Former Director General Behzad Ghareyazie of the Agricultural Biotechnology Research Institute of Iran (ABRII) visited the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST-PCAARRD), recently.
With Ghareyazie was Ministry of Agriculture Jihad, Consultant Mahmood Mansoub Basiri of the Islamic Republic of Iran.
Ghareyazie and Mahmood were welcomed by the PCAARRD Directors’ Council led by Acting Executive Director Dr. Reynaldo Ebora.
During the welcome dinner, the Council provided a briefing about PCAARRD and its programs, activities, and projects related to biotechnology and nanotechnology.
PCAARRD was among the agencies and institutions visited by Ghareyazie and Basiri during their visit to Los Baños. Included in their itinerary was the courtesy call and meetings with DOST officials, led by Secretary Mario G. Montejo; scientists/researchers of the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB) and its attached institutions such as the National Institute of Microbiology and Biotechnology (BIOTECH) and the Institute of Chemistry, College of Arts and Sciences (CAS); and Deputy Director General for Communication and Partnership V. Bruce Tolentino of the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI).
Ghareyazie and Basiri’s visit was in support of the Philippines-Iran Scientific Collaboration and was part of the draft Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for Scientific and Technical Cooperation on research and training on biotechnology, nanotechnology, and nano-biotechnology.