TECHNICAL COOPERATION NETWORK ON PLANT BIOTECHNOLOGY IN LATIN AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN (REDBIO)

At the request of Member Nations, a plant biotechnology network coordinated by FAO's Regional Office for Latin America and the Caribbean, was established in November 1990. The objectives of this research and cooperation network are to support and promote:

• the formulation of national and regional policies on biotechnology;
• the exchange of information, research results and biological material;
• regional training activities in the field of plant biotechnology;
• the development and servicing of a computerized database on plant biotechnology laboratories in the region.

The activities of the network are led by a regional coordinating committee, composed of sub-regional coordinators. A quarterly Circular Letter is published by the Regional Office to help strengthen activities in the network.

Membership in the network is open to all national plant biotechnology laboratories willing to collaborate and to pursue the above objectives, including also laboratories working in forestry species.

For additional information please contact Dr. J. Izquierdo, FAO Regional Office for Latin America and the Caribbean, P.O. Box 10095, Santiago, Chile (Fax: 21.82.603).