As part of its Five-Year Development Plan (2012-2017), BIOTROP will conduct its first in-country training course on Tissue Culture Techniques for Plant Propagation and Nursery Management in Lao PDR on 27 May-1 June 2013.

The training is a collaborative activity  between BIOTROP  and the National Agriculture and Forestry Research Institute (NAFRI) of Lao PDR under a Memorandum of Agreement signed in March 2013.  It generally aims to increase the capacity of relevant institutions in Lao PDR on plant propagation towards ensuring the availability of quality planting materials for agricultural and forest production through tissue culture techniques and proper nursery management.

Eighteen laboratory researchers and technicians from eight research and academic institutions are expected to participate in the training.  The institutions include the Agriculture Research Center and Forestry Research Center of NAFRI, Upland Agriculture Research Center, Institute of Science and Technology, National University of Laos, Souphanouvong University, Savannakhaet University, and Champasack University
The training participants are expected to produce action plans towards enhancing the linkages between and among them,  BIOTROP, and NAFRI in relation to  widening the  application of tissue culture techniques and nursery management for agricultural and forestry development in Lao PDR.