Co-sponsored by the National Academy of Agricultural Sciences of India
and the U.S. National Academies 3-6 October 2006 Chennai, India In the face of increasing population pressure and diminishing natural resources, sustainable agriculture and food production are vital for our continued survival as a species. Despite constant advances in technology and improved agricultural practices, a substantial portion of the world’s population continues to be plagued by malnutrition, starvation, and lack of clean drinking water.
Today, however, the biotechnology revolution has begun to radically change the practice of agriculture worldwide and has the potential to dramatically improve human health and well-being. Advances in molecular biology, plant genetics, genomics, microbiology and genetic engineering could lead to healthier, more nutritious crops that are better able to tolerate harsh environmental conditions. If used creatively and sensibly, agricultural biotechnology promises to improve the lives of millions of people worldwide.
It is within this context that the GDEST India-US Workshop on “Agricultural Biotechnology for the Global Good” was first initiated. The National Academies’ GDEST Program was pleased to co-sponsor this workshop in conjunction with the National Academy of Agricultural Sciences of India and the M. S. Swaminathan Research Foundation. This critical dialogue took place in Chennai, India on October 3-6, 2006. |
