Main Contributors

The IDWG on Biotechnology guides the work of this PAIA. The substantial involvement of AG is primarily on account of its work on genetic resources for food and agriculture (plant and animal) and seed development, as well as both AGE's and AGS' work on biotechnology applications. FO also contributes from the perspective of forest genetic resources.

Objective

To assist Members, particularly developing countries, in the safe and responsible application of biotechnology to enhance food security.

Priorities

1. decision support tools and training materials on the sound management of biotechnology and related issues in food and agriculture; to be coupled with national and regional workshops;
2. advice in the formulation and implementation of cross-sectoral, inter-disciplinary projects on biotechnology;
3. analytical reports and information documents for inter-governmental technical committees and commissions which cover trends and developments in biotechnology research and products, e.g. commodity markets and trade in genetically modified (GM) crops, agricultural impacts of GM crops, effects of intellectual property rights on agricultural research;
4. support to negotiations on a Code of Conduct on Biotechnology, as relates to genetic resources in food and agriculture, or possibly in food and agriculture in a broader sense (subject to the outcome of the October 2002 regular meeting of the CGRFA); and
5. a website on biotechnology, with links to other relevant sites within and outside FAO, and heightened participation of national institutions; this site is to provide regularly updated information on biotechnology techniques and products and on policy and regulatory issues surrounding research on, and deployment of agricultural biotechnology; it will also include a glossary of biotechnology and genetic engineering and an e-mail discussion forum on cross-sectoral technical and policy issues.

[extract from MTP 2004-09]