4th workshop ("GMO problem area in Croatia and Europe")

The Fourth Workshop entitled "GMO problem area in Croatia and Europe", was designed for the NGOs concerned with nature conservancy, representatives of the scientific community and journalists. This was organised in Topusko on 28-29 September 2004 in collaboration with the European Molecular Biology Organisation (EMBO). The Workshop objective was to explain the system of information for the public and their participation in the decision making process under the Nature Protection Act. The Workshop reviewed the GMO problem area, biodiversity, sociological, economic and ethical problems within these fields through the lectures presented by Croatian experts. In addition, the Workshop was also intended to pinpoint the communication problems between scientists, journalists and governmental authorities and to suggest a method for avoidance of such problems in future.

On the first day we had the following lectures:

1. "Why GMO present a potential threat for biodiversity?" conducted by Prof. Jasenka Topić, Ph.D., Faculty of Science, University of Zagreb;
2. "GMO – theory, practice and risk assessment" conducted by Srećko Jelenić, Ph.D., Faculty of Science, University of Zagreb;
3. "Potential adverse affects of GMO crops on conventional agricultural crops in Croatia", conducted by Prof. Marijan Jošt , Ph.D., College of Agriculture at Križevci;
4. "Potential risks of GMO's in food, known side effects on human health", conducted by Zrinka Petrović, MD, Croatian National Institute of Public Health;
5. "Ethical aspects of the GMO issue in Croatia", conducted by Hrvoje Jurić, Faculty of Philosophy, University of Zagreb;
6. "Social aspects of the GMO issue in Croatia», conducted by Vladimir Lay, Ph.D., Institute of Social Sciences "Ivo Pilar";
7. "Economical aspects of the GMO issue in Croatia" Prof. Miodrag Hitrec, Ph.D., Faculty of Economics, University of Zagreb.

On the second day we had presented:

1. "The public information and participation system set up in Austria – experience from practice" presented by Dr. Michael Eckerstorfer (Centre for Food and Consumption, AU);
2. "GMO- Critical review of UK experience" presented by Dr. Bernard Dixon (Free lance Journalist, UK);
3. "European perspective of Biotechnology and its public perception (eg. GM and Nanotechnology)" presented by Andrew Moore, Ph.D., (Science & Society Programme Manager, European Molecular Biology Organization) and a discussion with real case study on "Communicating with non-scientific audience".

Over 66 participants situated in 40 institutions were invited, from which were 31 scientists, 21 journalists and 14 NGO-s. On the day of the workshop, 27 of the invited guests had attended, (41%) from 21 institutions (52.5%). The majority of the people who attended the workshop were scientists (61%) then NGO’s (29%) and the lowest attendance we had from journalists (19%).