The Agricultural Biotechnology Research Institute of Iran (ABRII) and the Department of Science and Technology-Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development (DOST-PCAARRD) jointly organized and conducted the two-day “Iran-Philippines International Virtual Symposium on Agricultural Nanotechnology”.

The Iran Nanotechnology Innovation Council (INIC) cooperated in holding the event and Economic Cooperation Organization-Agricultural Biotechnology Network (ECO-ABN) took part in this symposium. The objective was to initiate and expand scientific collaboration between Iran and the Philippines as fallow:

• Study and exchange of knowledge on agricultural nanotechnology in Iran & Philippines

• Creating new horizons for interaction between public and private sectors which are active in the agricultural nanotechnology fields in Iran & Philippines

• Assessing and expanding Iran-Philippines cooperation in the agricultural nanotechnology

• Providing a platform for introducing the small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) & knowledge-based companies in the field of agricultural nanotechnology

• Introducing the capacities, facilities, and capabilities of both parties

Plenary sessions included nanotechnology applications in crop protection, sustainable crop management, food sciences, and water science, as well as nano(bio)sensor applications in agriculture. The symposium is expected to encourage collaborative R&D undertakings on agricultural nanotechnology and other joint activities between the two countries.