9 ASEAN researchers obtain hands on experiences at the Department of Agriculture Laboratory Training.

Recently, with collaboration of the Department of Agriculture, Thailand and the ASEAN Sustainable Agrifood Systems (ASEAN SAS), 15 participants from Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar and Vietnam came to learn, practice and exchange ideas in the ‘Regional Training on Regulatory Laboratory Practice on Biological Control Agents (BCA) and Biofertiliser.’

Ms. Quyen Ngoc Dung, the researcher from Division of Pesticides, Weeds and Environment of Plant Protection Research Institute, Vietnam voiced her opinion that the betterment of lab equipment and technical-know-how need to be put in place, thus, the betterment of the regulation and registration of the BCA products would, then, could certify a quality control. The same situation was also reflected by researchers from Cambodia, Lao PDR and Myanmar.

These researchers urge for more training on BCA as commercial BCA have gained attention of developing and emerging country agricultural administrations because of their relatively low toxicity to man and environment, potential for local production, and compatibility with smallholder farming, which is the predominant form of agricultural production in Southeast Asia.

Source: ‘ASEAN Guidelines on the Regulation, Use and Trade of Biological Control Agents’
Read more at www.asean-agrifood.org