TRENDS AND OPPORTUNITIES OF ALGAL BIOTECHNOLOGY IN THE ASIA-PACIFIC REGION

The Second Asia-Pacific Conference on Algal Biotechnology: Trends and Opportunities was held at the Rasa Sentosa Resort Singapore between 25 -27 April 1994. The conference was organized by the National Universit y of Singapore, the NgeeAnn Polytechnic and the Primary Production Dep artment. The Asia-Pacific region covers a vast area around the Pacific Ocean, including temperate as well as tropical countries. Partly due to tradition and partly due to geographical and climatic conditions, m any of the activities related to algal biotechnology today are located in the Asia-Pacific region. The diversity of interests and activities is reflected in the number and variety of papers presented at this co nference. The scientific programme was divided into five sessions, eac h highlighting a different aspect of algal biotechnology. Altogether, 66 papers were presented at the Conference. All submitted papers were peer-reviewed and the selected papers are printed in this issue of the Journal of Applied Phycology. The aim of this Conference was to bring together personnel from research institutions and industries with com mon interest in algal biotechnology and to stimulate and encourage exc hange of knowledge and experience. It was our hope that an effective a lgal biotechnology network would evolve from it. Indeed, an associatio n, the Asia-Pacific Society for Applied Phycology, was formed at the C onference.