AFSI Newsletter - May 2021
New Publication: Mitigating Sustainability Tradeoffs as Global Fruit and Vegetable Systems Expand to Meet Dietary Recommendations 
In 2018, AFSI co-sponsored a workshop organized by the Aspen Global Change Institute (AGCI) and Keystone Policy Center, which assembled 40 thought leaders with wide-ranging expertise in food and agricultural science, ecology, consumer behavior, economics, and agricultural systems engineering to collectively identify how to transform complex food systems in ways that can sustainably and equitably elevate the percent of the world’s population enjoying nutritious fruits and vegetables in their daily diets. The event led to a paper, published today in Environmental Research Letters. Focusing on avocados, tomatoes, and leafy greens, three very different crops that exemplify the complexities of the challenge, the authors illustrate how investments in innovations to increase crop diversity, integrate technological advances, and improve grower and consumer equity are required for a truly sustainable expansion of fruit and vegetable systems.
Gene Edited Plants: Context and Communication for Plant Breeding Innovation
In order to facilitate open and informed dialogue on science and policy, AFSI is organizing a webinar series to convene scientists, risk assessors, regulators, and policymakers from academia, industry, and government in the Republic of Korea to discuss gene editing in the context of plant breeding and regulation. The introductory webinar took place on April 22, 2021 and featured presentations by six experts from around the world. Simultaneously translated into Korean, the event attracted over 60 registrants and set the stage for subsequent discussions on regulatory approaches and communication elements related to gene editing.

Building Regulatory Capacities for Biotechnology (Genetic Engineering)
On April 28, 2021, AFSI staff delivered presentations at a virtual workshop on building regulatory capacities for biotechnology, which was organized by the International Service for the Acquisition of Agrbiotech Applications (ISAAA), with support from the U.S. Department of Agriculture and associated with the APEC High Level Policy Dialogue on Agricultural Biotechnology. The event sought to enhance the awareness of APEC and non-APEC member economies of the various policy and regulatory approaches available toward genetic engineering that would facilitate the adoption, use, and commercialization of biotech products. Dr. Andrew Roberts delivered a presentation on elements of a “gold standard” regulatory system, while Dr. Bhavneet Bajaj showcased useful tools for conducting regulatory reviews.