BIOTROP, in collaboration with the Indonesian Mycorrhiza Association (AMI/Asosiasi Mikoriza Indonesia), conducted a focus group discussion on charting a five-year roadmap for mycorrhiza research and development in Southeast Asia on 14-15 November 2016 at the Centre’s headquarter.

The formulation of the roadmap as the output of the activity was aimed to enhance and promote the effective and efficient use of mycorrhiza for restoring degraded lands and increasing productivity in the region.

There were 5 presentations made by BIOTROP scientists and invited speakers during the FGD, namely: (1) Status of mycorrhiza research in Southeast Asia; (2) Regulations and future path for biofertilizers; (3) National and regional institutional scale of mycorrhiza research; (4) Mycorrhiza research required in Indonesia and Southeast Asia; and (5) Possible sources of funding for mycorrhiza research.

The FGD was attended by BIOTROP officials and research staff and representatives of member-institutions of AMI, namely: Universitas Tanjung Pura, Pontianak; Universitas Bengkulu, Bengkulu; Universitas Padjadjaran, Bandung; Institut Pertanian Bogor; Universitas Nusa Bangsa, Bogor; Pusat Penelitian Bioteknologi dan Bioindustri Indonesia, Bogor; and Herbarium Bogoriense, Bogor.

News contributor:  Dr Dewi Wulandari