman, Honorary Professor, Institute for Advanced Studies, Universiti Malaya, Malaysia
Dr. Yasmin, is an Honorary Professor at the Institute of Advanced Studies, Universiti Malaya having served the University as an academic, researcher and administrator for more than 30 years. Her research explored the application of molecular tools to facilitate solutions for agriculture particularly of tropical crops. Concurrently she has a keen interest in policies, ethics and socioeconomics of science and technology. She was a two-term member of the National Biosafety Council and is currently a member of the National Bioethics council. She is a fellow and council member of the Academy of Sciences Malaysia and is the chairman of MRANTI Corporation, a National Technology Commercialization Accelerator and Technology Park initiative reflecting her experience in this area. This included secondments as Undersecretary of the National Biotechnology Division at the Ministry of Science Technology and Innovation and appointments as Director of the University's tech transfer office (UMCIC). She is also currently chairman of Life Science Venture firm Xeraya Capital and founder of Leaf Edge Technologies, an innovation platform focusing on promoting uptake of advances in plant science R&D.
Ms Mazlina Banu Jaikubali, Genetic Modification Advisory Committee (GMAC) Secretariat, Singapore
Ms Mazlina Banu Jaikubali serves as a Secretariat for the Genetic Modification Advisory Committee (GMAC) in Singapore. In this role, she provides essential support to the national advisory committee tasked with overseeing and offering scientifically rigorous advice on the research, development, production, release, use, and handling of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) within Singapore. As part of GMAC's Subcommittee for Public Awareness, Ms Mazlina plays a key role in organizing outreach activities aimed at enhancing public awareness and understanding of GMOs. She is also part of the A*STAR Institutional Review Board (IRB) Secretariat, operating under the Research Office of A*STAR. This position involves contributing to the ethical review processes of research initiatives, ensuring they meet the standards and regulations set by A*STAR and authorities.
ORGANIZER
CO-ORGANIZERS
CONTACT
If you have any inquiries, please do not hesitate to contact the following:
For Malaysia:
Dr. Rogayah Sekeli and/or Dr. Zulkifli Ahmad Seman
Malaysian Agricultural Research and Development Institute (MARDI)
Email: lynn@mardi.gov.my ; szula@mardi.gov.my
For Singapore:
ILSI Southeast Asia Region
Singapore
Tel: 65 6352 5220
Email: event@ilsisea.org.sg
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