UNU-BIOLAC: United Nations University Programme for Biotechnology in Latin America and the Caribbean

Food is a treasure, and the road from the field to the market is dangerous. Fungi will always attack the bounty, causing the loss of work, money, and health. Postharvest diseases are a significant cause of concern for agrifood systems and the alternatives are often costly (refrigeration) or toxic (fungicides). Can we recruit these fungi's natural enemies as protectors of our food? This question was the kernel of the course "Postharvest fungal diseases in fruits: the use of sustainable biocontrol strategies," coordinated by Dr. Julián Dib at Proimi - CONICET. Students from all over the #LAC region learned different techniques for identifying and developing biological control agents against fungal diseases of various crops, searched and selected possible antagonists, identified them, determined the mechanisms of action, and carried out preliminary biocontrol tests. The aim is to develop integrated pest management field-to-package protocols to achieve sustainable agriculture standards throughout production. This knowledge will benefit producers, consumers, and the planet! #BiotechCanSolveIt World Food Programme UNDP FAO 📸 Florencia Isabel Chacón Gerónimo Fernández

You may have noticed the HT #BiotechCanSolveIt in some of our posts, and this international UNU-BIOLAC training course proves this isn't just wishful thinking! Applications of biotechnology have always been fundamental for human development (Think about where we would be without bread!) and will be essential for achieving the SDGs. But what shape these solutions take in reality was the matter of the course "Metagenomics for Health and Industrial Applications" coordinated by Dr. Daniel Kurth and hosted by Facultad de Bioquímica, Química y Farmacia with collaboration by Proimi - CONICET. Humanity will need more food, energy, and access to essential health services. Biotechnologists will be leading ingenuity to achieve this sustainably. Our heartfelt congratulations and gratitude to all involved in making this course successful!

We're very pleased to hear about great experiences in the courses we co-fund. A new round of funding is comming in September!

United Nations's Summit of the Future intends to put biotechnology in the spotlight. This high-level event will bring world leaders together to forge a new international consensus on delivering a better present and safeguarding #OurCommonFuture. Effective global cooperation is increasingly critical to our survival but difficult to achieve in an atmosphere of mistrust, using outdated structures that no longer reflect today's political and economic realities. This unique opportunity, which only comes once in a generation, serves as a pivotal moment to mend eroded trust and demonstrate the power of international cooperation. It's a chance to show that together, we can effectively achieve agreed goals and tackle emerging threats and opportunities. The summit will delve into the role of science in development, particularly in putting the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) back on track. The explicit aim is to increase the use of science in policy-making, with steps to ensure more people benefit from science, technology, and innovation. Weaponization risks will also be discussed as a summit focused on peace and prosperity. Considerations on biotechnology, nano-technologies, and human enhancement technologies will be on the table. Negotiations are already underway. On September 22-23, world leaders will convene at the United Nations to adopt the Pact for the Future, including a Global Digital Compact and a Declaration on Future Generations as annexes. Learn more: https://lnkd.in/dr3kGwpc

The new PHEIC (Public Health Emergency of International Concern) declaration by the World Health Organization (WHO) on the spread of a new clade of Mpox is a significant and reassuring development. Here's how: Mpox has been causing problems in Africa since at least 2017, but it was when the disease spread outside of the continent in 2022 that the world took notice. At that time, the variant that sounded the alarm was clade 2, which already subsided as a public health threat. However, the new clade 1B presents higher transmissibility and mortality. It has already crossed the borders of the Democratic Republic of Congo to neighboring countries. Experts welcome the timely declaration and see in it a better chance of avoiding a situation similar to the COVID pandemic that started in 2019, as it will allow for the mobilization of resources to attempt to stunt the spread of the virus by rapidly tending to the needs of the already affected and vulnerable populations. The declaration will also foster timely research on the new clade, helping set up protocols and educational campaigns to slow transmission. The accelerated development of specific vaccines and access to the ones already approved for other outbreaks are other expected consequences of this PHEIC announcement. For more expert reactions and information on this event, please visit this link https://lnkd.in/dAxVrB_Q https://lnkd.in/ettp9Ed8

🎓 Hoy concluye el curso "Metagenomics for Health and Industrial Applications". Este programa, dirigido por el doctor Daniel Kurth y financiado por la UNU BIOLAC, ha sido una experiencia increíblemente enriquecedora. Quiero expresar mi más sincero agradecimiento al doctor Kurth por haberme seleccionado entre los postulantes para recibir esta beca. Este curso ha ampliado mis horizontes en metagenómica y sus aplicaciones. También quiero agradecer especialmente a las licenciadas Virginia Marcelino y Hayde Saracho por haber puesto todo a disposición para que este curso se desarrollara de manera óptima. Su apoyo fue fundamental en esta proceso. Además, extiendo mi gratitud a todos los disertantes del curso por compartir sus conocimientos y experiencias. UNU-BIOLAC: United Nations University Programme for Biotechnology in Latin America and the Caribbean #Metagenomics #Biotechnology #UNUBIOLAC2025 #Ciencia

10 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐈𝐝𝐞𝐚𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐁𝐢𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐜𝐡𝐧𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐠𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐬 𝐅𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐃𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐩𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐆𝐨𝐚𝐥𝐬 𝐑𝐞𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭 2024 The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are a global agenda to eradicate poverty, protect the planet, and ensure peace and prosperity for all. However, the latest report on the progress of the SDGs in 2024 shows that we are far from meeting the targets set for 2030 and that urgent and transformative actions are required. Biotechnology is crucial for generating the innovations needed to meet these challenges. Below, we present some of the findings of the report that we consider illustrate the potential and the need for biotechnology for the advancement of the SDGs: 1) Accelerated action is needed for more productive and sustainable agriculture that meets food demand. This action must focus on both large operations and improving small-scale production systems. 2) Efforts against communicable diseases must be made, particularly tuberculosis, malaria, and neglected tropical diseases. 3) There was a significant increase in water use efficiency and much of this was due to technological improvements in agriculture. However, the water deficit remains very high, and even greater efficiency is required. 4) There has been a significant and positive increase in adopting sustainable electricity sources. Still, more attention must be paid to developing sustainable transport, cooking, and heating fuels. 5) Medium- and high-technology companies withstood the economic shocks of the COVID-19 pandemic better and have better indicators of labor inequality towards young people and women. 6) The income gap between countries with developed economies and less developed countries widened, highlighting the need to diversify and technify the latter's economy. 7) 2023 was the hottest year and the one with the highest emissions of Greenhouse Gases. Developing biotechnological solutions will only be possible to achieve a 42% emission reduction by 2030. 8) Life in the oceans requires the development of sustainable, productive technologies for animal protein of aquatic origin to reduce pressure on fisheries. 9) Life on land requires reducing deforestation by increasing the productivity and efficiency of agricultural systems. 10) Biodiversity generally requires urgent conservation protocols that may include genetic conservation. The report also exposes a worrying reduction in access and quality of education globally, particularly in less developed countries. The breach is extensive for women and girls. The profound effect this has had on the scientific capabilities of people is reported explicitly, outlining the greatest threat to future biotechnological development. Education is a Human Right and can transform the world. #BiotechCanSolveIt Download the report here: https://lnkd.in/grfUCRjx

Breastfeeding is essential for children’s survival, growth, and healthy development, protecting children from disease and supporting their learning potential. UNICEF and WHO recommend that infants are breastfed within 1 hour of birth, and exclusively breastfed in their first six months of life (with no other foods and liquids provided). At 6 months, babies should begin eating safe, adequate, and diverse complementary foods while continuing breastfeeding up to two years or beyond. However, millions of children globally miss out, with inadequate breastfeeding accounting for 16% of child deaths globally. On this #BiotechCanSolveIt during #WorldBreastfeedingWeek, we present the two strategies in which some biotechnological companies are working to close this gap: 1) By developing safe, affordable biomolecules that can help enhance breast milk production in mothers who have difficulties meeting their child's demands. 2) By engineering microorganisms capable of producing human breast milk substitutes that are safer, greener, and more similar to the latter than current commercial substitutes based on cattle milk. There is, however, no substitute capable of meeting the widely documented benefits of breastfeeding. During this week, we join UNICEF in calling for: - Strengthened monitoring of breastfeeding practices; - Strong laws protecting parents from predatory breastmilk substitute marketing; - Increased family-friendly policies such as paid maternity leave, breastfeeding breaks and spaces, and; - Increased funds for breastfeeding support and protection, including through mechanisms such as the Child Nutrition Fund. FAO World Health Organization

Argentina's participation in the UNU-BIOLAC program primarily reflects the country's prosperous agricultural industry. Biotechnology can tailor solutions to sustainable development challenges to both local and global realities. We are a regional program devoted to advancing biotechnology in Latin America and the Caribbean, aiming to contribute to the achievement of the Global Goals for Sustainable Development and scientific cooperation between countries within the region. CONICET Roche Argentina Bayer | Crop Science Ministerio de Agricultura