Dr. Gurinder Jit Randhawa, Principal Scientist, National Research Centre on DNA Fingerprinting, National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources, New Delhi, India was at the Departement of Biotechnology and Systems Biology, National Institute of Biology (NIB), Slovenia from 1st to 30th September, 2011.This visit was within the frame of the Indian-Slovenian bilateral project (Slovenian reference BI-IN/10-12-010. Indian reference INT/SLOVENIAP-10/2009), on detection of genetically modified organisms.

As one of Europe`s leading institutes and national reference laboratory engaged in GMO detection technology development, NIB is ideally equipped to provide training on the latest developments in GMO detection platforms and is dedicated to contribute to harmonisation of GMO detection and traceability through collaboration and technology transfer between competent authorities.

On the other hand National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources (NBPGR),New Delhi is the nodal agency for germplasm exchange including transgenics and issuance of import permits, quarantine processing of germplasm/transgenic planting material for research purposes. NBPGR has third largest Genebank on the world, having more than 3,815,150 accessions of over 1500 crop species. NBPGR is involved in all activities of Plant Genetic Resources management by undertaking germplasm collection, characterization, evaluation and international exchange of germplasm for research purposes and carries out their quarantine processing. DNA fingerprinting protocols for more than 33 crops have beendeveloped and molecular testing of 2,614 lines of 132 imported transgenic planting material comprising 12 different crops have been accomplished..

During her stay in Slovenia Dr. Gurinder Jit Randhawa visited also the Slovenian Ministry of Environment, the Slovenian Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Food, the Agricultural institute of Slovenia, the Department of Agriculture, Biotechnical faculty, University of Ljubljana, the Center for Functional Genomics and Bio-Chips, the NIB Marine Station in Piran to exchange experiences on National Biosafety Systems, detection and research work.

Intensive further cooperation is planed among both institutions to maximally take advantage of high knowledge of both institutions to further support biosafety in international frame.

Picture was taken during the visit of Dr. Gurinder Jit Randhawa, accompanied by dr. Jana Žel, head of GMO group to the director of National Institute of Biology prof. dr. Tamara Lah Turnšek.