November

Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety Workshop

Dates: November 1-3, 2004

Locations: Bonn, Germany

The workshop’s focus is capacity-building and exchange of experiences as related to the implementation of paragraph two in Article 18 of the Biosafety Protocol. For more information visit www.biodiv.org.

African Seed Trade Association Workshop on Biotechnology and Biosafety for Seed Industries in West Africa

Dates: Nov. 9-10, 2004

Locations: Dakar, Senegal

The African Seed Trade Association formed out of a need to have a regional representative body for the seed industry that could also promote the development of private seed enterprises. For more information visit: www.afsta.org.

October

North American Plan Protection Organization(NAPPO) Annual Meeting

Dates: October 18-22, 2004

Locations: Vancouver, Canada

Comprised of federal plant protection officials from , the and , NAPPO provides a continental approach to plant protection by affording a means of sharing information and furthering common goals in plant health activities. For more information visit www.nappo.org.

August

Southern Africa Biotech Communicator’s Workshop

Dates: August 5-6, 2004

Locations: Pretoria, South Africa

Key regional communicators including scientists, healthcare workers and key decision-makers in agriculture, health, education and environment in the Southern Africa region, were trained at the workshop on how to communicate effectively on food, agricultural, environmental and medical biotechnology to targeted communities and the press.

2004 Southern Africa Biotech Mission

Dates: August 2-11, 2004

Locations: Pretoria and Johannesburg, South Africa

Council staff and member specialists traveled to South Africa to build relationships with important regional decision-makers and public opinion leaders, as well as to evaluate the potential for future Council activities in the SADC region. The team met with representatives in the region from life science companies, the South African government, local industry groups and local academic institutions to assess the three issues driving the mission and to develop a strategy for addressing issues related to: the acceptance of biotechnology in food aid; evaluating the potential for commercial grain shipments and the demand drivers in South Africa; and the importance of promoting biotech in SADC in terms of winning the debate on biotechnology acceptance.

June

2004 Biotechnology Industry Organization Annual Convention

Dates: June 6-9, 2004

Locations: San Francisco, California

This event was the world's largest biotechnology gathering and offered 23 tracks of programming, including sessions on policy, finance, business development, science and regulatory affairs. The convention also featured forums on bioethics, business development and global opportunities; 440,000 square feet of exhibit space; a series of receptions at San Francisco landmarks; and a BIO TV studio and media center, complete with two press conference rooms.

2004 European Union Biotech Mission

Dates: June 20-July 2, 2004

Locations: Italy, Austria, Poland and Russia

Consumers and decision-makers in Europe are a key audience for the issue of biotech acceptance. Staff and member specialists with the U.S. Grains Council and the National Corn Growers Association met with representatives from life science companies, the European governments, and local industry groups to assess policy developments at the levels of the EU Commission, EU Parliament and member states. These activities helped effectively guide the Council in advancing a science-based approach to biotechnology regulation.

May

2004 Biotechnology Media Tour

Dates: May 31-June 15, 2004

Locations: San Francisco, California; Sacramento, California; Des Moines, Iowa; Springfield, Illinois; Chicago, Illinois; Lincoln, Nebraska; St. Louis, Missouri; Ontario, Canada

With research in the ag biotech sector burgeoning around the world, the U.S. Grains Council works to sponsor opportunities for foreign media to make firsthand observations of the management and science of agricultural biotechnology through direct contact with growers, regulators, academics, researchers and industry.