Minutes of the round table on international coffee biotechnology network initiative
The Round Table meeting on International coffee biotechnology initiative was held on the afternoon of 13th
October at Board Room, Hotel Ashok, a parallel session as part of the ASIC 2004.
The Round Table was chaired by Prof. Andre Charrier, ENSAM, France and Dr. Renu Swarup,
Director, Department of Biotechnology (DBT), Govt. of India. In all 49 scientists from 13 different countries (producing and consuming)
attended the Round Table and participated in the deliberations. Prof. Akhilesh Tyagi of Delhi University with his rich experience in Rice
genome sequencing consortium and Dr.P.S.Rao, Vice-President, M/s Indo-American Hybrid seeds, Bangalore also participated and shared their view points during interaction.
Proceedings of the Round Table
At the beginning, Dr. Jayarama, Director of Research, Coffee Board, welcomed the participants and briefly outlined the initiatives taken by the Coffee Board in implementing
a network programme on Coffee biotechnology at national level and also the organization of an International Workshop on Coffee Biotechnology at Bangalore during January 2004.
The out come of the Workshop and release of `BANGALORE DECLARATION` was briefed to the delegates.
Initiating the discussion, Dr. Renu Swarup, mentioned the objective of the Round Table as follow up of `Bangalore Declaration` and outlined the scope for International
Consortium on Coffee Genomics.
Dr. Andre Charrier, in his opening remarks appreciated the initiatives taken by the Coffee Board, India and the `Bangalore Declaration` and has strongly felt that there is an urgent
need for formulation of an International Network and sought the various groups to express their views on the scope and possibilities of an International Network Initiative.
The groups participated in the deliberations are as follows.
Coffee Board, India; IRD, Monpellier, France; CIRAD, Monpellier, France; CENICAFE, Colombia;
IACO/ACRN, Ivory Coast; Nestle R & D, Tours, France; CIFC, Portugal; Trieste University, Italy; IPGRI, Italy; CCMB, India;
CFTRI, India; M/s Avesthigen, India; Hawaii Agricultural university, USA; Coffee Quality Institute, USA; Kraft Foods, UK; UNICAMP, Brasil and CRF, Kenya.
The following are some of the important points discussed and decisions taken.
- There was a general consensus for initiating an international effort on coffee genomics.
The group agreed that an International Coffee Genomics Initiative (ICGI) should be launched.
- It was agreed in principle to have the structure of initiative in the broader charter of
the Bangalore declaration on 29th January 2004 at Bangalore, India. (as per appendix-1) with emphasis on
research in the area of coffee genomics including functional analysis for accumulation of scientific data.
- It was felt necessary that an international co-ordinator/institute with rich experience and expertise is
necessary for the implementation/ monitoring the proposed initiative. However, as no person/group came forward to take the responsibility,
it was decided to have an interim working group. Accordingly, an interim working group has been constituted which will be coordinated by Agropolis, France, chaired by Prof. Andre Charrier.
- The interim working group would identify one contact person for each participating country with in a month time.
- The interim working group will prepare a concept paper based on the deliberations of the Round Table within a month and circulate to the identified contact person in each country.
- The contact person in turn will prepare a base paper for his/her country detailing the current status, strengths, future interests and intended role to be played and possible deliverables.
- The working group was entrusted with responsibility of contacting other interested groups like that of EMBRAPA & IAC, Brazil, and Dr. S. Tanksley of Cornell University that could not participate in the Round table.
- Next meeting of the group would be tentatively in March 2005 to discuss and finalize the working papers describing agreed scope, structure and modalities of implementation of the ICGI.
- The Trieste University and IPGRI agreed to explore the possibility of holding and sponsoring the proposed meeting in March 2005 in Italy.
- The minutes of the Round Table should be placed in the ASIC website for wide circulation of the information.
CHAIRMAN OF THE ROUND TABLE
