Michiel van Lookeren Campagne, head of biology research for Syngenta, this week participates in GapSummit 2016, Global Biotech Revolution’s (GBR) global and inter-generational leadership summit in biotechnology. He serves as a speaker on the Future Resources panel, addressing constraints on food and chemical resources while exploring potential biotechnology solutions.
Van Lookeren Campagne will provide perspectives on how biotechnology can help address the challenge of increasing global resource demands, including the need for sustainable intensification of agriculture to ensure preservation of forests and combat climate change, the need to stimulate technology contributions and investments by strengthening intellectual property rights, moving to a more science-based regulatory system and lowering the innovation hurdles.
“It is an honor to be a part of this global conversation with leaders regarding the future of our resources and the significant impact biotechnology can have,” said van Lookeren Campagne. “There is a need for a shift in how we view these problems as a society and, more importantly, we must consider how advanced technologies, science, mathematics and big data can be more broadly seen as an essential part of the solution.”
An accomplished academician and industry professional, van Lookeren Campagne received his university education and doctorate in biology from Leiden University in the Netherlands. Since then, he has acquired more than 20 years of experience working in university and industry settings, both in the United States and abroad.
GapSummit, hosted at Old Divinity School, St. John’s College at the University of Cambridge, U.K., focuses on addressing such matters as research and innovation, future funding, future health, gene editing and bioethics. In attendance are 100 of the brightest young future leaders from around the world, as well as speakers representing various biotechnology specialties and 42 countries.
