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Journalists should emphasize evidence-based

reporting.
Experts and media professionals agreed on evidence-based reporting publishing in a capacity
building program.

Dhaka, January 26, 2022: Science and evidence-based information should be key to agricultural
media reporting. Scientists, media professionals and agricultural journalists highlighted evidence-
based media reporting in a virtual “Knowledge Sharing & Capacity building on Agricultural Media
Reporting” held on January 25 – 26, 2022 for agricultural journalists of Rangpur Division.

More than 25 journalists from print and electronic media from Rangpur Division participated in the
two days program organized by Farming Future Bangladesh (FFB).

The program was aimed to enhance skills on evidence-based reporting for better understanding
of modern agricultural innovations including modernization and commercialization of agriculture,
innovation, genetic engineering, gene editing, climate change, nutrition, and food security issues.

Md. Arif Hossain, CEO and Executive Director of the FFB, started the training program by thanking
all the participants, panelists, and other dignitaries. He said, “Farming Future Bangladesh is
working to improve public perception about the benefits of modern agricultural innovations for
sustainable food security in Bangladesh.”

He added, “Media and communication professionals play a vital and complementary role for
information dissemination and extension of modern agricultural innovation. Sharing evidence and
authentic information can be beneficial for farmers and consumers, said Arif Hossain, CEO and
Executive Director of the FFB. We should work together to improve the enabling environment for
research and innovation in Bangladesh for sustaining food and nutrition security, he added.

“Commercialization and modernization of agriculture will change the whole agricultural system.
Young agricultural entrepreneurs can shine their passion and investment with proper and timely
information. Media professionals and journalists can create the bridge and synergy among
innovators, farmers and entrepreneurs, said Kbd. Hamidur Rahman, Member, Annual
Performance Expert Pool, Ministry of Agriculture, in his technical session.

Dr. Jiban Krishna Biswas, Executive Director, Krishi Gobeshona Foundation (KGF) said, “With
limited resource and growing population, we need technological advancement to ensure food
production. Genetic engineering and other modern innovations can solve many harvesting
problems and allows the crop to keep its nutritional value intact”
Dr. Md. Tofazzal Islam, Professor & Director of Institute of Biotechnology and Genetic
Engineering, BSMMU, stressed spearheading accurate scientific information and avoiding
conspiracy theories in the light of agricultural development. “Biotechnology has enormous
potential, and we should invest more on research and innovation, so that we can develop our own
capacity to address future food security challenges, he said in his session.

Participating journalists shared their experiences and identified key working areas in relation to
the priority of the region. They also stressed the importance of access to information and culture
of fact-based reporting in the program. Among others, Dr. Ahmad Salahuddin, Senior Associate
Scientist of IRRI and (International Rice Research Institute) and M. Abdul Momin, Senior
Communication Officer Bangladesh Rice Research Institute (BRRI), highlighted the importance
of nutrition enriched rice in the training session.

Farming Future Bangladesh has been actively engaging journalists and sectoral experts for skill
development and improved access to agricultural innovations. The science-based organization
organized similar capacity building programs and provided training to more than 75 for agricultural
journalists of Dhaka, Rajshahi and Khulna division. It also awarded Media Fellowship to six
agricultural journalists in 2021.

Farming Future Bangladesh (FFB) is a comprehensive communication and community

engagement organization, aimed to improve access to modern agricultural innovations including
crop biotechnology for sustainable food security in Bangladesh. Based in Dhaka, it operates in
collaboration with Alliance for Science, Boyce Thomson Institute, Cornell University and Michigan
State University.

Media contact:
Sadique Uddin
Specialist, Project Management & Communication
Farming Future Bangladesh
Email: sadique@farmingfuturebd.com
Contact: +8801792119777

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