Regional training course in GMO Risk Communication, public awareness and public participation was held on 1-4 February 2011, in Tbilisi, Georgia

Regional training course in GMO Risk Communication, public awareness and public participation was held on 1-4 February 2011, in Tbilisi, Georgia as an activity in the frame of the regional (Armenia, Georgia, Moldova) FAO project for Capacity building in agricultural biotechnologies and biosafety.

Facilitated by Nevena Alexandrova, Agricultural Research and Biotechnology Officer, FAO REU, the training provided necessary platform to:

• enhance knowledge of the overall principles in Risk analysis: risk assessment, risk management and risk communication with respect to agricultural biotechnologies with focus on risk communication;
• create awareness on the international treaties dealing with GMO risk communication, public awareness and participation in the decision-making;
• develop practical experience in communicating biosafety issues with different stakeholder groups: scientists, policy-makers, farmers and media;
• increase the capability of the biosafety regulatory authorities in Armenia, Georgia and Moldova to plan and design a public awareness campaign on biosafety; hold public hearings before releasing into environment a product of the modern agricultural biotechnologies and recombinant DNA plants; implement public participation procedures;
• train trainers, able to use and spread different communication approaches for biosafety related issues taking in consideration local societal specificities.

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