Mission IPBO

Modern plant biotechnology holds many of the potential solutions for sustainable agriculture. However, converting this promise into practice in less developed regions and emerging economies requires a concerted effort in training and in access to the latest technological developments and the design of effective biosafety and regulatory mechanisms.

The mission of IPBO is fourfold:

Communication

IPBO informs the public about the sustainability of biotechnology by giving presentations at (inter)national conferences, in (inter)national institutes and organizations, and by publishing statements, interviews, and articles in (inter)national newspapers. IPBO is committed to engaging in a constructive debate on green biotechnology to inform and provide science-based, factual information on plant GM products and technologies

Training

Training and education of students from developing countries are essential to empower local biotech capacities. IPBO organizes yearly a postgraduate course “Biosafety in Plant Biotechnology” in cooperation with UNIDO and specialist courses, workshops, and symposia.

Networking

Situated at the Flanders Biotech Valley, IPBO is a central node of an international network for R&D in plant biotechnology. Access to frontier R&D, strategic networking with a multi- and cross-disciplinary integrated approach, and strengthening public-private partnerships in a global context are among the major strengths of IPBO.
IPBO and UNIDO, United Nations Industrial Development Organisation, established the International Industrial Biotechnology Network (IIBN).

Project Development

IPBO wants to establish cooperation between biotechnology institutes in Flanders and developing and emerging economies. Therefore, IPBO works closely with the VIB centers of scientific excellence and other relevant technology providers in Flanders to promote the transfer of relevant enabling technologies to R&D centers in developing countries.