ABRII organized a workshop on "Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) Biosafety and Regulation" held virtually on October 25, 2023. Researchers from the Republic of Azerbaijan, Islamic Republic of Iran, Republic of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Islamic Republic of Pakistan, Republic of Tajikistan, and Republic of Türkiye attended the workshop. The participants exchanged information and discussed Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) during the event. 

Dr. Pejman Azadi, a faculty member of the Genetic Engineering and Biosafety Department of ABRII, and Mr. Gürkan Polat, ECO Director for Agriculture & Industry, jointly inaugurated the workshop. Then, the distinguished speakers of the workshop delivered their precise lectures on the following topics:

1- Safeguarding Tomorrow’s Harvest: Biotechnology’s Promise and Perils in ECO’s Food Security by Dr. Zabta Shinwari

2- GMOs: Current Status and Future Perspectives by Dr. Babak Nakhoda

3- New Technologies in Genetic Engineering by Dr. Rasoul Amirian

4- Bio-Safety Issues and Risk Assessments of GMOs by Dr. Elyas Mortazavi

5- GMO Bio-Safety Regulations: Similarities and Differences by Dr. Gholamreza Salehi

6- Detection of GMOs and their Derivatives by Dr. Amir Mousavi

7- Risk Communication and Bio-Safety Clearing House (BCH) by Dr. Nasrin Esmaeilzadeh

The crucial topics of GMOs such as risk assessments, regulatory perspective, and ethical considerations were discussed during the workshop. The esteemed panel of speakers shared their expertise, shedding light on advancement, challenges, opportunities, and best practices in this rapidly growing field. The workshop also provided a platform for fruitful discussion, networking, and collaboration among professionals, researchers, and policy-makers who are passionate about GMOs and their impact on society.