Agricultural biotechnology : a review of contemporary issues

Such knowledge can be used to engineer traits into crops, create diagnostic tools, or develop pharmaceuticals for human use. Biotechnology can be applied in a number of ways, most of which are not controversial, e.g., genetic engineering of crops, often called GMOs (genetically modified organisms), such as corn, potatoes and cotton. In the specific area of agricultural biotechnology, the United States is the leader in both research and commercial applications, but biotechnology research is also conducted by many European and Asian research institutions and industry, as well as in more advanced developing countries and by the international agricultural research centers (IARCs). The private sector dominates agricultural biotechnology, funding over 50% of the research and development in the United States. The strength of the private over the public sector introduces important policy issues -- particularly intellectual property rights (IPR) and biosafety (the effect of biotechnology on human health and the natural environment) -- that must be addressed when considering the needs of developing countries; discussion of these issues and of the international agreements concerning them constitutes the bulk of the present report. The concluding sections examine current USAID policies and programs USAID"s socioeconomic benefits and the ethical concerns surrounding agricultural biotechnology.