The APO Secretariat conducted an online workshop on Advancing Gene Editing in the Agrifood Sector from 25–27 September 2024. The workshop aligned with the APO Vision 2025 goal of Smart Transformation, focusing on accelerating the adoption of innovative technologies to enhance agricultural productivity and sustainability.

Thirty-five participants from 11 APO members engaged in comprehensive discussions on gene-editing applications, guided by five distinguished resource persons from Australia, India, Japan, and the Philippines. The workshop covered various aspects of gene editing, from technological overviews to practical applications in the Asia-Pacific region, supported by real-world case studies.

Participants praised the workshop as “incredibly informative and well-executed,” highlighting the value of knowledge sharing among APO members. The workshop successfully fostered an understanding of how gene-editing technologies could benefit the agrifood sector while identifying potential applications specific to APO member needs.