About the IAPB

Leading the Charge in Plant Biotechnology

The International Association for Plant Biotechnology (IAPB) stands as the premier global professional organization dedicated to advancing plant biotechnology. With a vibrant membership spanning researchers, academics, and industry professionals, the IAPB advocates vigorously for the interests of the global plant biotechnology community. Through a dynamic array of networking events, mentorship programs, and professional development opportunities, we aim to foster a culture of innovation, collaboration, and excellence. Our initiatives are designed to empower our members to lead groundbreaking research and practice in the field.

Our History

Photo: National Research Council Canada / Conseil national de recherches Canada

Driving Innovation & Sustainability

At the IAPB, we are committed to pushing the boundaries of scientific knowledge to address some of the most pressing global challenges in agriculture and the environment. Our efforts focus on developing sustainable solutions that benefit society and promote the health of our planet. By facilitating idea exchange and sharing expertise, we help shape the future of plant biotechnology. Our projects and research initiatives are geared towards creating resilient agricultural systems, enhancing food security, and reducing environmental impact, demonstrating our commitment to sustainability at every level.

Our Constitution

Photo: National Research Council Canada / Conseil national de recherches Canada

Our Mission

The objective of the IAPB is to promote plant biotechnology, including cell and tissue culture applications. These objectives are achieved primarily through convening international congresses of the association and the publication of a journal/newsletter.

Our Collaborative Approach

Collaboration is at the heart of everything we do at the IAPB. We bring together a diverse group of individuals—from scientists and industry leaders to policymakers and plant biotechnology enthusiasts—to harness the collective potential of our community. Through conferences, workshops, and an array of publication platforms, we provide avenues for our members to connect, share knowledge, and advance their work. This collaborative environment not only fosters professional growth and innovation but also ensures that our collective efforts contribute significantly to advancing global plant biotechnology and achieving sustainable outcomes worldwide.

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Our Team

The governing body of the IAPB consists of the secretariat, which transfers between hosting countries, and the National Correspondents. The secretariat is currently hosted by Canada, and consists of the president, secretary, treasurer, and journal editor-in-chief.

Pankaj Bhowmik, Ph.D.

IAPB President
National Research Council of Canada

Pankaj Bhowmik is the current President of the IAPB. Pankaj is currently a Senior Research Officer and lead of the Advanced Plant Biotechnology team at the National Research Council of Canada (NRC) in Saskatoon. He also leads NRC’s plant tissue culture and transformation platform, as well as serves as the Scientific Support Lead for NRC’s Sustainable Protein Production program, fostering collaborations with stakeholders in the plant biotech and ag-food sectors. His research focuses on crop improvement through tissue culture, transformation, and gene editing. Pankaj is an adjunct faculty member at the University of British Columbia Okanagan and has been an active member of the IAPB since 2007, contributing significantly to promoting interaction among plant biotechnology researchers.

Forrest Scharf

IAPB Secretary
Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture

Forrest has been the Provincial Specialist for Fruit Crops in Saskatchewan for the past seventeen years. His role includes a wide spectrum of activities , including research, assistance to growers in management of disease, insects, and weeds, policy development, technical evaluation services for government, and more. Forrest previously worked for the Government of Alberta and the University of Saskatchewan. At those institutions he initiated bioreactor research projects in support of some corporate objectives, and developed tissue culture protocols for a number of plant species bred in western Canada.

Brittany Polley, B.Sc.

IAPB Treasurer
National Research Council of Canada

Brittany Polley is the current treasurer of the IAPB. She received her B.Sc. from the University of Saskatchewan, and is currently a technical officer at the National Research Council of Canada based in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan with over fifteen years of experience in plant genetic research. She has helped to develop and deliver on research projects in the areas of molecular genetics, gene editing, plant tissue culture, and crop and ingredient quality improvement.

Samir Debnath, Ph.D.

IAPB Editor-In-Chief
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada

Samir Debnath is a Research Scientist at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, an Adjunct Professor of Biology at the Memorial University of Newfoundland, and the IAPB Editor-in-Chief of In Vitro Cellular and Developmental Biology – Plant. He was also President of the Canadian Society for Horticultural Science and the Newfoundland and Labrador Institute of Agrologists (P.Ag.), and the Editor-in-Chief of Scientia Horticulturae. His research concerns biotechnology-based value-added small fruit and medicinal plant propagation and improvement, focusing on micropropagation, biodiversity and genetic enhancement for high antioxidant-containing berry crops using in vitro and molecular techniques combined with conventional methods. He has been an active IAPB member since 1999 and has made significant contributions in promoting interactions among plant biotechnologists.