Policy options for agricultural biotechnologies in Developing Countries
This paper deals with policy options for strengthening national capacities to make informed choices about using biotechnology in food and agriculture (BFA). It recognizes that views vary widely among countries, institutions and individuals about the contributions - particularly of advanced biotechnologies like genetic modification - to improving agricultural productivity and food security in developing countries, and whether, for example, strengthened intellectual property regimes are necessary to achieve these goals. Beneficial or regrettable, both are facts of life, but this paper neither advocates the use nor the avoidance of any particular biotechnology or approach towards its development and application, although it does highlight some key and unique considerations that should be taken into account when pursuing some modern applications.