Problem Formulation Workshop in Seoul and Korean E-Learning Courses

AFSI Newsletter - August 2022

Gene Edited Plants: Context and Communication for Plant Breeding Innovation

The regulation of gene edited plants is the subject of much discussion, particularly those that result from small sequence changes that are indistinguishable from plants produced through conventional mutagenesis methods. Supported by a grant from the USDA Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS), New Technologies and Production Methods Division, Gene Edited Plants: Context and Communication for Plant Breeding Innovation is a series of virtual and in-person activities organized by AFSI 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. These activities are intended to provide Korean stakeholders an opportunity to better understand the technology of gene editing and foster open dialogue between Korean government officials, scientists, and other stakeholders on issues related to new plant breeding technologies.

Problem Formulation Workshop in Seoul

On July 25-26, 2022, AFSI organized an in-person workshop on Problem Formulation and Safety Assessment of Foods Derived from Modern Biotechnology in Seoul. The presentations covered key concepts in problem formulation, codex principles, and the basics of food safety assessment for whole foods, as well as current global practices related to approaches for the regulation of gene edited organisms. Participants, through a series of lectures and practical exercises, gained experience in applying safety assessment concepts to products of gene editing.

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Introductory Webinar on Gene Editing

The in-person workshop built on a preceding series of webinars. The introductory event, held virtually on April 22, 2021, provided an introduction to gene editing and featured presentations by six experts from around the world. It was followed by a Q&A session that set the stage for discussions on regulatory approaches and communication elements around gene editing.

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Webinar Series on Products of Gene Editing and Regulatory Approaches

The second activity was a webinar series that took place on July 19-23, 2021. Presenters provided examples of genome edited plants that have been developed worldwide, as well as the approach to their regulation in different countries. In addition to presentations by international experts, attendees had the opportunity to participate in breakout groups, where facilitated discussions on different case studies took place.

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E-Learning Courses in Korean

AFSI is committed to engaging with stakeholders in the Republic of Korea through the Gene Edited Plants: Context and Communication for Plant Breeding Innovation series of activities. As part of this project, two of our online courses are now available in Korean. Concepts in the Safety Assessment of Novel Food and Feed discusses how people use information about foods to make basic decisions regarding food safety and how government regulators use similar information to address the safety of novel foods that may be introduced into their country’s food supply. Application of Problem Formulation to the Environmental Risk Assessment of Genetically Engineered Crops is designed to help risk assessors and risk managers understand what problem formulation is and how it is an integral part of environmental risk assessment. As with all our online resources, these courses are made available to regulatory agencies, academics, the private sector, and other interested stakeholders upon request, free of charge. Those who already have access to our e-learning portal can take the Korean versions of these courses starting today.

E-Learning Portal

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