The Symposium aims to provide a global forum on the mutation breeding of plants to which nuclear techniques have made significant contributions. It is a timely event in that food supply has recently emerged as an acute issue in global community.

The topic of the Symposium has also been of interest to RCA activities which include a related project for the region with large population in shortage of basic needs for livelihood. The outcomes of the RCA project were regarded to be of significant contribution to the region, thus meriting to be made visible by the success stories to be published by RCA Regional Office. The recent RCA National Representatives Meeting held 8-10 April 2008 Hanoi has also seen the project being discussed for cooperation with FNCA.

Further information on the ISIM is available from the IAEA web site (http://www-pub.iaea.org/MTCD/Meetings/Announcements.asp?ConfID=167 ).