Brussels, 31/01/2003 (Agence Europe) - On the initiative of the European Group on Life Sciences, made up of eminent scientists and responsible for advising the European Commissioner responsible for research, Philippe Busquin, the European Commission organised a conference in Brussels on 30 and 31 January in which scientists, experts, representatives of civil society and developing countries attempted to determine how life sciences and biotechnologies could promote sustainable agriculture in developing countries. "There is an obvious problem of food supply in many parts of the world", declared Philippe Busquin during the conference, considering that, under these conditions it would be "irresponsible" not to assess the potential life sciences and biotechnologies had to ensure sustainable agriculture. The participants especially examined ways in which these sciences could contribute in addressing seven major challenges: - food production in under marginal conditions; - improving the economic viability of food production; - improving health and nutrition without compromising food safety and the environment; - reducing poverty through income generation and by creating new markets; - reducing the use of pesticides; - providing added value from agrobiodiversity; - and to examine how developing countries can become actors in the use of new knowledge from genomes. The aim of the event was more to offer a platform to scientists to debate with other parties involved than to reach conclusions. ""The aim was not to draw hasty conclusions", said Busquin, stipulating that the conference had been devise for "constructive exchanges" that will enable the EU "to model its choices and find responsible means to ue scientific progress to the advantage of the populations in need".