News about agriculture needs to be data-driven and scientifically representative, stressed the journalists at a webinar on Tuesday.
They also emphasised that media should remain updated and disseminate news of fast-paced innovations in agriculture at the national and international levels.
Journalists made the observation at the webinar titled ‘The Role of Innovative Technologies in Addressing Agricultural Challenges’, organised by the US State Department, in collaboration with the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) and US Agency for International Development (USAID), at the US Embassy in the capital, said a media release on Wednesday.
The event discussed science-based reporting on agricultural technologies and their vast potential to improve outcomes for farmers, consumers, and the environment.
“These new technologies promise to speed up crop development, ensure farmers’ access to more sustainable solutions, and give consumers safe and affordable access to food,” said US Embassy Agricultural Attaché Ms Megan Francic.
In the webinar, Md Arif Hossain, CEO and executive director of Farming Future Bangladesh (FFB), moderated a virtual tour, which is part of a series of events to be organised in Bangladesh, Indonesia, and the Philippines.
The tour provided an overview of communication practices in agricultural reporting as well as the current status and importance of agricultural biotechnology in Bangladesh. Specific topics included genome editing, productivity, biosafety, food safety, consumption and diversified use, and regulatory challenges.
In a session titled ‘Agricultural Biotechnology Research and Development: impacts, challenges, and opportunities in Bangladesh,’ Dr Rakha Hari Sarker, Professor of Botany at Dhaka University, and Dr Aparna Islam, Professor of Mathematics and Natural Sciences at BRAC University discussed the significance of advancements in agricultural biotechnology and its potential to mitigate the effects of climate change and address ‘hidden hunger’ or nutrient deficiency.
They also emphasised the role of media and communication professionals in disseminating evidence-based information.
Milon Mia, an eggplant farmer from Bogura, shared his positive experience of planting genetically engineered crops in the webinar.
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