This article is from page 59 of the 2007-04-03 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 59 JPG
IRELAND will host a major Agri- cultural Biotechnology International Conference for the very first time in August of 2008.
The conference, which was an- nounced by Teagasc last week, will provide a forum for internationally renowned speakers to address the challenges facing the global biotech- nology industry.
The contract to securing this event for Ireland was signed over the week- end by Professor Jimmy Burke, Head of Teagasc Crops Research Centre.
“This conference offers a great platform to showcase our grow- ing life sciences industries. Various technology Foresight reports for Ire- land have identified biotechnology as one of the core technologies which our country and Irish industry must now embrace,” said Mr Burke.
‘These reports have also identified the agri-food sector as one that can benefit significantly from the tre- mendous potential offered by mod- ern developments in biotechnology.”
The conference will be the largest agricultural biotech conference in the world in 2008 and provides a unique
opportunity for Irish academia and business sectors to discuss the issues, options and challenges being met by the biotechnology industry.
“The four-day event will offer par- ticipants the opportunity to exchange ideas and hear from a distinguished line-up of internationally-acclaimed speakers,’ continued Mr Burke.
“The conference combines the business of science with the latest discoveries and trends in research and technology development, and gives the research and business com- munity opportunities to meet and ex- change ideas. Sessions on the chal-
lenges and opportunities experienced in Australia, Europe, the US, China and Canada will bring a global per- spective to the discussions.
“Environmental and biofuel ap- plications of biotechnology are also very important. As a world class conference, ABIC 2008 is a must-at- tend event for the industry and those interested in it.”
The venue for next year’s Agricul- tural Biotechnology International Coyote seo enUs) (Oem sllmoom im OLS Campus in Cork City. The confer- ence will run from August 24 to 27, PAU eyes