NISARD to host forum on genetic engineering, biodiversity
By Rachelle M. Nessia
Dumaguete City (31 July) -- The Negros Island Sustainable Agriculture and Rural Development Foundation, Inc. (NISARD) will host a forum on genetic engineering and biodiversity for stakeholders of organic farming in the province.
The forum will be held on August 6, 2009 at Bethel Guesthouse from 7:30 AM to 12 NN.
According to NISARD Oriental Managing Trustee Ernesto Quiamco, NISARD will hold said forum upon the request of the Third World Network (TWN) through its representative Atty. Lee Aruelo.
Aruelo will be one of the speakers during the forum along with Dr. Carmelo Rodriguez Beltran, a scientist-colleague of TWN and a research associate at INBI-Centre for Integrated Research in Biosafety, Univesrity of Canterbury, New Zealand.
Beltran is a biochemist engineer whose research involves the development of scientific capacity for developing countries in the fields of biosafety and evaluation of risks of genetically modified organisms.
Expected to grace the forum are Governor Emilio C. Macias II together with the three Representatives in the province- Congressman George P. Arnaiz, Congressman Pryde Henry Teves and Congresswoman Jocelyn Limkaichong.
The forum will kick off with inputs from Aruelo and Beltran on protecting the integrity of Negros Organic Islands, incompatibility of GMO and organic farming, basic concepts of GMOs, among others. (PIA) [top]
