Plenary session

Panel Session 1: Biotechnology for Bhutan’s Future: Innovation, Regulation, and Pathways for Development.

Globally, advances in genome editing, microbial technologies, and bio-based innovations are transforming agriculture, healthcare, and environmental management. For Bhutan, responsible adoption of biotechnology offers an opportunity to accelerate sustainable development, enhance food and nutritional security, improve conservation outcomes, and generate economic value. However, realising this potential requires identifying where to start and aligning capacity with national priorities. The country’s current biotechnology ecosystem is nascent. Colleges and government research institutions have capacity in the form of laboratories, personnel, and partnerships, but gaps remain in high-throughput infrastructure, regulatory oversight, and translational pathways to industry and markets. The panel will discuss how Bhutan can strategically build on these foundations to create tangible innovation outcomes in the future.

A central question is where biotechnology initiatives should be anchored. Should innovation primarily begin within academic institutions, leveraging research and student talent, or should government agencies take the lead in programs linked to national priorities? How can colleges, universities, and government institutions collaborate to ensure research is not in silos, but translated into applications in agriculture, health, and environmental conservation? What economic opportunities could arise from Bhutan’s unique biological resources?

The panel will also examine the regulatory and governance landscape. What biosafety frameworks are required to allow innovation while protecting public health and biodiversity? How can policy, monitoring, and compliance systems be strengthened to support safe scaling of biotechnology applications?

Moderator: Ms Nimal P Yangchen

Associate Researcher (Biotechnology), Royal Society for STEM, His Majesty's Secretariat.

Karma Wangchuk

Associate lecturer, Department of Food Science & Technology, CNR, Royal University of Bhutan

Dr. Jerald Stuart Feitelson

CEO and Co-Founder, Agrivitae LLC

Kinley Tenzin

Associate Researcher (Biotechnology), Royal Society for STEM, His Majesty's Secretariat.

Panel Session 2: Making Agrifood Profitable in Bhutan: Markets, Institutions and Youth at the Centre

Can Bhutan Build a Competitive Agrifood Economy? The Institutional and Market Reforms Required.

Bhutan’s agrifood sector stands at a decisive moment in its development trajectory. Under the 13th Five-Year Plan, guided by the national vision of building a “Developed Bhutan: A Healthy, Prosperous and Secure Bhutan,” agriculture is no longer viewed solely as a subsistence safety net but as a driver of economic transformation. The Agrifood Sector Strategy 2034 further sharpens this ambition, envisioning a commercially vibrant, export-oriented, technology-enabled, and youth-driven agrifood economy. With the sector currently contributing 14.67% of GDP while employing 43.5% of the national workforce, the productivity–prosperity gap is evident. The strategy sets bold targets for increasing agrifood GDP to Nu. 100 billion and trebling export value to Nu. 9 billion by 2034. These commitments raise a timely discussion. How can Bhutan realistically build a competitive agrifood economy, and what reforms are required to make that ambition credible?

If export value is to triple within the next decade, which commodities will drive growth, and are markets already validated? Should Bhutan focus on premium niche positioning or scale within regional markets? Are standards, certification systems, traceability mechanisms, and laboratory capacities sufficiently aligned with the aspirations? Institutional reform is equally central to this transformation. What roles should public agencies play in a market-led agrifood economy? Can coordination across ministries, financial institutions, cooperatives, and local governments be strengthened to reduce fragmentation? What roles can universities and researchers play? If commercialisation is to proceed alongside smallholder inclusion, how can productivity be raised without deepening inequality?

Youth empowerment lies at the heart of the sector’s future. With agriculture often perceived as unattractive to young people, what models can help young people become machinery service providers, processors, digital platform operators, logistics managers, and exporters? Are land access, finance, mentorship, and regulatory frameworks conducive to youth-led enterprises?

This panel session will bring together policymakers, private sector actors, and youth representatives to identify actionable reforms and priority interventions that can turn Bhutan’s agrifood ambitions into a competitive, inclusive, and resilient reality.